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There is a pivotal scene in “August in the Water” (dir. Sōgo Ishii, 1995) where the surface of a pool turns into a stone wall. The water that gave the protagonist's life its meaning becomes a threat. As you fall through this stone wall, you appear in a set of underwater coral-reef corridors, and one of the most beautiful musical themes begins to play: Aquatic Ambience, composed by David Wise for Donkey Kong Country (1994). It's a theme that represents the weightless vibe of your new deep-sea life, where you go about your mundane errands, collecting bananas while driving on a swordfish, or, as HerzMayhem put it: "Poor monkey... always swimming, never going anywhere..."

Synthetic Water Music is the second of three compilations, following Synthetic Bird Music and timed to mappa's 10th anniversary. As with the birds, it gathers friends of the label, artists who have released with mappa or played our shows. Most of the music is new, made to measure for this compilation, much of it from Central and Eastern European hands. Birds and water mix well, so please feel invited to play them together, creating your own environments.

Where the birds were in one flock, water is dispersed across four chapters. You live your life as a droppity drop: vapour in the heavens, condensing in clouds, falling into a swamp, trickling into the deepest sea.

Tlālōcān (Cassette 1, Side A)
A place of eternal spring, of aquatic energy that nourishes everything and allows all things to bloom. Bubbly and splishy-sploshy, it is full of dripping sounds and moist caverns (“Emerald Pool” by Pauline Anna Strom), a landscape filled with living fountains (“Oh, to be a Fountain” by Eva Sajanová) and winding streams that flow through the area, forming part of its organic architecture. It is also a paradise reserved for those whose deaths were water-related, where the aquatic and terrestrial beings live in symbiosis and perspectives shift rapidly, from observing a single droplet (Shakali, Lau Nau) to dew (Feronia Wennborg & Lucy Duncombe) and on to flowing currents (Visible Cloaks) that gradually transform into river music (Ursula K. Le Guin & Todd Barton).

Nephelora (Cassette 1, Side B)
A celestial anti-gravity sound world made of evaporation, steam and the formation of clouds, as if looking at “The Sky At The Bottom of the Well” (by Natalia Beylis) or at “The Cloud That Never Rains” (by Henrique Vaz).

If a cloud never rains,
it is not a cloud at all, but a veil that parches the earth with its gaze.
It generates only its own shadow —
a looming mass of suspended longing,
a sky that hoards but never yields,
a reservoir that swallows every river and returns nothing but echoes.

The water in this world is often invisible but sometimes all the more present, as Bint Mbareh describes it: “Recently been obsessed with invisible waters because I come from a place where you have to imagine the water is there even though you cannot see a river, a sea, usually no rain, so water is in the air, the voice and the imaginal realm, drought is imagined to be negotiable.”

Žaboglach Zha-bo-glahch (Cassette 2, Side A)
A fusion of Scottish lochs and Slovak ponds: a misty, foul-smelling, swampy realm, the kind of place that swallowed Artax from The NeverEnding Story. Stagnant waters full of decay become a blooming habitat for sirens (“thereby losing the weightless delight of being swept along with it” by Adam Badí Donoval) and beings straddling the line between fauna and flora, inventing their own communication systems (“Water-lily phase” by Action Pyramid).

R'lyeh (Cassette 2, Side B)
A brooding sunken city at the bottom of the ocean. It’s a journey to get there. Let this chapter guide you, from the shore down to the depths, to the gates of an unexplored world that is inherently dark, unfathomable, and beyond the limits of human perception: starting with seasickness ("Seasick" by Nikolaienko), passing through a classic Poe-esque maelstrom ("Flurry at the Whirl-pull" by Atte Elias Kantonen), a gateway into the darkness and emptiness of the ocean floor, and finally traversing the city itself (“last waves of 2025” by Jules Reidy).
But what is pulling you to a place like this that only a few explore and even fewer leave? Maybe “the darkness that water can contain, the expanse of things we don't know and that can trigger fear instincts even as we try to rationalise them and think we are in control of the rest of nature” (“supercritical fluids” by Diane Barbé).

Dive in and surface wherever you like. Always swimming, never going anywhere. Just don’t forget to take water breaks.

P.S. Birds, then water, can you guess what comes next? Synthetic Soil Music, an elegy for insects and worms? Synthetic Glaciers, or maybe Pollinators? Which sounds would you miss the most if they disappeared? Or what if the third one never comes at all, and somebody, or something, makes Synthetic mappa Music instead. Don't you worry, with the right training data, it can all be replicated, better than the real thing.

Mighty Music is proud to announce the release of "Electrifyed", the brand-new studio album from NWOBHM pioneers TYGERS OF PAN TANG. The album finds the legendary British metal act returning to a heavier and more aggressive sound while retaining the melodic identity that has defined the band throughout its celebrated career. ""The heavier, the better" that was our mantra throughout the writing and recording of "Electrifyed"", singer Jack Meille comments about the writing process of the record. "We wanted to rediscover the pleasure of being driven by the powerful force of a heavy riff without losing that melodic touch all great Tygers songs have". Written with a clear artistic vision from the outset, "Electrifyed" draws inspiration from the raw energy of the band's early years, particularly their landmark debut album "Wild Cat", while showcasing the chemistry and creativity of the current line-up. The result is a collection of songs built around powerful riffs, memorable melodies and a renewed commitment to the heavy metal traditions the band helped establish. The album also introduces guitarist John Footitt on record for the first time. Joining founding member Robb Weir, Jack Meille, drummer Craig Ellis and bassist Huw Holding, Footitts guitar skills fit the album's muscular and contemporary sound. To achieve the sonic impact envisioned by the band, Tygers of Pan Tang worked closely with producer and musician Marco Angioni, a longtime friend and collaborator who helped translate the group's ambitions into a cohesive and powerful final product. The album artwork was once again entrusted to Andy Pilkington of Very Metal Art, whose striking cover concept perfectly captures the spirit and energy of "Electrifyed".

Transparent Orange w/ blue splatter vinyl. Mighty Music is proud to announce the release of "Electrifyed", the brand-new studio album from NWOBHM pioneers TYGERS OF PAN TANG. The album finds the legendary British metal act returning to a heavier and more aggressive sound while retaining the melodic identity that has defined the band throughout its celebrated career. ""The heavier, the better" that was our mantra throughout the writing and recording of "Electrifyed"", singer Jack Meille comments about the writing process of the record. "We wanted to rediscover the pleasure of being driven by the powerful force of a heavy riff without losing that melodic touch all great Tygers songs have". Written with a clear artistic vision from the outset, "Electrifyed" draws inspiration from the raw energy of the band's early years, particularly their landmark debut album "Wild Cat", while showcasing the chemistry and creativity of the current line-up. The result is a collection of songs built around powerful riffs, memorable melodies and a renewed commitment to the heavy metal traditions the band helped establish. The album also introduces guitarist John Footitt on record for the first time. Joining founding member Robb Weir, Jack Meille, drummer Craig Ellis and bassist Huw Holding, Footitts guitar skills fit the album's muscular and contemporary sound. To achieve the sonic impact envisioned by the band, Tygers of Pan Tang worked closely with producer and musician Marco Angioni, a longtime friend and collaborator who helped translate the group's ambitions into a cohesive and powerful final product. The album artwork was once again entrusted to Andy Pilkington of Very Metal Art, whose striking cover concept perfectly captures the spirit and energy of "Electrifyed".

Tommy McCook was not only a founding member of the legendary Jamaican Ska group The Skatalites, but also a brilliant musical arranger. His informed understanding of Jazz, R&B and in fact most music styles would always add another layer to any song put his way. This made him the go to guy for most of the Jamaican producers, who would use his arrangement skills to pepper up their latest tunes.

Tommy McCook, (b1927, Havana, Cuba) came to Jamaica with his mother from Cuba aged 11 and entered renowned Alpha Boys School for underprivileged children, a school that placed great emphasis on musical tuition. At the tender of 14, such was his talent he has left to join Eric Deans Orchestra and took on stints with other bands led by Don Hinchman and Roy Coburn. All the bands played in the Swing and Jazz style of the times. He relocated to the Bahamas in 1954 where he further developed his Jazz technique and upon his return to Jamaica in 1962 began working Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One and became involved in the development of Ska. His knowledge of Jazz, R& B and Jamaican musical forms helped set the tone for the group of musicians he was working with and would name the Skatalites. The group, consisting of Don Drummond (Trombone), Roland Alphonso (Tenor Saxophone), Jackie Mitoo (Piano), Lloyd Brevett (Bass), Lloyd Knibbs (Drums), alongside Tommy himself on Tenor Saxophone. The group would back all the major Ska vocalists pf the day and would also go on to cut a catalogue of instrumental music. The Skatalites split up in 1965 and Tommy McCook moved over to work with Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle Studios where he formed The Supersonics. A set of musicians under his guidance that consisted of Lynn Tait and Ernest Ranglin (Guitar), Neville Hinds and Winston Wright (Organ), Gladstone “Gladdy” Anderson (Piano), Hugh Malcolm and Arkland “Drumbago” Parks (Drums), Clifton “Jackie” Jackson (Bass), and Tommy and Hernon Marquis (Saxophone). The more laid back sounds from 1966-1968 would be given the name Rocksteady of which again McCook was at the forefront. The top producers like Bunny Lee would use the musicianship of Tommy McCook and his arrangement skills to enhance this new sound.

We have compiled a great selection of rhythms that featured McCook blowing over tracks stripped of their vocals and replaced with some fantastic lead lines played by Tommy and some of his fellow horns men.
We hope you agree like we do that they do this in fine style.

Tapper Zuki's debut album 'Man Ah Warrior' was originally released in 1973.It's classic Dee Jay style has been copied by many but bettered by few. An album that more than most shows that raw talent with little resources can still be a great, great thing.
Tapper Zukie (b.1956,David Sinclair , Kingston, Jamaica) was raised in the rough and tough West Kingston area of Jamaica between the districts of Trench Town and Greenwich Farm.
Living pretty much on the streets from an early age the youth including the young Tapper had no choice but to fall into the hands of the political parties that controlled the various ghetto areas of the town.
Fear of landing in even more trouble, a plan was devised by Tapper's Mother ,Brother ,Reggae producer 'Blackbeard' and family friend Bunny 'Striker' Lee .The plan was to send the wayward Tapper to England to cool his ways.
A UK tour with the number 1 Reggae Dee Jay U-Roy was already arranged on his arrival, Bunny Lee got the young Tapper to toast over a Slim Smith rhythm, the London crowd loved it
He also caught the eye of producer Larry Lawrence who took Tapper on and cut his first single 'Jump and Twist'
Nine further tracks were recorded for producer Clement Bushey that would result in this album 'man ah Warrior.
We hope this introduction to Tapper Zukie's music inspires you to look further into his catalogue of great music.
An artist ahead of his time, whose music has influenced many........
as Patti Smith stated 'Music of the Most High'............

Amyl and The Sniffers kündigen mit Truth Or Consequence ein Live-Album an, das alles andere als ein klassisches Konzertdokument ist. Im April vergangenen Jahres nahm die Band gemeinsam mit Freunden im legendären El Coyote Mexican Restaurant in Los Angeles eine einzigartige Performance auf und interpretierte ihre Songs erstmals in reduzierten, country-inspirierten Versionen. Das Album vereint neu arrangierte Fan-Favoriten mit zwei bislang unveröffentlichten Songs sowie einer Coverversion von Slim Dustys Klassiker "Lights On The Hill". Die Aufnahmen zeigen Amyl and The Sniffers von einer ungewohnt intimen, lockeren und verspielten Seite und fangen die besondere Atmosphäre einer spontanen Session unter Freunden ein. Zur Veröffentlichung erscheint auch ein begleitender Konzertfilm mit exklusiven Einblicken hinter die Kulissen. Im Mittelpunkt steht jedoch die Musik: Truth Or Consequence präsentiert die Band in einem völlig neuen Klanggewand und eröffnet einen frischen Blick auf ihr Songwriting. "The hope for this record is that it is listened to as it was made, in a ruckus exclamation between a cherished group of friends", erklärt die Band. Mit den ungewöhnlichen Arrangements und der entspannten Live-Atmosphäre dokumentiert Truth Or Consequence eine besondere Seite von Amyl and The Sniffers und erweitert den Blick auf eine Band, die bisher vor allem für ihre energiegeladenen Rockshows bekannt ist.

Finnish prog-psych masterpiece Harvest Time by Elonkorjuu reissued in September The original pressing of Elonkorjuu's debut album Harvest Time is among the most valuable collector’s items in Finnish rock; its average price in 2026 is over 1200 euros, and even 1500 euros have been paid for a mint copy. Recorded almost entirely live and originally released in 1972, Harvest Time is a best kept secret for many Scandinavian Prog aficionados. Inspired by groups like Cream and Free with a more progressive and free-jam style, Elonkorjuu is one of the few bands that successfully progressed the whole heavy Blues/Psych Rock style in a way that made them unique and ahead of their time. Drawing influences initially from the schools of bands like Sabbath and Colosseum but expanding them with soulful church organ and cutting guitar from bandleader Jukka Syrenius, Harvest Time is entirely worth its reputation as a sought after treasure. A killer album from beginning to end. Heavy guitar work all over with great vocals sung in English, which is rare for a Finnish band of this era. After the sold out 2017 and 2021 reissues by Svart and due to a constant high demand, Harvest Time will be available on wax and CD again in September. If you have a place in your heart for the shadowy and mysterious world of early heavy progressive rock, then it’s probably Harvest Time for you!

Finnish prog-psych masterpiece Harvest Time by Elonkorjuu reissued in September The original pressing of Elonkorjuu's debut album Harvest Time is among the most valuable collector’s items in Finnish rock; its average price in 2026 is over 1200 euros, and even 1500 euros have been paid for a mint copy. Recorded almost entirely live and originally released in 1972, Harvest Time is a best kept secret for many Scandinavian Prog aficionados. Inspired by groups like Cream and Free with a more progressive and free-jam style, Elonkorjuu is one of the few bands that successfully progressed the whole heavy Blues/Psych Rock style in a way that made them unique and ahead of their time. Drawing influences initially from the schools of bands like Sabbath and Colosseum but expanding them with soulful church organ and cutting guitar from bandleader Jukka Syrenius, Harvest Time is entirely worth its reputation as a sought after treasure. A killer album from beginning to end. Heavy guitar work all over with great vocals sung in English, which is rare for a Finnish band of this era. After the sold out 2017 and 2021 reissues by Svart and due to a constant high demand, Harvest Time will be available on wax and CD again in September. If you have a place in your heart for the shadowy and mysterious world of early heavy progressive rock, then it’s probably Harvest Time for you!

A first-generation Nigerian-American hailing from Katy, TX, singer-songwriter Blessing Jolie creates pop music that straddles the line between introspective indie-folk and R&B. Like Tracy Chapman and Alanis Morissette before her, her songs are stories steeped in the vulnerability and messiness of a young woman growing up– from experiencing love for the first time to the effects of imposter syndrome to finding your place in between cultures and expectations. "I watched all my old friends graduate college while I was still chasing a dream. I wondered who I would’ve been if I took the same four-year route—but I’m learning to stand by myself through clarity, mistakes, and every detour. My life is mine to build and experiment with however my heart leads." - Blessing Jolie on Software Developer "Software Developer" is the third single leading up to Blessing Jolie's debut album with Thirty Tigers, 20Teens.

Amyl and The Sniffers kündigen mit Truth Or Consequence ein Live-Album an, das alles andere als ein klassisches Konzertdokument ist. Im April vergangenen Jahres nahm die Band gemeinsam mit Freunden im legendären El Coyote Mexican Restaurant in Los Angeles eine einzigartige Performance auf und interpretierte ihre Songs erstmals in reduzierten, country-inspirierten Versionen. Das Album vereint neu arrangierte Fan-Favoriten mit zwei bislang unveröffentlichten Songs sowie einer Coverversion von Slim Dustys Klassiker "Lights On The Hill". Die Aufnahmen zeigen Amyl and The Sniffers von einer ungewohnt intimen, lockeren und verspielten Seite und fangen die besondere Atmosphäre einer spontanen Session unter Freunden ein. Zur Veröffentlichung erscheint auch ein begleitender Konzertfilm mit exklusiven Einblicken hinter die Kulissen. Im Mittelpunkt steht jedoch die Musik: Truth Or Consequence präsentiert die Band in einem völlig neuen Klanggewand und eröffnet einen frischen Blick auf ihr Songwriting. "The hope for this record is that it is listened to as it was made, in a ruckus exclamation between a cherished group of friends", erklärt die Band. Mit den ungewöhnlichen Arrangements und der entspannten Live-Atmosphäre dokumentiert Truth Or Consequence eine besondere Seite von Amyl and The Sniffers und erweitert den Blick auf eine Band, die bisher vor allem für ihre energiegeladenen Rockshows bekannt ist.

30 Jahre HEINZ AUS WIEN. Das allein ist schon ein ziemlicher Wahnsinn.Und dass das Ganze am 10.9.2026 in der Open Air Arena mit vielen Freunden gefeiert wird, ist ebenfalls verrückt - denn dort begann ja alles, als am 14.6.1996 das erste Konzert von HEINZ als Vorgruppe von Selig stattfand.Tja, und schwups sind 30 Jahre vorbei. In all den Jahren haben wir viele liebe Menschen kennengelernt, die zu Freunden wurden. Einige davon stammen sogar aus der musizierenden Zunft. Und wie es der Zufall so will, sind in den letzten 30 Jahren - und auch schon davor - viele Lieder erschienen, die uns besonders gut gefallen.Was lag da näher, als ein Album mit deutschsprachigen Coverversionen aufzunehmen und Freunde einzuladen, dabei mitzumachen? Eben.Darum haben wir viel Zeit mit total lässigen Menschen im Studio verbracht. Und was dabei herausgekommen ist, kann sich hören und sehen lassen:* OLIVER WELTER singt mit uns **SOLDATEN DES HERZENS** (*Military of the Heart* - Naked Lunch)* NINO AUS WIEN singt mit uns **GEZEICHNET FÜRS LEBEN** (Wolfgang Ambros)* SPORTFREUNDE STILLER singen mit uns **DU WARST MIR IMMER EIN FREUND** (*Thank You for Being a Friend* - Andrew Gold)* MARCO POGO singt mit uns **BOHEMIAN WIE DU** (*Bohemian Like You* - The Dandy Warhols)* KLEE singen mit uns **SAG JA** (*Say Yes* - Elliott Smith)* MULAN singt mit uns **DU UND ICH SONG** (*You & Me Song* - The Wannadies)* MANUEL RUBEY singt mit uns **TRY** (*Try* - P!nk)* LELO BROSSMANN singt mit uns **ES IST SO SCHADE UM RAY** (*It's a Shame About Ray* - The Lemonheads)* LIL JULEZ singt mit uns **WIR WERDEN GRAU** (*Fade to Grey* - Visage)* HANNAH GARTNER singt mit uns **WIE IM HIMMEL** (*Just Like Heaven* - The Cure)* BIRGIT DENK singt mit uns **DAS KONZEPT** (*The Concept* - Teenage Fanclub)Und so ist es fertig: das neue Album **DU WARST MIR IMMER EIN FREUND** von HEINZ AUS WIEN!Es erscheint am 11.9.2026 auf Vinyl und digital - ein Tag nachdem in der Open Air Arena gefeiert wurde.

To mark their 10th anniversary, ground-breaking, JUNO Award-nominated and SOCAN Award-winning Toronto duo cleopatrick are releasing 4 cleopatrick EPs. The aptly-named collection features four iconic EPs spanning their history as a band - "14," "the boys," "DOOM," and "SCRAP" -- available on vinyl for the first time ever. The two-disc set is pressed on Petrol Blue vinyl and is available via their own Nowhere Special Recordings/Thirty Tigers.

HUG is the new collaborative project from Gyan Riley, Devendra Banhart & Noah Georgeson, three independent artists who also happen to be childhood friends. Their new album is intimate, contemplative, and full of childlike wonder. At times ambient, at times enigmatic, each song moves across folk tradition and genre, as Devendra, Gyan, and Noah take turns leading.

"Bloc Party zählen zu den prägendsten Indie-Bands der 2000er Jahre. Ihr Debüt Silent Alarm wurde mit dem NME Award als „Album of the Year“ ausgezeichnet und verkaufte sich weltweit über eine Million Mal. Über zwei Jahrzehnte hinweg hat sich die Band mit kontinuierlicher Weiterentwicklung und intensiver globaler Touring-Präsenz eine treue und stetig wachsende Fanbase aufgebaut.

In den vergangenen vier Jahren wurde ihre Ausnahmestellung eindrucksvoll bestätigt und gleichzeitig eine neue Generation von Fans gewonnen – von Welttourneen mit Paramore über ausverkaufte Headliner-Shows im Londoner Crystal Palace Park bis hin zu gefeierten Auftritten bei Festivals wie Reading & Leeds. Mit dieser neuen Dynamik im Rücken und nach ihrem größten Tourjahr seit zwei Jahrzehnten kündigen Bloc Party nun ihr nächstes Album an. Das Werk erzählt die Geschichte einer einjährigen Beziehung – intensiv, persönlich und schonungslos – produziert gemeinsam mit Studiolegende Trevor Horn.

Zudem spielen Bloc Party eine Co-Headliner-Arenatour durch UK & Europa zusammen mit Interpol sowie großen US-Open-Air-Shows mit Muse."

"Bloc Party zählen zu den prägendsten Indie-Bands der 2000er Jahre. Ihr Debüt Silent Alarm wurde mit dem NME Award als „Album of the Year“ ausgezeichnet und verkaufte sich weltweit über eine Million Mal. Über zwei Jahrzehnte hinweg hat sich die Band mit kontinuierlicher Weiterentwicklung und intensiver globaler Touring-Präsenz eine treue und stetig wachsende Fanbase aufgebaut.

In den vergangenen vier Jahren wurde ihre Ausnahmestellung eindrucksvoll bestätigt und gleichzeitig eine neue Generation von Fans gewonnen – von Welttourneen mit Paramore über ausverkaufte Headliner-Shows im Londoner Crystal Palace Park bis hin zu gefeierten Auftritten bei Festivals wie Reading & Leeds. Mit dieser neuen Dynamik im Rücken und nach ihrem größten Tourjahr seit zwei Jahrzehnten kündigen Bloc Party nun ihr nächstes Album an. Das Werk erzählt die Geschichte einer einjährigen Beziehung – intensiv, persönlich und schonungslos – produziert gemeinsam mit Studiolegende Trevor Horn.

Zudem spielen Bloc Party eine Co-Headliner-Arenatour durch UK & Europa zusammen mit Interpol sowie großen US-Open-Air-Shows mit Muse."

Back for its 29th (!) birthday, No Use's fifth full lenght! "Bay area punk wonder-boys No Use For A Name have begun pleading for your friendship. Show your love for the boys, who were each reared with the ideals of Boy Scout Troup #221, by giving 'em wet sloppy ones when they come to your town." No Use for a Name was a melodic punk band from San Jose, California blending blistering skate-punk speeds with deeply melancholic, unforgettable pop melodies. What began as a scrappy late-80s hardcore act grew into a defining pillar of the 90s punk rock explosion, earning fans through relentless international touring and releases that perfectly balance grit and heart. Drawing comparisons to Lagwagon, Millencolin, and Strung Out, No Use for a Name pairs introspective, emotionally raw lyrics with fast-paced, harmony-driven arrangements built for sweaty club shows and massive circle pits. Their songs tackle alienation, broken relationships, and the struggles of everyday life, creating a connectionthat feels both intensely personal and universally cathartic. Their first two albums were released through the New Red Archives label, after which they signed to Fat Wreck Chords where they would remain, releasing seven studio albums and shifting to a melodic punk rock sound. With their fifth album `Making Friends,' the band continued to build on their momentum, delivering their tightest, most emotionally resonant, and career-defining collection of songs in 1997. 2026 it comes in brown vinyl color.

When Drop Nineteens disbanded in the mid-'90s, singer Greg Ackell decided he would never make music again. He wouldn't noodle around on a guitar in his basement. He wouldn't get a group of friends together just to jam. He was done with music entirely. Following the release of the shoegaze masterpiece Delaware in 1992, and the intricate experimentations on National Coma in 1993, the group disbanded. They shared stages with Radiohead, Hole, Blur, PJ Harvey and Smashing Pumpkins. They went from being teenagers in Boston to mid-twenty-somethings with a few MTV videos, a couple BBC sessions and numerous festival appearances under their belt. So when Drop Nineteens ceased to be, Ackell felt content. He had the rest of his life in front of him to figure out what he wanted to do. Music was a closed chapter.That was until 2021, when a friend from the band's early days got Greg on the phone to suggest making some music together, just to see how it felt. Instead of shutting it down like he had been doing over the years, he decided to entertain the prospect. For the first time in nearly 30 years, he picked up a guitar with intent. He immediately called up Steve Zimmerman, the band's bassist and fellow guitarist, and the two got writing. It felt effortless for Ackell, like he never stopped writing music. "We were off to the races," he says, "But also the question came up: what does a Drop Nineteens song sound like today?" Enter Hard Light, the band's stunning third record. It's the band's proverbial follow up to Delaware, a modern Drop Nineteens record that is completely singular in its sound and vision. The first task making Hard Light was, of course, getting the rest of the band back together. Drop Nineteens is an inherently collaborative project. Ackell writes the lyrics, and he works with band members Steve Zimmerman, Paula Kelley, Motohiro Yasue, and Peter Koeplin to create the sonic world. The record came together over the course of a year, recording at a patchwork of studios all around the country: Boston, Brooklyn, San Francisco, Los Angeles. When Kelley and Ackell first heard their vocals recorded together on the opus album closer "T", the chemistry was undeniable. Making music together felt natural, fluid, exciting.Hard Light is a romantic record in the literary sense. Beauty from longing; longing from beauty. You put the album on and want to be clad in a velvet dress sprawled across a fainting couch. You want to be holding someone's hand while you sit back in the tall grass. The guitars are expansive and expressive as ever. Ackell and Kelley's vocals are cool, crystalline, and luminous. "Gal" comes on like a dream. The vocals pour in when you least expect them, once in the middle, where Ackell delivers one of the strangest (and best) lyrics on the record, "And there were snakes/with cats at the wheel." Hard Light's first single, "Scapa Flow" is triumphant and an excellent example of what a modern day Drop Nineteens song sounds like. The guitars glide cloud-like, floor toms shuffle and rumble in the background, searching. Ackell and Kelley's vocals are as toned as they are bound. Hard Light is every bit the ride that Delaware was, diverse in its sounds, with surprises at every turn. Drop Nineteens have brought clarity and cool in 2023 to the genre they helped create. A portrait of a band 30 years later, as talented and dedicated to their craft as ever. To put it more bluntly, they're at the top of their game.

The quintet NOVA FELLOWSHIP was formed at the initiative of producer Antoine Rajon for a performance at the NUITS SONORES 2026 festival to pay tribute to the short but fruitful collaboration between musicians Kieran Hebden (aka Four Tet) and Steve Reid.

A discreet yet essential figure on the American music scene, the African-American drummer Steve Reid (1944-2010) left his mark on the history of free jazz, funk, and rock. His collaborations included the Sun Ra Arkestra, Albert Ayler and Miles Davis (Tutu), James Brown (on the classic Popcorn), and Martha & the Vandellas.
The end of his career was marked by his encounter with the Englishman Kieran Hebden, an emblematic pioneer of electronic music known as Four Tet, with whom he recorded four hybrid, experimental, and spiritual albums between 2006 and 2010. NOVA FELLOWSHIP, a group of friends who have collaborated in several bands, recorded the album CONTINUUM live at Studio Pigalle in Paris, with Kieran Hebden in attendance, who was captivated by the group's first concert at the Nuits Sonores festival.


On this album, NOVA FELLOWSHIP covers three 1970s classics by Steve Reid & the Master Brotherhood, three tracks by Four Tet, and a composition by the duo Kieran Hebden & Steve Reid, "Morning Prayer," which appears on their first joint album. Missouri drummer Zach Morrow brings to the group the dynamism he has displayed in recent years touring with poet Aja Monet. Heir to the versatility of Steve Reid, his playing is imbued with the full spectrum of Great Black Music. Versatile pianists Tony Tixier, arranger of an explosive version of the Nova/Free Spirits tracks created by Steve Reid, and Rob Clearfield, known for his work with Makaya McCraven, create hypnotic bass lines and captivating synth textures on their shared keyboards and synthesizers. Eritrean/American trumpeter Hermon Mehari and Italian saxophonist Francesco Geminiani, both Parisians and active on the European scene, form a powerful brass section. On ‘Morning Prayer,’ Francesco uses for the first time a flute of his own design, the Nautilus, which resembles an ocarina. This instrument, carved from maple wood and stylized on the album cover, was designed according to the Fibonacci sequence and the golden ratio. Its use celebrates the mystical and exploratory nature of the duo formed by Kieran Hebden & Steve Reid, whose musical alchemy has left its mark on all those who have attended one of their concerts.

STEELOVER is a Belgian Melodic Rock / Metal band. The band was formed in the early 80's by three friends living in Liege, Belgium, the guitarists Pat Freson & Mel Presti and the bassist Nick Gardi. In search of a drummer, they threw their sights on Rudy Lenners (Scorpions) upon his return from Germany, having left the famous German band Scorpions. Rudy proposed to contact Vince Cardillo, a singer who had already on the one hand good experience and on the other hand he already recorded an album in London, “It will fit perfectly” explained Rudy. They all felt the magic during the first rehearsal. In no time, Steelover recorded their first album "Glove Me” which was released under the Mausoleum label. This album sold over more than 400.000 copies of which more than 76,000 in Poland. They followed with a tour across different countries like The Netherlands, Germany, France and Belgium including Forest National opening for Bon Jovi and KISS. Vince decided to leave the band. Replaced by Dani Klein, the second album was recorded but never released. Dani left the band after a short time with Mel Presti to start a new band under the name Vaya Con Dios.
The band came back in 2017 with a new E.P. (including single "Wild and Free") mixed by the legendary producer and and mixing engineer Tommy Hansen.
In 2019, Rudy Lenners greeted the audience one last time before retiring from his musical career. Vince had returned to the band at this point…after the show Vince, Pat & Nick decided to continue the Steelover adventure and in 2022 released the album “Stainless” on the Escape music label (ESM368). This was a great metal album and fans old and new longed to hear more. It’s now 2026 and Steelover are back with a brand-new recording featuring 11 tracks of hard rock / heavy metal. The band are very much in the style of that 80’s metal sound, a sort of mixture of Scorpions and Saxon if you like. These new songs all hit the mark making “Devil’s Highway” an album that needs to be checked out…

The second volume of this (already) cult series of British proto-metal compilation albums. Every artist on here was a regional band in their local underground scene of the late 1960s/early 1970s. The main thing that differentiates this series to any other, is the fact that none of the artists included had any kind of commercial release during their existence (apart from Fusion Farm, who self-released an extremely rare private press LP titled 'Rush Job' in 1971). All the artists were discovered after extremely lengthy searches of old music magazines, local newspapers, concert posters, government agencies.... By any means possible! It was a lot of work, but the results speak for themselves. The one thing that joins all these bands together (apart from being exclusively British), was their desire to play as loud and heavy as possible. This was a magical era in rock music, where Black Sabbath were the undisputed kings, but the industry simply didn't want to recognise the countless other band that existed in their gloomy wake. All of the recordings on Yeah Man, It's Bloody Heavy! are taken from demos, whether originating from crusty old 1/4 inch tapes, dusty acetate discs or third generation cassette tapes. Basically, whatever format was available. As a result, sound quality varies, though we did our utmost to get these precious artefacts sounding as killer as possible. For instance, Bonehead were close friends of Led Zeppelin. Their guitarist/vocalist Paul Lockey had previously played with Robert Plant and John Bonham in the Band Of Joy. Their track, 'Free To Escape', was actually an audition tape for Atlantic Records, which had been instigated by Robert himself. Unfortunately, the band broke up not long after the recording. So, their recording is top notch, whereas others were taken from rehearsal tapes (such as Fusion Farms' - Keys To Hell). But the main thing is, there's a spirit that unites them all. Sit back, roll up a fat one and let your mind be blown by the obnoxious sounds and sheer weight of vintage gravity that is: 'Yeah Man, It's Bloody Heavy! Vol 2'.

Kitsune No Yomeiri, which translates to the fox’s wedding, is an endearing expression used to describe sunshowers. Dawson returned home from a recent tour of Japan with a collection of field recordings documenting the spring rain he encountered throughout his travels. These curious sounds, stretching from peaceful shrines to clattering city streets, underpin the material.

Dawson also credits the wonderful folks he met on that tour with profoundly shaping the direction of the album. After each show he found himself immersed in inspiring conversations about the guitar. Through navigating the language barrier, he discovered he was communicating with an immense sincerity that he would ordinarily avoid at all costs. “I’ve always just made records at home in a vortex, but this time it felt like those conversations were there with me in the studio.”

Musically the album has a slight western slant. It’s not country, but it does see Dawson lean softly into his prairie past. Constellations of stray notes and rusted tones form nostalgic melodies, like chance encounters between old friends. Dawson allows phrases and gestures to repeat across the record, resulting in a collection that’s more akin to turning the pages of a novel than a series of vignettes vying for attention.

Previously unreleased proto-metal album by this criminally forgotten UK band. Sweaty Betty were neighbours and friends of Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, all hailing from the West Midlands region of England. The Sweatier The Bettyer, was recorded in 1974/75 and features Budgie drummer Pete Boot. Also, on vocals was future NWOBHM cult legend: Rik Staines, who went on to form Dark Star. Their debut 45: Lady of Mars is considered a classic of the genre. After several years of strenuous research, Rise Above Relics is excited to bring this long-lost jewel from the crypts of the 1970s British underground scene. Mastered and cut from the original 1/4" tapes, it is a gargantuan feast for fans of the era

With S.I.K. (Sociedad Internacional de la Kumbia), Conjunto Media Luna maps a constellation of sounds, friendships, and underground connections stretching across Colombia, Mexico, the United States, and beyond.
Produced in Bogotá between 2024 and 2026 by Iván Medellín, the album draws energy from rebajada culture, low-end frequencies, vinyl obsession, rap, and the hypnotic pull of cumbia. Accordion melodies, sampled fragments, drum machines, and sound system pressure intertwine throughout the record, creating a world where tradition is constantly reimagined through contemporary urban culture.
Featuring contributions from artists such as La Gallo 3:20, Turbo Sonidero, Amantes del Futuro, Mextape, León Pardo, Mismo Perro, and Hito de Piedra, S.I.K. unfolds as a dialogue between scenes that have spent years exchanging records, ideas, aesthetics, and frequencies.
The artwork comes from Mateo Rivano, one of the key visual architects of Bogotá's experimental tropical underground, whose imagery perfectly captures the album's blend of street mythology, sonic futurism, and tropical psychedelia.
Part sound system manifesto, part love letter to the global kumbia underground, S.I.K. is dedicated to everyone expanding the culture from their own corner of the map, through music, dance, graphics, fashion, and noise.

Edition of 600 copies, not sealed

Made with Love by Little Beat More 2026
Published by Little Beat More

With S.I.K. (Sociedad Internacional de la Kumbia), Conjunto Media Luna maps a constellation of sounds, friendships, and underground connections stretching across Colombia, Mexico, the United States, and beyond.
Produced in Bogotá between 2024 and 2026 by Iván Medellín, the album draws energy from rebajada culture, low-end frequencies, vinyl obsession, rap, and the hypnotic pull of cumbia. Accordion melodies, sampled fragments, drum machines, and sound system pressure intertwine throughout the record, creating a world where tradition is constantly reimagined through contemporary urban culture.
Featuring contributions from artists such as La Gallo 3:20, Turbo Sonidero, Amantes del Futuro, Mextape, León Pardo, Mismo Perro, and Hito de Piedra, S.I.K. unfolds as a dialogue between scenes that have spent years exchanging records, ideas, aesthetics, and frequencies.
The artwork comes from Mateo Rivano, one of the key visual architects of Bogotá's experimental tropical underground, whose imagery perfectly captures the album's blend of street mythology, sonic futurism, and tropical psychedelia.
Part sound system manifesto, part love letter to the global kumbia underground, S.I.K. is dedicated to everyone expanding the culture from their own corner of the map, through music, dance, graphics, fashion, and noise.

Edition of 600 copies, not sealed

Made with Love by Little Beat More 2026
Published by Little Beat More

The late Matt Watts was an American songwriter/storyteller and performer from Montana residing in Antwerp and Brussels, Belgium. He ws the son of a catholic priest and mother with Cherokee roots in the Carolinas.

He first began using the electric organ to write songs and also recording them on cassettes when he was 11 years old. When he was 13 his mother bought him an electric guitar from a pawn shop in South Carolina. Using a karaoke machine as an amplifier, he began writing and performing and recorded his first album at age 15 in a small studio in Great Falls, Montana.In addition to writing and performing his own music, he began performing and touring with various local Punk & Noise bands.

In 2007 when he was 19, he moved to Antwerp, Belgium. Since his arrival he has worked and performed with Zita Swoon Group, become a member of Rudy Trouvé's I H8 Camera, translated Simon Allemeersch and Rudy Trouvé’s critically acclaimed piece SCREEN into English, formed The Calicos (now Humo’s Rock Rally winners under Quinten Vermaelen) as a one time backing band, worked with many artists and songwriters (including Emillina Torini & The Colorist, The Love Substitutes, ..) and toured and released various widely acclaimed solo albums and a duo album with Nicolas Rombouts on Starman Records.

Highlights for sure were “How Different It Was When You Were There” (2017 - **** De Standaard), produced by Nicolas Rombouts (ex-Dez Mona) and featured guest performances by Nathalie Delcroix and Bjorn Eriksson (Eriksson Delcroix) and Stef Kamil Carlens. Its excellent successor “Queens” (produced by Stef Kamil Carlens and Nicolas Rombouts) featured a.o. the late Sandy Dillon and Jim White.

Sadly Matt Watts passed away too soon in June 2024. “Restless Kind” is the final album readied shortly before his death in a production by Bai Kamara Jr. Another astonishing collection of intimate Americana songs with lyrics as fascinating miniature novels.

Super limited (1000 Global) Silver Die-Cut vinyl first pressing, shrinkwrapped with hand stamped 'cafe' napkin obscuring the cover. Please preorder asap.

On Cafe Paradiso, Mykki Blanco is completely reborn, trading the persona - driven theatrics of his previous releases for something more interior and exacting. The record draws from the diverse, banal and yet idiosyncratic contexts of the artist's life in transit.

"Chameleonic" is one way to describe the artist known as Mykki Blanco, who has played many roles through his storied career: a rapper, a poet, a magazine editor, an advocate. Perhaps "fearless" better describes him; with high profile collaborations from the likes of Charli XCX, Teyana Taylor, Basement Jaxx, Blood Orange, Big Freedia, Kelsey Lu, Michael Stipe, Arca and Anhoni, Mykki has been recognised as a pioneer of queer-centric hip-hop who resonates across musicians of many genres and generations.

This album is Mykki at their most direct - a coherent statement with collaborator FaltyDL and a massively listenable album for fans of LCD Soundsystem and New York Punk, packaged in striking 'Napkin covered' deluxe vinyl for a super-exclusive first run

Feelin’ Love returns to Soulfuric Deep with a fresh remix package built around one of house music’s most recognisable vocal anthems, bringing new energy to a timeless dancefloor favourite.

Originally released by Soulsearcher, the track has remained a staple across house and disco sets for decades, celebrated for its uplifting vocal, infectious groove and enduring crossover appeal.

This new edition pairs the original Soulsearcher Club Mix with a selection of contemporary reinterpretations, including brand-new remixes from RUZE & Chesster and Dr Packer, alongside the Ian Carey Main Mix, offering a versatile package for both modern and classic house DJs.

Blending soulful vocals, groove-led rhythms and contemporary production touches, the release bridges generations of house music while retaining the feel-good energy that made the original such a lasting success.

Back on fresh 12" vinyl, Feelin’ Love continues to resonate with both long-time collectors and a new wave of DJs, making it a strong addition to any house-focused record selection.

A highly recognisable and DJ-friendly release for stores supporting house, deep house and soulful dancefloor sounds.

EXTRACELLULAR:

the space between cells where signals are exchanged & life is communicated

12" vinyl compilation of pulsing electro, jazz fragments, industrial dub & spoken abstraction featuring label friends & associates from the UK & EU.

Lily Allen’s era-defining iconic debut album Alright, Still celebrates its 20th anniversary with this limited-edition picture disc. Housed in a gatefold sleeve with silver foil featuring new anniversary artwork, the tracklist includes the hits 'Smile', 'LDN', 'Alfie' and 'Littlest Things', plus the bonus track 'Nan You're a Window Shopper'.

Die Gentrys, bekannt für ihren Hit „Keep On Dancing“ aus dem Jahr 1965, waren eine Garage-Rock-Band aus Memphis, die 1970 zu Sun Records wechselte, als das Label nach Nashville umzog. Diese Sammlung seltener Grooves und bisher unveröffentlichter, verschollener Titel aus dem Sun-Archiv präsentiert die Gentrys unter der Leitung des legendären WWE-Managers und TV-Stars Jimmy Hart, produziert vom Sohn des Visionärs Sam Phillips, Knox Phillips. „It’s Been So Long“ zeigt eine sanftere Seite der Band und verbindet Harmonien im Laurel-Canyon-Stil mit ihrem Memphis-Rock-Sound.

New EP, after a long break.

Bermuda and Matteo Point, Italian producers and DJs who have been friends for years, return with a new EP born from their shared vision of electronic music.

On Side A, Bermuda delivers dry 80s-inspired drums, energetic synths, and deep, precise, and immersive sounds.

On Side B, Matteo Point brings a more visionary and experimental approach: dreamy high-tone synths, reverse effects, and dynamic drums that create a hypnotic and constantly evolving atmosphere.

Some records arrive with a clear purpose.

Others take years to reveal why they belong together.

PLNK008 is the first solo release by Natural Goofy on Planka Records. Following a series of appearances across various labels and collaborations, this record offers a deeper look into the sound he has been quietly shaping over the years.

A collection of recordings gathered over time, connected less by genre than by a shared sense of mood and movement.

Rather than chasing functionality, the record follows instinct. Loops are allowed to breathe. Details appear slowly. Tension builds almost unnoticed. Elements drift in and out of focus. The intention was never to arrive somewhere quickly, but to stay inside a feeling for as long as it remains interesting.

The release also includes a special reinterpretation of one of the EP's tracks by dear friend and talented Italian producer Shkedul.

The original version of the track will be available exclusively as a digital bonus on Planka's Bandcamp.

These tracks were not designed to demand attention. They reward it.

For those willing to spend time with them.

Limited edition. Vinyl only.

Joaquin ‘Joe’ Claussell returns to the Spring Revisited project, and he delivers another jazz-infused house mix of a classic funk track by the iconic Fatback Band. Spring Revisited is collaborative project between Ace Records and Acid Jazz, inviting influential house music producers to reinterpret classic tracks from seminal New York label Spring Records, a pioneer in funk, soul and disco. After a series of sell-out and chart-topping 12” and 7” releases, as well as a 2LP compilation, the project continues with these two new mixes of the Fatback Band’s ‘(Do The) Spanish Hustle)’. Claussell combines the original classic funk elements with Latino percussion and samba-styled trumpets.

First up is his 'Sacred Rhythm Version’, which lifts the tempo and loops a section of the original's percussion. Keeping the trumpets, and soulful vocal phrases, he adds a DJ-friendly kick drum and shows off his improvisation skills with a vibrant synth line. On the flip, he strips back some of the drums and horns and focuses on the bassline with the 'Spanish Harlem Dub,' which is a moody rework utilising some funk-infused organ chords. On the original track Joe says: "I can vividly recall the very first time I heard Spanish Hustle blasting through my brother Jackie’s stereo system. Not long afterward, I experienced its energy again on the dance floor at a discotheque known as The Inferno, where it was masterfully delivered by the legendary René Hewitt. The record left an imprint on my spirit that never faded.’ A spectacular continuation of the series, presented in the nowsignature Spring Revisited housebag, resembling an original worn-in promotional 12”, pressed in a strictly limited run!

Bypass EP brings label friend Connor Wall to Stelus, his deepest body of work yet, pushing further into the core of his signature palette than anything before. The A-side sets a tone and holds it. 'Bypass' opens with melancholic ambience, patient and unhurried, establishing the mood that carries the release. 'Listen to Me Talk' follows with something stranger, crafted for late hours and darker moments. 'Maple Lok' closes the A-side as a slow burner, a long gurgling lead hook winding through textural restraint. The B-side opens at the release's peak. 'Infotrut' brings warm, powerful low end paired with swampy overtones, earning the spotlight without asking for it. 'Ocean Brain' closes in full turbine hypnosis, completing the picture and confirming the depth of Connor's sound. Depth has no shortcut.

Bristol’s Friendly Records mark 10 years with a special compilation in aid of War Child - raising vital funds for children affected by conflict.

The record brings together standout tracks from recent Friendly Records 7” releases supporting War Child, featuring Portishead, PJ Harvey, IDLES, Sleaford Mods, Hot Chip, Beak and more!

Also includes tracks from Friendly Recordings releases by Christian Madden And The Enemy Chorus, Floating World Pictures, Nick Craft, Claude Cooper & Brain Fog and ZEE.

exclusive artwork by David Shrigley.

Every purchase will help War Child UK protect, educate and stand up for the rights of children living through war.

Bristol’s Friendly Records mark 10 years with a special compilation in aid of War Child - raising vital funds for children affected by conflict.

The record brings together standout tracks from recent Friendly Records 7” releases supporting War Child, featuring Portishead, PJ Harvey, IDLES, Sleaford Mods, Hot Chip, Beak and more!

Also includes tracks from Friendly Recordings releases by Christian Madden And The Enemy Chorus, Floating World Pictures, Nick Craft, Claude Cooper & Brain Fog and ZEE.

exclusive artwork by David Shrigley.

Every purchase will help War Child UK protect, educate and stand up for the rights of children living through war.

In Walter Benjamin’s seminal essay “Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction”, he posits that the aura of art objects is destroyed by the ability to photographically reproduce them. When you had to make a pilgrimage to a work it remained elusive, charged, ever distant; but when you can easily see a reproduction, such aura dissipates. What Benjamin did not anticipate is that in the age of AI and the frictionless fount of digital content, we have imbued mechanical and analog means of media production with aura. Film cameras from the last 100 years are in high demand (the point and shoot Olympus Mju I featured in Wim Wenders film Perfect Days still sells for $200), vinyl sales continue to grow year by year, 35mm and 70mm film screenings have become aura-drenched events people travel across country for, and as to the world of vintage and analog synthesizers, when a friend asked for the price on the Yamaha CS-80 synth used on Toto’s “Africa”, the answer was a cool $60,000.

Despite the ability to simulate almost any synthesizer on a computer, the original physical units retain their mystique. Perhaps this lies in the physical process, many of these synths are temperamental and difficult to fully utilize, and the effort and ingenuity can be felt in ways that will always be absent from easy digital simulacra. Perhaps there is an aura in their imperfection, as Brian Eno wrote: “Whatever you now find weird, ugly, uncomfortable and nasty about a new medium will surely become its signature. CD distortion, the jitteriness of digital video, the crap sound of 8-bit - all of these will be cherished and emulated as soon as they can be avoided.” Some may call this nostalgia, but such sonic imperfections are the sounds of humans interacting with the physical world, and it is understandable to feel a pang of emotion and attachment in a time of exponential alienation.

Marche 22 was recorded over a week at the Museo Del Synth Marchigiano in Macerata, Italy. The museum is filled with rare and obscure synths (especially CRB, GEM & Elka) as well as salvaged materials from a nearby shuttered Farfisa organ factory, including MARS, an unfinished realtime audio processing application developed by IRIS - similar to the now well known MAX/MSP. Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein play a suite of pieces that encompasses the last sixty years of synthesizer music—there are nods to Cluster, Tangerine Dream, Jean Michel Jarre, and Morton Subotnick. Dixon and Stein are like jazz masters playing the American songbook with their own riffs and quotations. What shines through in these varied works that are sometimes rhythmic, sometimes melancholic, and sometimes both, is a soul, a spirit, an emotion vibrating through the tones like the charge of coming rain or the thrum of a distant train on the tracks. - Neil Fauerso

What is Buck? Buck is a state of mind, a way of life, a demeanor that gets you through the good times and the bad. If you ask Brainstory, It is also the energy that permeates their debut album. Kevin, Tony, and Eric are a trio of brothers bounded by blood, fate, and a small town with nothing to do. Their story begins in the long lost lands of the San Bernardino Valley, in the twilight zone known as Rialto, California: An arid wasteland of boredom and empty lots. Through punk rock and skateboarding they found temporary liberation from the local monotony. However, it wouldn't be long before a hunger for more led them to explore musical realms beyond that of the hardcore punk they admired. After stints at music school and steady disappointment trying to navigate their local jazz scene they moved to Los Angeles and Brainstory was born. Through a introduction from Chicano Batman's bassist, Brainstory caught the ears of Big Crown head honchos Danny Akalepse and Leon Michels. Shortly thereafter they were on their way to Queens, to record at The Legendary Diamond Mine with Michels at the helm. An instant chemistry yielded 10 songs in 10 days and now Brainstory has gifted the world with one hell of an introduction to all things Buck. Highlights include the sublime slow burner, "Dead End" which was the A-side to their first 45 on Big Crown that sold out in a matter of days. With Kevin's sublime falsetto floating atop Tony and Eric's unflappable and unmistakable backbeat, this tune has become a favorite with the ballad heads, the low-riders, and the slowie collectors. "Breathe" showcases another side of their sound taking a page out of the Shuggie Otis playbook and flipping the script with some stoned out west coast swag. Kev and Tony's father, Big Tone, an accomplished performer himself, steps in on "Peter Pan" to sing lead vocals over a chorus of friends and family. Bassist extraordinaire, Tony, takes over lead vocal duties on "Sorry", a smoked out, G Funk groove that is just waiting to be sampled. These guys have come a long way from their self released EPs and opening tours with Chicano Batman. Their musical growth is undeniable, and taking their California sunshine vibes and mixing them with Michels' NYC aesthetic has proven to be an amazing combination. It's a debut record that pulls influences from so many genres seamlessly it's hard to nail down. Call it Funk, call it Rock, call it Soul, but over here at Big Crown HQ, we've decided to call it BUCK.

American experimental composer Stephen O’Malley releases Avaeken, two sides of immense, immersive, self-annihilating music via Dais Records.

The record preserves site-specific work: O’Malley installed Avaeken as part of Wish You Were Here, the exhibition by renowned American artist Banks Violette, underscoring the tension between presence and absence, life and loss.

O’Malley and Violette have developed a distinct language of sound, space, and sculpture over the past two decades, reverberating through the walls of world-class institutions from The Guggenheim and Centre Pompidou to prominent galleries such as Maureen Paley in London, Gladstone Gallery in NYC, and Antwerp’s TICK TACK, the brutalist space where Wish You Were Here unfolded in early 2026.

Emerging now as an LP, Avaeken presents power and phenomena: low-frequency vibrations, deep oscillations, and phase cancellations that translate as innately effective in any environment. Violette’s visual expression — the impossibility of locating yourself within the loss of a friend and the broader decay of culture — now fills the LP sleeve and feels inextricable from O’Malley’s sound, both still without resolution.

“Natural harmonic tone coloured by the valves of the amplification is the one desired characteristic,” reads the initial notes.

“At first I asked, why would I write for another guitar player?” he says. “I realized how amazing it is to be a listener on the other side of the music; together we were able to try all these precisions with intonation, harmonics, specific microtonal ideas.”

The quartet performed Avaeken several times before O’Malley joined them for a recording session at Muziekcentrum De Bijloke, a 13th-century former hospital with modern acoustics in Ghent.

Brennan Wedl"s self-titled album is a testament to collaboration, with old selves, the selves yet-to-be and the friends helping you along the way. It"s an anthology of spiritual awakening that sizes up the road ahead, encapsulating the messes and triumphs when leaving a traditional path for something less steady. Wedl is already a prolific artist, releasing solo music since 2012, and co-founding the queercore outfit Dazey & The Scouts in 2015. On her debut album for ANTI-, she shakes off the prying eyes of expectation, leaving behind the anxiety of forming yourself for others and welcoming in the delight of finally being exactly who you are. Wedl enlisted Katie Crutchfield (Waxahatchee) and Brad Cook (Bon Iver, Hurray for the Riff Raff) to co-produce and play on the album, with instrumentalists Colin Croom, Lindsey Jordan and Matt McCaughan also sprinkled throughout. Together, they formed a middle ground between punk, grunge and Americana - "grungetry" as they affectionately call it - capturing all tracks within a 10 day stay at Cook"s studio in Durham, NC.