Search:the scene

Born in Zary and currently based in Poznan, Julia Rover is a singer, songwriter, and DJ. She has been active on the music scene for several years. She has recorded several tracks, performed numerous concerts, and collaborated on productions with other artists. All this inevitably led to what has just happened-her debut EP.
"Co z Toba" ("What's happening with you?" ) is the first entirely new and original (no samples!;) release in the label's catalog, simultaneously inaugurating the series The Very Polish Originals.
This record tells a story on multiple levels. The lyrics reflect tales of relationships. Of emotions. Of questions. Of dilemmas. Of disappointments. Of hopes. Of cold breakups and passionate reunions. The musical layer is also a kind of storytelling, only expressed through different means. Each track musically corresponds with the lyrics, the singing style, and the interpretation.The music complements the lyrics, embedding them in a mood-appropriate "setting."
The EP opener "Co z Tob??" moves within the climate of coldwave basslines. After that comes "Sen" (Dream), veering into territories closer to '80s synth-pop. As it fades, we catch our "Oddech" (Breath) at a slower tempo reminiscent of italo or rather neo-italo styles. We remain 3-4 decades behind. However, this journey does not feel regressive. Instead, it's reinterpretative. Constantly immersed in the DNA of the label, which has been bringing the best of musical history to light for years. The fourth and final track on the record slows down almost into a dark, psychedelic, leftfield ballad, slowly floating towards the '90s. It carries.
And that's almost everything. But it's worth getting here. Because at the end, as a sort of postscript, the title track "Co z Tob??" reappears in a danceable version. So, as it began, so it ends. Just more acid-like.

Do Your Own Dance! VARIOUS ARTISTS
Chic’s Nile Rogers is lauded as an international star and the recently departed Patrick Adams is acknowledged as one of the most important pioneers of disco music, but behind them were an army of lesser-known musicians, producers, and arrangers including one of the founding-fathers of New York Dance, the enigma Lonnie Johnson.
Scorpgemi Records and Lonnie Johnson, the man behind the label, will be unknown to most, but he was an important figure at the birth of dance music. His label featured work by several leading voices of the New York scene and provided one of New York’s most instantly recognisable dance music records— “Keep In Touch (Body To Body)”—one of the greatest club cuts ever.. But Johnson himself leaves hardly a trace, a behind-the-scenes person, and a friend of Patrick Adams who is only known to those who study the small print on record labels.
So, Lonnie Joel Johnson proves to be both highly influential, and almost completely elusive. A backroom person, who created an anthem across the Atlantic from his home base in New York. A man who was instrumental in the development of Patrick Adams’ career from producer of vocal groups to the go-to producer for dancefloor gold. Yet, for all this there are no biographical details, no interviews and almost nothing left behind except for a small but fantastic catalogue of music.
The first ever curated works of the Broadway based Scorpgemi label Produced by Lonnie Johnson, one of the founding-fathers of New York Dance Dancefloor Gold from the enigma that is Lonnie Joel Johnson, the man behind the career of the legendary Patrick Adams.

REPRESSED !!

Vibraphone and keyboard player, master arranger and bandleader, Mulatu Astatke is one of the all-time greats of Ethiopian music and the creator of his own original music form, Ethio jazz. Through the acclaimed Ethiopiques album series and through featuring on the soundtrack to the Jim Jarmusch film Broken Flowers, his music has belatedly reached a global audience and a new, younger generation of fans. In November of last year, he recorded an inspired new album with London psych jazz band The Heliocentrics for Strut's 'Inspiration Information' studio collaboration series. Now, Strut are proud to present, for the first time anywhere, the definitive Mulatu career retrospective covering his landmark 60's and 70's recordings.
Mulatu is a true pioneer of African music. He was the first Ethiopian musician of his generation to travel extensively and to record abroad - he studied in the UK in Wales and at Trinity College Of Music in London, cutting his teeth on the buoyant London jazz scene of the early 60's. He became the first African student to attend Harvard and he lived and recorded in New York, developing a unique sound that fused Western jazz with traditional Ethiopian melodies.
Tracing the progression of his Ethio jazz experiments with full access to all of the labels for whom he recorded, Mulatu Astatke: New York-AddisLondon is the essential Mulatu. Covering his first recordings in the UK during 1965, his groundbreaking fusions for the small Worthy label in New York and his key '70s recordings back in Addis on Amha, Phillips and Axum, the album features comprehensive sleeve notes by Miles Cleret, boss of the excellent Soundway Records imprint, and rare, previously unseen photos from Mulatu's personal archive.

Tricatel is releasing on gatefold vinyl a selection of tracks composed by Bertrand Burgalat for Ça, c'est Paris! the series directed by Marc Fitoussi, starring Alex Lutz, Nicolas Maury and Monica Bellucci.

Marc Fitoussi - extract from the sleeve notes
After collaborating on my film "Les Apparences", I knew he'd be the ideal man for this series. Someone who could make real revue music, like you'd hear at the Paradis Latin or the Alcazar, and who could also be resolutely contemporary, like when the troupe relaxes and dances in a bar to a hit of the moment.

Stéphane Lerouge - extract from the sleeve notes
It's a genre that dates back to the thirties, that of the backstage musical, a genre with well-defined codes: the struggle of a collective, a troupe of singers and dancers, to put on a show that, despite a tsunami of obstacles, will end in triumph and reveal a new star. A broad spectrum of films can be linked to this, from "Quarante-deuxième rue" to "Tous en scène", from "Chorus line" to "Trois places pour le vingt-six". And today, the original link in this long chain is the series "Ça, c'est Paris!", in which Marc Fitoussi strips away this tradition, reenchanting it, making it crackle with new energy. In the end, his mission is almost the same as that of his main character, Gaspard Berthille (Alex Lutz), heir to a cabaret, the Tout-Paris, for whom he must invent a present, or rather, a future. To carry out this delicate task, Gaspard Berthille needed an accomplice, invisible on screen: Bertrand Burgalat. His freedom, the way he juggles harmony and tonality, shines through in every measure, as if Marc Fitoussi's subject had triggered something decisive and essential in him.

It's another 45 Rocafort treatment!

"If There's a Will, There's a Way" was written by Don Covay and Donny Hathaway and released in 1972 on the American Janus Records label. Covay, a key figure in the 1960s and 1970s soul scene, was known for his gritty voice and songwriting for artists like Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett. Hathaway, on the other hand, was an influential soul singer, composer, and pianist often celebrated for his collaborations with Roberta Flack. This song blends both of their distinct styles: Covay's raw, Southern soul vibe and Hathaway's sophisticated, jazz-influenced arrangements. Like Donny Hathaway's live album released that same year in 1972, this track grabs you from the very first notes. A classic soul groove, with a powerful vocal delivery!

Notably, this track was later sampled by Pete Rock in his remix of "Lots of Lovin'" with C.L. Smooth, bringing the soulful essence of the original into the realm of 90s hip-hop.

On the b-side, another track from the fantastic Janus Records catalogue. Harvey Mandel's "Baby Batter," originally released in 1971 is a blend of funky blues and psychedelic rock vibes representing another popular genre from the early 70's in the USA. Mandel's signature guitar work shines throughout the track and the drum break in the introduction will please the hip-hop heads and 45 DJs out there.

Vinyl Only / Sleeve manufactured with 400 mcn Fedrigoni "Shiro Eco" paper / Original unreleased poster with alternative artwork insert with notes by Tony Higgins printed on schedography peach past color paper / PVC outers / original artwork /

Personnel:
Tete Mbambisa - Piano
Basil Coetzee - Tenor Sax and Flute
Zulu Bidi - Bass
Monty Weber - Drums

Notes:
Mbambisa first gained prominence as a pianist in 1961 as a member of the Jazz Giants, this time with Pukwana as saxophonist, bassist Martin Mgijima and drummer Makaya Mtoshoko, setting the sound and shape of a scene that became known as Cape Jazz. Following an introduction from Chris McGregor, Mbambisa formed a band, The Swinging City Six, with saxophonist Ronnie Beer before going on to play at the end of the 1960s in the groups The Soul Jazzmen and Spirits Rejoice with Duku Makasi. As a member of The Soul Jazzmen, Mbambisa recorded the breakthrough album 'Inhlupenko Distress' in 1969 for the City Special label. After a recording hiatus, Mbambisa returned in 1974 with an octet album, 'Tete's Big Sound' released on a newly formed label, As Shams or The Sun, established by South African record store owner and independent producer Rashid Vally. 'Tet's Big Sound' included tracks like 'Unity' and the 'Black Heroes Lamentation', now considered a classic in the South African jazz underground.

The sound that Mbambisa carved in this period was wholly acoustic, and is a style that now is often loosely labelled spiritual jazz, a sound that alludes to deep African textures and rhythms balanced with clear nods to American hard bop and modal jazz, sometimes edging toward free improvisation in echoes of John Coltrane and Pharaoh Sanders. The music is often centred around a fulcrum of trance like vamps with repeated motifs that allow for extended pieces that create a hypnotic effect. This clearly exemplified on Mbambisa's next album, 'Did You Tell Your Mother', released in 1979, once more for The Sun label. (Tony Higgins)

Major-label debut by You Me At Six, Hold Me Down, was released on Virgin Records in January 2010, after the success of their debut album Take Off Your Colours - Released on vinyl for the first time, hear the album that cemented their reputation pressed on high-quality 180g vinyl. Taking their name from an abbreviation of the time they would meet, You Me At Six were formed in Weybridge, Surrey in 2004 by vocalist Josh Franceschi, guitarists Max Helyer and Chris Miller, and bassist Matt Barnes. Drummer Dan Flint joined in 2007. They first broke through at 2007's Slam Dunk Festival with their brew of heavy, melodic, emo-tinged rock, and after two self-released singles, the band signed to Slam Dunk Records. By 2010, they had signed to Virgin. Working with producers John Mitchell and Matt O'Grady, the band crafted 12 new tunes for Hold Me Down, including the singles Kiss And Tell, Underdog and Liquid Confidence which won Best Single at the 2010 Kerrang! Awards. The album reached No 5 in the UK chart, and fully established them on the vibrant UK rock scene. With a stable line up since 2007, You Me At Six have become one of Britain's most-loved bands, and announced recently that they will be splitting up after playing the Slam Dunk Festival in 2025, with Franceschi stating "Let's have the opportunity to say goodbye properly, versus slipping out the back door."

Original artwork / Black vinyl / 505 mcn paper / Lucid lamination / Greyscale 30 x 30 cm insert printed on 300 mcn DNS paper with condensed interview to Saheb Sarbib and exclusive pictures.

Personnel:
Daunik Lazro - Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Percussion
Saheb Sarbib - Double Bass, Reeds, Flute, Percussion
Jonathan Dickinson - Drums, Percussion
Manuel Resende - Electric Piano, Piano, Percussion


Notes:
The bass, that metronome that marks the time for musicians of every style, of every era, that secluded, silent, but essential character for a band. Without the bass, the music would be deflated, the heart notes would leave a wasteland of rowdy high frequencies without any rules. But bass players who have character can elevate those low frequencies and even make them loud at times. Who knows if free jazz, if we want to call it that, is exalted by the Arabic background, those semitones between the first and second degree that also make the bass sparkling? In his records, Saheb elevates the bass to a mother instrument, gives it life as vibrant as the spring that is coming. Solos are on par with that of the reeds and stand up to listening without waiting for another antagonist to return to take back the scene. This is one of the most playful and entertaining records we have reissued to date. Take a tour of the world of Saheb!

Brother II is an incredible synth boogie band from the early 80's made up of brothers J. and M. Soso. The title You was born is a true masterpiece of the original boogie funk sound of the 80s when synths dominated the sound of the music scene. The excellence and flow of the bass line that moves all the atoms in the hips paired with the present and dominant synth electronic atmosphere makes this title as one of the first three letters of the boogie alphabet. So fans of the original synth boogie genre, don't waste time and order this forgotten boogie gem right away.

Free jazz poetry by a spry, 85 year old Joe McPhee, adapting his renowned improvised practice to words - juxtaposed with Mats Gustafson’s sparing brass and electric gestures. It’s an utterly timeless and transfixing salvo, another shiny notch for Smalltown Supersound’s Le Jazz Non Series.

As a common ligature to the OG free jazz scene of ‘60s NYC, with formative binds to its European offshoots and the experimental avant garde, Joe McPhee is a true force of nature who has represented jazz at its freest over a remarkable lifetime. In duo with Swedish free jazz and noise standard bearer Mats Gustafson, he upends expectations with an astonishingly vivid and upfront example of his enduring contribution to freely improvised music. In 11 parts he variously reflects on everything from the neon sleaze and scuzz of NYC to contemporary US politicians and laugh out loud imitations of his previous sparring partners such as Peter Brötzmann, with a head-slapping immediacy that leaves you reeling, spellbound.

McPhee’s flow of rare, organic cadence, ranging from urgent to contemplative and dreamlike, is blessed with a unique turn-of-phrase that surely mirrors his decades of instrumental work. Gustafsson, meanwhile, dextrously takes up the mantle with a multi-instrumental spectrum of sounds, leaving McPhee unbound and able to float and sting on the mic. There’s obvious wisdom in his perceptively penetrative observations, as derived from a rich cultural life well spent, but also a playful naivety and levity in his ability to veer from almost melodic speech to explosive aggression and a knowing, bathetic wit. It’s perhaps hard to believe that McPhee only started incorporating and performing spoken word in his work in the past ten years, a half century since his declaration of “What Time Is It‽” announced his arrival on a legendary debut ‘Nation Time’ (1971), ushering in one of free jazz’s most singular characters in the process.

Oscillating between discordant reflections on life as a touring musician, set to Gustafsson’s skronk and culminating in a snort-worthy imitation of Peter Brötzmann’s gruff German accent, on ‘Short Pieces’ or the glowering growl and noise exhortations of ‘Guitar’, he evokes a more sweetly consonant calm in ‘When I Grow Up’ and eerie threat of ‘The Dreams Book’, and viscerality of ‘Disco Death’, where Gustafson’s tonal versatility comes into hugely mutable play, whilst McPhee’s extraordinary, unaffected voice is a constant. It’s perhaps McPhee’s balance of cool measuredness and wellspring of barbed energies that allows us, at least, to get the most out of this one; not stifling with mannered or manicured enunciation that can trigger certain icks; keeping close to the nature of spoken word in a way that avoids cliche and becomes inherently critical of it within his purposeful, non-hesitant clarity and unflinching approach.

Pattern-Seeking Animals comes out of the gate in 2025 with the release of their fifth album
Friend of All Creatures due out on February 14th, on GEP Records. The Los Angeles-based
quartet have been one of the prog scene’s most prolific and well-received artists, beginning
with the release of their self-titled debut album in 2019, followed by Prehensile Tales in
2020, Only Passing Through in 2022 and Spooky Action at a Distance in 2023.
Originally formed with past members of Spock’s Beard, Pattern-Seeking Animals (P-SA) has
long since staked claim to its own identity, forging a strong path in the prog world. The
band, named after a quote about human behavior from science historian Michael Shermer,
PS-A is Ted Leonard (lead vocals and guitar), John Boegehold (keyboards, guitars,
programming), Dave Meros (basses) and the energetic Jimmy Keegan (drums and vocals).
Friend of All Creatures (named from a verse in the Bhagavad Gita) contains 7 songs, all
written by Boegehold, who also produced the album. It was engineered and mixed at
Woodcliff Studio in Los Angeles by Frank Rosato in 2024.

Sometime in 2005, a lone box of master tapes escaped an estate sale and made its way through a network of collectors, record dealers, and “junkers” into the hands of leading Ohio soul expert Dante Carfagna, who linked them to Columbus, Ohio’s mysterious Prix label (See: Eccentric Soul: The Prix Label). A bit of research turned up Prix proprietor George Beter, who identified most of the unlabelled material. All it took was an endless series of phone calls and letters and two fields trips in Columbus. But one complete mystery wended its way onto our final Prix compilation. “You and Me,” a simple but irrepressible demo credited only to Penny & the Quarters, was found tacked onto a mixed studio reel. Our survey of every willing lifer left on the Columbus soul scene, including retired DJs, producers, and important local artists, produced not so much as a glimmer of recognition at the name Penny & the Quarters. Though we loved the song from the first play, it may’ve ended up a bit buried on our original compilation, as #18 of 19 tracks.

Sometime in 2005, a lone box of master tapes escaped an estate sale and made its way through a network of collectors, record dealers, and “junkers” into the hands of leading Ohio soul expert Dante Carfagna, who linked them to Columbus, Ohio’s mysterious Prix label (See: Eccentric Soul: The Prix Label). A bit of research turned up Prix proprietor George Beter, who identified most of the unlabelled material. All it took was an endless series of phone calls and letters and two fields trips in Columbus. But one complete mystery wended its way onto our final Prix compilation. “You and Me,” a simple but irrepressible demo credited only to Penny & the Quarters, was found tacked onto a mixed studio reel. Our survey of every willing lifer left on the Columbus soul scene, including retired DJs, producers, and important local artists, produced not so much as a glimmer of recognition at the name Penny & the Quarters. Though we loved the song from the first play, it may’ve ended up a bit buried on our original compilation, as #18 of 19 tracks.

Exit Wounds by The Haunted is a must-have reissue for fans of powerful, unrelenting metal. Originally released in 2014, this iconic album showcases The Haunted’s signature blend of thrash, death metal, and hardcore influences, with razor-sharp riffs and intense energy that set it apart in the genre. Known for their fierce, high-energy sound, The Haunted was formed in Sweden by members who went on to become legends in the metal scene, including guitarist Jensen, drummer Adrian Erlandsson, and vocalist Marco Aro. "Exit Wounds" delivers a potent mix of aggression and skill, with tracks that echo themes of struggle, endurance, and rebellion. This reissue celebrates the artistry and technical prowess that define The Haunted, offering fans and collectors the chance to experience "Exit Wounds" in a new, high-quality vinyl pressing.

Ungod is the debut album by industrial rock band Stabbing Westward, released in 1994. The album blends aggressive guitar riffs with dark, brooding electronic elements, capturing the angst and intensity of the early 90s alternative scene. Produced by John Fryer, known for his work with Nine Inch Nails and Depeche Mode, Ungod features standout tracks like "Violent Mood Swings" and "Nothing," showcasing Christopher Hall's raw, emotive vocals and the band's gritty, atmospheric sound. Although it didn't achieve mainstream success, Ungod gained a cult following, establishing Stabbing Westward as a significant force in the industrial rock genre. The album's dark, introspective themes and innovative production remain influential in the industrial rock landscape. Ungod is available on black vinyl and includes an insert.

Presenting the reissue of "Love & Death" by Finnish gothic metal pioneers Sentenced, now available on vinyl for the first time in years. This profound EP captures the essence of the band’s signature themes: love, loss, and the darker side of human emotion, delivered with haunting melodies and a unique blend of gothic and doom metal elements. Sentenced is celebrated for their melancholic soundscapes and introspective lyrics, with each band member contributing to a deep, immersive listening experience. Known for their evocative songwriting and atmospheric compositions, Sentenced became a staple in the gothic metal scene by pushing boundaries with each release. This vinyl edition preserves the haunting allure of "Love & Death," offering fans and collectors the chance to experience these unforgettable tracks in analog form. Don’t miss out on this exclusive reissue, a piece of gothic metal history, brought back to life.

Released in 1971, Get Off in Chicago captures the essence of an energetic concert featuring Harvey Mandel and key figures from the Chicago blues scene. Alongside Mandel, known for his innovative guitar playing, are renowned musicians such as John Bishop and Gregory E. Stinson, who contribute their talents on guitar. The rhythm section, with Peter Milo on drums and Nick Tountas on bass, anchors the tracks in a powerful groove. The album shows blazing solos, bold improvisations, and a collaborative spirit that transcends genres. This unique blend of blues, rock, and jazz highlights the collective genius of these talented artists.

John Patitucci stands as a towering figure in the global jazz scene, renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to modern jazzfusion and beyond. His bold new album, Spirit Fall, marks an exciting new phase in his career as a leader, featuring his trio withthe extraordinary Brian Blade and Chris Potter, and stands as one of the most significant new signings to Edition Records.Patitucci’s exceptional versatility across acoustic and electric bass has set a new standard in contemporary music, influencinggenerations of bassists worldwide. Collaborating with icons like Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, and Herbie Hancock, his work hasdefined the sound of jazz for decades, particularly his role in Corea’s Elektric Band, which helped shape jazz fusion’s evolution. Amultiple Grammy Award-winner, his virtuosity and ability to span genres have made him a vital force in jazz.His past solo works, including Line by Line and Songs, Stories and Spirituals, have already showcased his profound ability toblend jazz, classical, funk, and world music. Spirit Fall continues this tradition, bringing a fresh perspective to his ever-evolvingartistry while reaffirming his position as one of the most creative forces in contemporary jazz.

Celebrating over ten years in the game, Seth Troxler and The Martinez Brothers' carefully cultivated Tuskegee Music imprint returns with a deeply rooted collaboration between West Coast-based talents Late Delivery and BL SUEDE. Reinterpreting a club classic from Sheila E. and Prince, blending soul, deep tech house and freestyle influences at 130 bpm, ‘Glam Life’ lives up to the prosperous vibe of its title.

Originally from Washington D.C. and New Orleans respectively, Late Delivery have been refining their shared love of house culture since meeting in 2008. Collaborating with Inglewood, CA raised producer and vocalist BL SUEDE, this ode to a iconic time in Black music culture is imbued with the same sense of musicality, with BL’s fluid vocals in a heavenly posture amid joyous horns and irresistible percussion.”

Kenny Glasgow’s smooth, restrained take presents a champagne room mirror perspective on this particular ‘Glamorous Life’, with the former Art Department man and US rave scene lifer tapping directly into sensual, minimal pleasure. Afriqua meanwhile takes BL SUEDE's versatile vocals in a bright, diverse direction, conjuring fresh elements from an archive of breaks and bubbling basslines, landing between modern Amapiano and vintage EBM.

This new TopicDrift45 release comes straight outta Aachen. Originally released in 1982 on Rainer Wiedensohlers "Nabel Musik" Imprint with a whole LP called "Floating" and for the first time on a DJ friendly 45 cut. Side A "Running" was and still is a well known mover in the UK Northen & Asian Scene. While holding down the laidback mellow jazzy vibes with "Till We Get There" on the B Side. A true example for all those DJs out there collecting & spinning organic music in all its forms. Get it! :-)