Search:the scene

Tessellate presents Action Classa, a new EP from DJ Split featuring three original tracks alongside a remix from The Trip. Following releases on Major NYC Records, Indulgence, Shadow Pressings and On Loop, DJ Split continues to prove himself as one of the scene’s most exciting producers with his raw, energetic take on classic Chicago house.

2026 Repress

For Fuse's fifth release, Brussels' Altinbas returns for a whirlwind of meditative and harmonious techno. Solidifying his identity of focused yet vibrant club music, the Fuse resident and label co-curator offers his second contribution 'Sustain' as a dancefloor-enveloping take on modern techno. Known for rich chords, whipping pads, and dry percussion, Altinbas proves once again that his touch as a producer revolves around balance and calculated effect.

'Trail of' kick starts the EP with flourishing synthwork and a taste of dub as has become the Belgian artist's signature. Dotting toms as rhythmic accents and a low to the ground shaker make for a swaying introduction with an infectious groove. Breaking things up in the second track, 'Life Force' presents Detroit style chord stabs and playful rhythmic work. With a mental synth at the foundation, the track presents 909 drums to reinvigorate atmospheric synths that make 'Life Force' a subtle hybrid of classic club genres. With a wink at Fuse's heritage and a peak into its future, Altinbas' focus on enduring music can be felt throughout 'Sustain' and truly understood in the Brussels club. As a fitting follow up, 'Purpose' opens the B-side with illuminating chords and rounded sound design and a pulsating low-end. With almost a lighthearted tone, the record fits across genres and rooms, claiming movement instead of mood as its sole medium. The title track 'Sustain' proves just that - a melodic sequence and progressive arrangement make for an intensely euphoric closing. Evolving melodies, opening filters, and big but calculated buildups sum up Altinbas's work for Fuse's fifth release on the new label. The record brims with warmth and yet it finds its way on darker dance floors with ease, providing a refined style of music that belongs only to him across the international scene.

2026 Repress

Armada Music and PDD are proud to welcome a new series to their ever growing roster of releases with “A State Of Trance Volume 1”. Kicking things off is the legendary Armin van Buuren with one of his classics “Communication” originally released in 1999 on Cyber Records this trance anthem was an instant hit, known for its driving bassline and signature piano melody it served as his breakthrough hit and the lead single from his debut studio album 76. It reached number 18 on the UK Singles Chart and number 2 on the UK Dance Singles Chart.

On the flip are The Thrillseekers (Steven Helstrip) with “Synaesthesia (En-Motion Extended Remix)”. The Thrillseekers have been at the forefront of the global trance scene for 20 years from releasing his first ever single “Synaesthesia” which is now being brought back to life on fresh vinyl for the first time in over 20 years.

Last but not least is “Lange feat. Skye - Drifting Away (Extended Mix)” originally released in 2002 on VC Recordings. Stuart Langelaan, renowned as Lange, has many achievements under his belt such as 20 UK top 40’s and mixing the return of the legendary Trance Nation series for Ministry of Sound.

This release is for any fans of trance new and old, make sure to give trance a chance.

A serious private-press rarity gets its long-overdue reissue here for the first time ever. Formed in California in 1979, Freeway blended soulful grooves, jazz melodies and powerful horns into something that stood apart from the era's contemporary Christian scene. The cut just one self-released album in 1981 for New Born Records before disbanding. Originals now regularly fetch upwards of £400 on the resale market and this 45th Anniversary Edition marks a reissue that is going to fly off the shelves, complete with newly written liner notes and rare photographs telling the band's story. From funky jazz to boogie-inspired grooves, this is a previously hidden treasure now getting the light it deserves.

Freeway was a California outfit that first formed in 1979 and set about fusing jazz, soul and outreach-driven purpose into a sound that sat outside the norms of the contemporary Christian scene at the time. Their sole album, this self-title gem, was cut in 1981 for New Born Records has since become an underground rarity, often changing hands for upwards of £400. Now, 45 years on, Vinyl Kitchen brings Freeway back to vinyl for the first time ever, complete with new liner notes and rare photos. It's a glorious, life-affirming work of bright jazz sounds, celebratory energy, boogie grooves, funky horns and prog licks. Perfect for listening and dancing alike.

Roy Montgomery, a key figure in the experimental underground rock scene, lives in Christchurch, New Zealand, just a short drive from the sea. Avant-garde vocalist and songwriter Martha Skye Murphy is based in London. Though geographically worlds apart, the pair inhabit an intimate and almost tactile shared sonic world. Their collaboration feels transformative, like the gradual shifting spell from night to day.

What draws them together is the emotional force of each other’s music. Montgomery’s cyclical, decaying compositions are shaped through intricate guitar and piano work, blending post-rock, folk, and drone. Murphy, meanwhile, possesses a rare gift for transformation, from the intimate cracked whispers of 'At Dawn' to the hypnotic drift of 'The Play of Dark and Light'. On the latter, she evokes old maritime folk tales of fishermen lured into the darkness by the sea’s siren call. The song both seduces and warns, finding something magical and frightening in the temptation of drowning. Though her vocals often resemble fragments of words, consonants, or vowels, they frequently function as pure sound, drawing on glossolalia and prioritising feeling over any ‘learnt’ language.

Emotion and intuition are the driving forces behind Nebular, an album that oscillates between the intimate with the unknown. This spirit is reflected in its artwork. Murphy shared a painting by Irish artist Simon English depicting a solitary house bathed in dusky blue light, and the pair quickly settled on it as the cover image. Both were captivated by its atmosphere. Montgomery related it to the isolated, seemingly uninhabited houses he encounters while travelling through rural New Zealand—places that inspire a desire to knock on the door and discover what lies beyond. “Terra incognita springs to mind. A search into the unknown,” Murphy agrees.

The nocturnal and remote nature of the artwork mirrors the process of making Nebular. With Montgomery in New Zealand and Murphy in London, the album was created entirely through remote correspondence, with stems exchanged via email. Their messages were often written and read at different times of day, and, because of the time difference and the demands of daily life, replies usually were sent late at night and the music too often composed at nocturnal hours. Their exchanges took on the quality of pen pals sending letters across great distances. This suspended sense of time is echoed in Nebular’s sound, with its feeling of temporal drift and timelessness.

On Nebular, Montgomery and Murphy have harnessed raw emotion and launched it into a time capsule bound for the stars. It allows you to drift, to be present, and to feel; creating something timeless.

TRACKLISTING

There are two version of the LP - limited to 100 numbered copies with transparent wax and classic black wax edition. Both 180g with special OBI strip.

Maciej Envee Goliński is an artist who probably needs no introduction. He has been working with U Know Me practically since the label's inception. His last album ("Time & Light") made a huge impact worldwide, but we had to wait eight years for the next vinyl release. In the meantime, Maciej has certainly been busy – he has released numerous club singles under several aliases, and has helped record and mix numerous albums from the world of jazz, soul, and electronica. "Wyszymory" is a carefully crafted concept album, inspired by our roots. "Wyszymory" is an album on which every open-minded listener will find something that has been playing in their soul for a long time...


"Of all things visible and invisible, my life is most filled with music and a fascination with sound. It matters not whether they are natural or artificial, isolated or resonating through space. Sounds that evoke
memories, as well as those entirely new. Some of them have resonated unchanged for thousands of years. Certain resonances and rhythms have remained unaltered for generations so distant that they have left no other trace in human civilization.

This bond with our ancestors truly fascinates me. Ever since I realized it, I have become more attuned to inspiration. Listening to traditional and classical music, I kept finding new anchor points. I was constantly surprised by new invitations to ponder what connects – or divides – the pulse of our region’s traditional music with the rhythms of Africa, the tribes of the vast East, or the frozen North. My great authority, Tomasz Stańko, in interviews conducted by Tomek Michałowski, used beautiful parables of love and creativity to bring me closer to the ­Cro-Magnon cave artists. The Icelandic literary magician Andri Snær ­Magnason, in his book On Time and Water, captivated me with the fascinating observation that through emotional contact, words, ideas, or memory, we reach back and forward two or even three generations – spanning a period of about 270 years. Then there is Sam Kowalski, who with his wonderful obereks played on the gitalele, took me on a hypnotic journey, from which one returns with a deep admiration for the art of musical storytelling, passed down from generation to generation. Finally, my own children surprise me with talents, behaviors, and increasingly distinct features of those generations that now dwell only in my hazy memory and on old photographs.

I wanted the protagonists of this album to be the very phenomena that modern humans share with their ancestors, ­regardless of the level of civilization. Most vital among them is the relationship between humans, nature, and their own emotions. Wyszymory has nothing to do with an academic study, though I did delve into Slavic mythology, archaeology, and history in search of inspiration. Nor is it an album of traditional music, even if such music is present thanks to wonderful instrumentalists. I managed to invite artists who cross boundaries daily, working not only with Polish music but also with Hindu and African traditions, and even jazz, with its long history of blending influences. Naturally, the album became a kind of sonic comic book, where individual scenes and stories – the sounds, pulsations, and ideas on how to use them – came to me over time, often under unique circumstances and in inspiring contexts."
Envee

After Diogo’s hit record, we are following it up with another set of swinging dance floor detonators! Arriving directly from Brasil, Sérgio presents itself as another moniker from one of the greatest creative minds in all South America, Gabriel Guerra. With dozens of releases scattered over Future Times, Superconscious Records, LAMA, Got Tun, Balaclava Records, or his own 40% Foda/Maneiríssimo, he lands on our lap with a couple of highly effective, UK infused, and slightly nostalgic dance tracks. We’ve allways neutered a profound sense admiration for everything that Guerrinha was releasing under his 40% Foda/Maneiríssimo label, and had the feeling that his vibe was definitely one that we could relate to. Happy, a little wacky, and truly unpretentious dance floor madness! From acknowledging that, to reaching out was just a step. He was super available to work with us, and after the first talks he promptly provided us with a google drive folder with more of 100 unreleased tracks… Yes! You heard it! More than 100 gems of pure creativity ranging from all kinds of genres and across a fucking multiverse of alias and alter egos! So yes, that’s the kind of creative genius we are talking about… Moving from this “garagy” universe, Guerrinha presents us with a set of super fun tracks, which both leans over this infamous side of dance music, as well as it keeps an eye open for the most blatant forms of pop culture. Pure and simple dance floor tracks, to be enjoyed with a smile on your face.

"Is this the sound Sérgio?" or "Is this Sergio's sound?". The question of the questions seems silly, but it was postulated in 2019 to answer Guerrinha a new sound idea: A super appealing garage sound, so that any kind of doubt about the fact that Guerrinha's sets being fun, and that he himself would be able to mix swinging rhythms, would be eliminated. Sérgio is Guerrinha’s pseudonym for this, and since its first release in 2019 with the album “Utensílios” it has strangely become his most played alias, with a few small hits in the small Brazilian scene. After the pandemic drama, he returned in 2022 with the album "Mais Utensílios" and the single "Fantabobi / Riquititas", two releases that again grew the good problem of other djs constantly asking Guerrinha for these tracks. Now he releases the 12'' "Pelo da Churreia" via Discos Extendes, made in 2020 and containing small garage hits from that time. All this information raises the initial questions, since Sérgio is not just a pseudonym, but the curse that grew inside Guerrinha himself, sometimes it's in the appeal that “the bug catches on”.

Stanley Brinks is renowned for his unique anti-folk style: both playful and suggestive, insightful and entertaining. Brinks was born in Paris, France, in 1973. He studied a bit of biology and worked as a nurse for a while. Half Swedish, half Moroccan, strongly inclined to travel the world, he soon began spending most of his life on the road and developed a strong relationship with New York.
By the late 90s he’d become a full time singer-songwriter – André Herman Düne – as part of three piece indie-rock band, Herman Düne alongside his brother, David-Ivar. Several albums and Peel sessions later and after a decade of touring Europe, mostly with American songwriters such as Jeffrey Lewis, Calvin Johnson and early Arcade Fire he settled in Berlin. The early carnival music of Trinidad became a passion, and in the early 21st century he became the unquestioned master of European calypso, changing his name to Stanley Brinks.
Under this moniker he has recorded well in excess of 100 albums, collaborated with the New York Antifolk scene on numerous occasions, recorded and toured with traditional Norwegian musicians, and played a lot with The Wave Pictures.
Freschard grew up in a farm in French Burgundy. Aged 18 she moved to Paris, where she baked pies and cakes in a cafe. There, a local musician and regular customer called Stanley Brinks wrote a few songs for her to sing. Homeless in Paris, she saved up just enough money to get herself a ticket to New York. There she found an old electric guitar and started writing her own songs. In 2004 she moved to Berlin, where she recorded her first LP, "Alien Duck". Her second album, "Click Click", recorded in 2006, features electric guitar by Stanley Brinks. On her third album, she plays the drums herself. On her fourth “Shh...” she also plays the flute, and she breaks out the washboard on her fifth “Boom Biddy Boom”. Press for Stanley Brinks and Freschard.
“an absolute joy.” Q.
“...a set that’s as wistful and charming as it is playful and self-concious.” Uncut.
“quietly charming” Pitchfork.

Stanley Brinks is renowned for his unique anti-folk style: both playful and suggestive, insightful and entertaining. Brinks was born in Paris, France, in 1973. He studied a bit of biology and worked as a nurse for a while. Half Swedish, half Moroccan, strongly inclined to travel the world, he soon began spending most of his life on the road and developed a strong relationship with New York.
By the late 90s he’d become a full time singer-songwriter – André Herman Düne – as part of three piece indie-rock band, Herman Düne alongside his brother, David-Ivar. Several albums and Peel sessions later and after a decade of touring Europe, mostly with American songwriters such as Jeffrey Lewis, Calvin Johnson and early Arcade Fire he settled in Berlin. The early carnival music of Trinidad became a passion, and in the early 21st century he became the unquestioned master of European calypso, changing his name to Stanley Brinks.
Under this moniker he has recorded well in excess of 100 albums, collaborated with the New York Antifolk scene on numerous occasions, recorded and toured with traditional Norwegian musicians, and played a lot with The Wave Pictures.
Freschard grew up in a farm in French Burgundy. Aged 18 she moved to Paris, where she baked pies and cakes in a cafe. There, a local musician and regular customer called Stanley Brinks wrote a few songs for her to sing. Homeless in Paris, she saved up just enough money to get herself a ticket to New York. There she found an old electric guitar and started writing her own songs. In 2004 she moved to Berlin, where she recorded her first LP, "Alien Duck". Her second album, "Click Click", recorded in 2006, features electric guitar by Stanley Brinks. On her third album, she plays the drums herself. On her fourth “Shh...” she also plays the flute, and she breaks out the washboard on her fifth “Boom Biddy Boom”. Press for Stanley Brinks and Freschard.
“an absolute joy.” Q.
“...a set that’s as wistful and charming as it is playful and self-concious.” Uncut.
“quietly charming” Pitchfork.

Featuring Robert Roth, the visionary songwriter and frontman behind Truly, alongside Hiro Yamamoto, co-founder of Soundgarden, and Mark Pickerel, founding drummer of Screaming Trees, Twilight Curtains captures the collaboration of three influential figures from Seattle's underground music scene. Gathering rare, unreleased and alternate recordings from 1991-1997, this long-overlooked collection documents the band's most creative years and is available on vinyl for the first time ever. Originally released in 2000 as a CD-only collection, Twilight Curtains gathers rare, unreleased and alternate recordings captured between 1991 and 1997, documenting the band during its most creative and exploratory period. More than simply another Seattle group, Truly forged a singular sound that blended heavy psychedelic rock, grunge-era intensity, damaged pop and expansive melodic textures. Featuring the contributions of three key figures from the Pacific Northwest underground, this collection offers a fascinating glimpse into the band's evolution through alternate versions, lost recordings and previously unavailable material. An essential companion to Fast Stories_ From Kid Coma and Feeling You Up, Twilight Curtains finally makes this missing piece of the Truly catalogue available on vinyl.

A decade after its original release, Be Nothing. still stands as the breakout record that launched Boston Manor from the UK underground onto the global alternative scene. Blending emo vulnerability, pop-punk energy, and sharp post-hardcore intensity, the album became a defining release of the 2010s with fan-favorite tracks like “Lead Feet,” “Burn You Up,” and the massive “Halo.” Now, this 10 Year Anniversary Edition celebrates the legacy of Be Nothing. with newly recorded acoustic versions of the band’s biggest songs, reimagining the album’s most emotional moments with a raw, stripped-back approach. Equal parts nostalgic and refreshed, it’s a tribute to the record that changed everything for Boston Manor while showcasing how timeless these songs have become.

From the heart of the Australian psych scene... rainbow rockers BABE RAINBOW return with their 7th studio album ‘ACID AND HONEY’ recorded on an op shop acoustic on a houseboat in Amsterdam and finished at zen master Mullarky’s Malibu ranch. Exciting country-pop beat production backs wailing Babe rainbow vocals on solid skanking hip-hop hard rocking finger funky sounds. The first single ‘POLYMUCALSACCHARIDE’ is just something Perry Farrell says and it means "drool, like you're dribbling cos the truth is once you hit the road you don’t remember the good shows, they’re just like every other show."

Regulator Watts returns with kWh (kilowatt-hours), the band's first new music in nearly 30 years. Produced by Kurt Ballou (Converge), this 5-song EP is a masterclass in post-hardcore dynamics, contrasting crushing grooves with moody, mysterious atmospherics and the haunting tone that remains guitarist Alex Dunham's trademark. This is essential listening for fans of the DC scene and those who find catharsis in the cycles of tension and release perfected by this peerless power trio.

'Devotional music and its devotees all do a bit of "buying in"; that while one's on the ground reality may appear anything but celestial, through this music, one can reach ecstatic space, ecstatic peace. However, devotional music is not solely concerned with a skyward glance - what does it look like to raise up the rust, look upon fractured branches, gaze at the density of a low fog across a field? Instead of us looking up at the land, what if the land was looking back at us? Old Saw brings together a brigade of New England silt sifters to raise up the land not as excavators, but as preparators. Tending and caring for the simple mess that our world discards. Throughout Country Tropics four pieces, the crew stretches and bends chords to their resting place before setting forth towards a new one. Fiddle drone, wistful tape loops of pedal steel, pipe organ hums, and clattering bells call us to scenes of observation, a water tower, a mechanical bull rental agency, a back porch, a taxidermy shop, a local church choir, a garden with singing vines, voltage hum of the electric fence on Pulp mill bridge road.
'The funny thing about devotion is the absence of sight, of source. We place trust in the guide or guides to bring us to a place of seeing, feeling, and hearing. The music on Country Tropics calls out to those in search of such places, but also doesn't demand we conjure some fantastical, celestial vision of understanding. Rather, Old Saw points our gaze downward towards the terrafirma unconsidered, and guides our hands into the dirt.'

Through a collaboration with Cincy label Chiefdom Records comes a fresh 45 on Colemine from Doctor Bionic. Both cuts from this 45 feel Colemine-core: funky, dirty drums, jazz keys and guitar, and a groove that just won't quit. Put "Expert Witness" on during your next DJ set and watch the floor fill up. Ohio's take on much of the funky west coast jazzy funk over the last couple of decades. Doctor Bionic is nothing short of prolific, having released over 10 albums in the last five years. Keep your eyes on this up and comer on the scene. And don't forget to flip it over for the nightcap. "Mistake" is a mellow guitar driven tune to close out the night in a melancholy way. Sparkling Rhodes, sparse guitar, and driving drums are the order of the day.

2026 Repress
Efficient Space honours the memory of producer and MC Ali Omar with Hashish Hits, a posthumous selection from the dub rebel’s self-released discography.

One of ten children in working-class Liverpool, Omar drew deep influence from his father's Arabic heritage—a thread central to his identity and sample origins. After art school and a spell clubbing during Manchester's halcyon days, he relocated to Sydney, where he cofounded the blunted downbeat duo Atone with fellow British expatriate Andy Fitzgerald. As an MC, he infiltrated the city’s house, dub, jungle, and bass circuits, becoming a regular fixture at the Bentley Bar, where he commanded the mic with his versatile, rumbling baritone and charisma.

Freakishly talented in the studio, Omar was a pioneer of the Akai sampler and Atari, deftly recording live sessions straight to DAT. Drawing on industry insights from his sister, Merseybeat firebrand Beryl Marsden—who supported The Beatles on their final UK tour and was signed to Decca and Columbia—the non-conformist sought to build a self-sufficient business model. Between 1998 and 2004, he independently issued four albums on CD through his Hashish Studios imprint, hustling copies directly to local record stores and live shows for instant returns, even hand-sewing screen-printed hessian sleeves for his final release.

Uncompromising in his principles and refusing to suffer fools or charlatans, Omar relished the opportunity to collaborate with those who embodied the same spirit. Hashish Hits offers a snapshot of his inner sanctum—Fitzgerald on the opening track's billowing smoke stacks, the serpentine vocals of Gina Mitchell and the magic hands of mixer Louis Mitchell on 'On Release,' and Wicked Beat Sound System’s Kye on 'Poor Man Beggar Man Thief'. Meanwhile, 'Suicide Bomber' smoulders with the tension of a lost Muslimgauze relic, as the instructional 'Roll Up' and 'The Last Straw' spiral deeper into Omar’s signature production vortex— where space stretches in slow motion and walls reverberate with ricocheting delay.

A true icon of Sydney’s underground scene, the larger-than-life Omar passed away on 23 June 2009 after a valiant battle with cancer. He is remembered for his assertive spirit, larrikin humour, wild anarchic personality, and enduring mantra: “Love and live your life”.1

Ready for the summer!!!!!
This highly anticipated double EP by Skatman is yet another weapon from the Time Passages arsenal.
Aziz Haddad, better known as Skatman, is one of the most promising figures in the contemporary electronic music scene. Known for his genre-fluid approach and distinctive artistic vision, he continues to blur the lines between house, techno, and deeper cinematic influences. His ability to craft immersive sonic journeys has earned him a respected place within the international underground circuit, making each new release a testament to his evolving creativity and unmistakable sound.
Featuring eight tracks, this double EP showcases the full spectrum of Skatman’s sonic universe. Some of the cuts may already sound familiar to attentive dancefloors, having been championed by Binh at several of last summer’s most celebrated festivals and events. Balancing hypnotic grooves, intricate rhythms, and atmospheric depth, the record is built to leave a lasting mark on both intimate club settings and open-air dancefloors alike.

BBE Music’s celebrated J Jazz compilation series reaches its fifth and final volume in early 2026, culminating in a track list that maintains the exceptionally high standard first set with volume one back in 2018. This final volume features a selection of tracks that is as diverse as it is deep, reflecting the rich and varied Japanese jazz scene that spanned from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, a golden era of innovation and creativity. J Jazz volume 5 sees compilers Tony Higgins and Mike Peden dig ever deeper into their respective record collections to reveal tracks that encompass myriad styles including white hot jazz funk fusion from Toshiyuki Honda (Eastern Legacy) and Mikio Masuda (Sonic Barrier), super rare ethnic jazz crossover by Christal Zone - their one-off 45 promo release from 1971, Rai Rai, a deconstructed and abstract jazz classic by Yasuhiro Kohno with his solo piano rendition of My Favourite Things, and Mile and Half’s skin-tearing, shredding freak-out from their mega rare private press album.

A track that is so relentless, it leaves the listener in need of oxygen and a Valium. These hand-picked selections sit alongside other specially chosen numbers that embrace hard-driving samba (Seiichi Nakumura’s Judy’s Samba), epic head-nodding soul jazz (Masaru Imada’s World Line), psychedelic private press fusion (Aoyama Gakuin 101’s Fervor), angular post-bop tear-ups (Akira Miyazawa’s Nijimasu), intense and insistent fusion (Motohiko Hino’s Olive Step), serene cinematic pianism (Hideo Ichikawa’s On the Trade Wind) and tripped-out hallucinogenic tribal funky jazz (Masahiko Sato’s Garandoh’s Africa to Africa). Most of the tracks on this collection are being reissued for the first time, many of them only available previously on extremely limited and mega-rare private press or independent releases. J Jazz volume 5 is a fitting end to a compilation series that helped create a new audience and appreciation of Japanese jazz Some of the albums the tracks are drawn from are featured in the large format book J Jazz: Modern and Free Jazz from Japan 1954-1988, by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden, published by BBE Music in 2024. With almost 7000 words of extensive sleeve notes, J Jazz volume 5 comes in a triple 180g vinyl set inside a deluxe gatefold sleeve with obi strip, and comes with a 4-page insert, with photographs from the renowned Tokyo Jazz Joints project. It is also available as a double CD and digital download. Mastered at the Grammy-nominated Carvery Studio by Frank Merritt, this latest collection is a worthy successor to the preceding four volumes that set the bar so high. The J Jazz series is curated for BBE Music by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden.

Brownswood Editions unearths another treasure from the catalogue, revisiting the Havana Cultura project. Initiated by DJ, broadcaster and curator Gilles Peterson in the late 2000s, Havana Cultura connected contemporary Cuban musicians with global audiences at a time when international perceptions of Cuban music were still largely rooted in the Buena Vista Social Club era.

Instead, the project spotlighted a new generation of Havana-based artists whose sound drew from contemporary diasporic influences - neo-soul, hip-hop and reggaeton - seen through a distinctly Afro-Cuban lens.

One of the project’s most explosive moments came with this Cuban reimagining of Fela Kuti’s classic Roforofo Fight, a track that quickly became a DJ favourite thanks to its live energy and deep rhythmic drive. The band features both Mayra Caridad Valdés (daughter of Chucho) - one of Cuba’s leading contemporary jazz and soul singers and internationally acclaimed pianist Roberto Fonseca.

This new 12" edition pairs the original version with a highly sought-after remix from house music legend Louie Vega, who brings his unmistakable New York Latin house touch, extending the groove for contemporary dancefloors while respecting the Afro-Cuban roots of the recording. The original remix pressing has since become highly sought after on discogs, making this long-awaited return to vinyl essential for DJs and collectors alike.

A meeting point of Afrobeat heritage, Cuban musicianship and club culture, the release reflects Brownswood’s long-standing mission to join the dots between scenes, sounds and generations.

To compliment the run of EPs - Scene 65 covers the rest of the best with R&B pounders (David John & The Mood, The Betterdays), Soulful movers (Jimmy Royal & The Hawks, Ronnie Jones) bluesy soul from The Moody Blues, The Artwoods and out and out craziness from The Syndicats plus more

Next up on Berlin’s Pure Hate Trax PH009 PH EP by NX1 Incl. UVB Remix. For over a decade, the Barcelona-based duo NX1 have forged and continuously refined a unique sonic identity. Their music radiates an awe- inspiring physicality: powerful low-end pressure, meticulously crafted breaks, and tension-driven crescendos that elevate each track without ever resorting to clichés. The duo has consolidated its position with releases on some of the most respected labels in the scene, including Planète Rouge, MORD, Modularz, Semantica, BITE, Earwiggle and their own imprints NX1 and Nexe Records. Their discography reached a pivotal moment with the release of their acclaimed album “What You Should Know About Yourself”, a defining chapter in the evolution of their artistry. On remix this time we are proud to welcome UVB to the label. The French Berlin based artist needs no introduction due to his constant presence on the Techno scene for well over a decade now releasing on such labels as Mord, 47, Monnom Black, Analogue, STOOR and his own imprints SHIV and Body Theory. Mastered by Paul Mac Graphic design by Slave To Society Distributed by Triple Vision Distribution 2026 Pure Hate Trax

Katatonia released their seismic opus, ‘The Fall Of Hearts’, in 2016 to chart & media success; reaching #1 in the USA Heatseekers & #5 in the USA Hard Rock charts, #2 in Sweden's Hard Rock chart, #3 in Canada's Hard Rock chart, #4 in the UK's Rock & Metal chart, #6 in Finland, #11 in Germany & saw success in Australia with their first ever chart entry.

Katatonia had worked tirelessly touring the world since 2012's ‘Dead End Kings’, as well as expanding their fanbase through two albums on Kscope, Peaceville's sister label. 2013 saw the release of ‘Dethroned & Uncrowned’, which exploded the core of the songs on ‘Dead End Kings’ creating new moods & textures. Both releases illustrated the band’s journey toward ‘The Fall Of Hearts’, which featured a more progressive sound, a sound which provoked The Guardian to refer to the band as "bridging of the gap between metal & modern prog."

‘The Fall Of Hearts’ was the first record to feature new drummer Daniel ’Mojjo’ Moilanen with the addition of their then recently recruited guitarist Roger Öjersson (Blindead 23, ex-Tiamat), who sprinkled some blistering solos on the album. With this release, Katatonia continued to push their musical boundaries beyond the metal scene whilst drawing in new fans from across the musical spectrum, putting them on par with peers such as Opeth & Anathema, cementing their place as one of the most revered & cherished bands in modern heavy music.

This special & limited tenth anniversary pressing of 'The Fall Of Hearts' is presented on double pearl dawn vinyl, & includes gatefold sleeve.

Chloe Lula Announces Syntax: A Singular Vision Connecting Ambient Meditations and Hypnotic Techno San Francisco-born, Berlin-based artist Chloe Lula announces the launch of Syntax, a record label that codifies her unique position within the electronic music landscape. Arriving as the definitive home for her work as a DJ, producer and cellist, Syntax follows her established residency at Tresor and acclaimed releases on foundational labels including Mord, Blueprint and the highly esteemed experimental imprint Subtext. Her label is the culmination of a decade spent as both a participant in and a defining voice in the scene—a space where Lula’s deep and cohesive vision of electronic music finally converge. The label’s name refers to the arrangement of elements to forge new meaning, a philosophy Lula applies to her singular musical grammar. Whether through her slow-burning, exacting techno or her instrumental compositions, Lula’s work is characterized by a patience that understands nuance and counterpoint. This vision is reflected in the label's structure: releases will arrive in thematic series that bypass traditional genre markers to focus on atmosphere, immersion and hypnotica. The imprint’s debut, SYN-PLS01, marks the beginning of the Pulse series, a collection specifically engineered for the floor. For this inaugural release, Lula took recordings from Swiss electroacoustic composer Alexandra Bellon as a jumping-off point, molding Bellon's architectural sense of space into six tracks of driving techno. Future series will expand the catalog into ambient and instrumental territories, reconciling formal acoustic tradition with the raw functionality of the electronic landscape. With a career spanning editorial leadership at Resident Advisor and her work shaping the dialogue of the culture through her writing and interviews, Lula brings a deep, analytical knowledge to her craft. Syntax is the connective tissue between her work in the booth and her critical contributions to the field—a project that formalizes her distinct perspective as both a curator and a creator. SYN-PLS01 arrives on May 8. Follow @syntax.records for updates.

Rising from the pumpkin patch to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown this first zoetrope edition of the album, featuring Vince Guaraldi's timeless score. With classic scenes from the special on each side, this 45RPM album contains Halloween favorites “Graveyard Theme,” “The Great Pumpkin Waltz” and “Linus and Lucy” and more. For the full zoetrope experience, film the spinning record with your phone video camera at 30fps and let the magic begin!

A new collaborative project between Neil Jones (lead singer of Stone Foundation) and Nick Corbin (founder of New Street Adventure), bringing together two of the UK soul scene’s most distinctive voices and songwriters. The project also features legendary keyboardist Mick Talbot (The Style Council) and bassist Ernie McKone (Galliano / The Brand New Heavies), creating a band rooted deeply in British soul tradition while pushing the sound somewhere fresh.

The seeds of the collaboration were sown during the Covid-19 lockdown, when Jones and Corbin joined forces for a marathon live-stream performance that quickly gathered momentum online. The result is Silent Stream — an album steeped in soulful songwriting, rich musicianship and understated groove. The lead single captures that spirit perfectly: warm, reflective and melodic, built around classic soul textures, Hammond organ, and a rhythm section that breathes with the ease of seasoned players. For fans of contemporary British soul with classic influences, the track sits comfortably alongside artists like Paul Weller, Michael Kiwanuka and the wider Acid Jazz / modern soul movement.

It’s a meeting of kindred musical spirits — born in lockdown, but very much built for the long road ahead.

Continuing the primordial descent that kicked off in earnest with their 2023 debut album, Pulsations From the Black Orb, ASTRIFEROUS return with their second full-length, Atavistic Unraveling. Much like that celebrated debut, the Costa Ricans’ sophomore album is perfectly titled: truly, the sensations one finds spread across this dread landscape are an Atavistic Unraveling. Thankfully, ASTRIFEROUS’ foundation has changed little – the swarming morbidity of early ’90s Finnish death metal fused with classic South American madness – but there are (dread) developments that prove the band are just now hitting their stride.

Despite its title, Atavistic Unraveling shows ASTRIFEROUS at their tightest and sharpest, with chops and execution meeting at a nexus of impossibly horrific proportions. Duly armed, the quartet take their songwriting to strange, skronking lengths, rendering their angularity both an unsettling and utterly attacking thing. Likewise, the slight cleaning-up of production has paid dividends, allowing these malformed ruminations to fully seep into the listener’s psyche – mangling the mind, wracking the body – whilst emerging with just enough linear propulsion to land the record on the right side of art rather than riff salad.

Collectively, these changes have made ASTRIFEROUS even more world-eating than before, further cementing their homeland’s death metal scene as one of the most potent around. Atavistic Unraveling awaits those who dare…

"A leading light of Baltimore’s experimental hip-hop scene. A brilliant, unpredictable work"
Spin

"Matches old school flow with meticulous productions"

The legends of the golden era of Italian soundtracks and library music go by many names, but the backbone of that era’s definitive sonic identity is most often identified as I Marc 4 (also known as Marc 4 or I Marc Quattro). While the moniker might be less familiar to the uninitiated, it is a simple acronym derived from its founding members: Maurizio Majorana (bass), Antonello Vannucchi (organ), Roberto Podio (drums and percussion), and Carlo Pes (guitar). The number "4" serves to highlight the core synergy of these four master musicians. Their journey began in Rome’s vibrant jazz scene of the 1950s and early 1960s, where they honed their craft as members of the RAI national orchestra and collaborated with the most prominent jazz and pop icons of the day. However, it was their pivotal role in defining the Italian cinematic sound of the 1960s and 1970s that secured their legacy. Their unmistakable style was an eclectic fusion of beat, jazz, classical, and Latin influences—textured with early synthesizers, experimental sound effects, and a blend of electronic and baroque instrumentation. Consequently, their initials are etched into the credits of countless landmark recordings by legendary composers such as Nino Rota, Armando Trovajoli, Gianni Ferrio, Alessandro Alessandroni, Piero Umiliani, and Ennio Morricone.

Beyond their work as session luminaries, they produced a vast body of library music under their own name at the legendary Telecinesound Studios in Rome. These recordings were released through prestigious library labels like Sermi, Ricordi, and Fonit Cetra, as well as through their own imprints: Nelson Records, Silver Men, and Silver Music, spanning a definitive series of sixteen albums. Ten of these volumes were issued on Nelson Records during the 1970s, featuring the now-iconic military stencil design. Each release was color-coded: red (G.L.P. 1001), dark blue (G.L.P. 1002), gold (G.L.P. 1003), light green (G.L.P. 1004), brown (G.L.P. 1005), black (G.L.P.1006), light blue (G.L.P. 1007), yellow (G.L.P. 1008), orange (G.L.P.1009), and cool green (G.L.P. 1010). The series was completed by two elusive companion releases: S.M. 2001 on Silver Music and S.M. 2002 on Silver Men, both presented in the same distinctive brown sleeve. Rediscovered in the 1990s and 2000s, these Nelson releases have since achieved cult status among collectors, producers, and DJs worldwide. The final two installments, S.M. 2001 and S.M. 2002, remain the rarest and most enigmatic of the set.

Often overlooked, they contain some of the most profound "hidden gems" in the group’s catalog. The tracklist traverses a wide stylistic spectrum: from the rare groove and proto-hip hop energy of "Trama Nella Metropoli", "Beat Morbido", and "Candy", to the lush cinematic atmospheres featuring the ethereal vocals of Edda Dell'Orso on "Summer In Love", "On The Rain", and "Arcobaleno". The collection is rounded out by sophisticated jazz pieces like "Flauti Ensemble", "Passeggiata", and "Atmosfere Dolci”. Sonor Music Editions has meticulously curated the finest moments from these two rare albums for this first-ever dedicated reissue. Bringing together the best of Silver Music (S.M. 2001) and Silver Men (S.M. 2002), this release retains the iconic stencil artwork but introduces a striking silver finish. This design choice honors the original ten-album sequence while shedding new light on these outstanding recordings—works that remain, in every sense, golden.

Leo Mas is a true icon, who was there at the start of the Ibiza revolution in the 80s, he is the protagonist and witness of the birth of Ibiza as the World Capital of Clubbing alongside Dj Alfredo Fiorito at Amnesia (Ibiza) during the years of 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1990, thanks to his unique sound and innovative set he is as one of the Pioneers of House and Techno music and one of the Balearic Beat Originators.

Leo Mas - The Dark Side (Irreverent Mix)

Amnesia was the club that changed the European and later the global club scene in 1987, thanks in part to the support of London DJs Paul Oakenfold, Danny Rampling, Nicky Holloway, Johnny Walker, and Nancy Noise, who came to Amnesia for the first time that year. At the time, Amnesia was still an open-air club, and the group was amazed by the unique, eclectic, and irreverent style of Alfredo and Leo, who played the new House Music imported from the United States along with a genre-blending sound that would later become known as Balearic Beat. When he returned to London, Paul Oakenfold bought all the records that were being played at Amnesia, with the help of Nancy Noise, and together with his friend Ian St. Paul opened the one-night event Future, “The Original and Only Balearic Club.” This later became Spectrum on Mondays, and eventually evolved into Land of Oz, where in the VIP chillout room, the White Room, the DJ was Alex Paterson, later known as The Orb. Danny Rampling and his wife Jenny wanted to recreate their Ibiza experience by opening Shoom, while Nicky Holloway would go on to open The Trip. All of these clubs transformed the London club scene and, in turn, had a worldwide influence. During the second half of the 1980s, Amnesia was also the favorite club of Sven Väth, who was a regular customer there.

This one-hour long recording is an essential snapshot of a pivotal point in dance music history. The records’ selection was, deliberately a mix of Indie Rock, Gothic Synth-Pop, Subversive Electro, Industrial, Belgium New Beat, Techno with Poetry, EBM. A magical moment in time that could never truly be repeated, yet lives on through this tape, now finally available to music lovers everywhere, including those who only ever dreamed of experiencing it firsthand.

The release comes with liner notes by Robert Harris (Dr. Rob), DJ, music writer and author of the well-known book, IBIZA DJ 1976 - 1988, released in 2019, during his collaboration with Paul Byrne (Test Pressing)

Ri-tape & ELSI Berlin produced a very limited run of 50 tapes, be quick!

Mr Bongo presents a reissue of the 1619 Bad Ass Band’s self-titled album, originally released in 1976 on the ultra-rare tax-scam imprint TSG Records. Formed by Khalid Abdul Shalid, the record was the only album released by the group, and has since become a mythical, highly sought-after prize for collectors and DJs, ranking among the most coveted albums on the 1970s rare soul scene.

This New Jersey soul-funk gem captures the raw energy of mid-‘70s underground funk and soul. Its journey began in relative obscurity having been released on TSG, one of several US “tax-scam” labels operating at the time. These labels exploited loopholes in the tax system by inflating production costs to create write-offs against their tax bills, meaning commercial success was never the objective. Records were often pressed in extremely limited quantities, with little to no promotion or distribution and in many cases, artists were unaware their music had even been released. While this led to the 1619 Bad Ass Band’s album slipping into obscurity upon release, it later cemented its status as a holy grail for diggers and DJs. Unfortunately, like many releases of its kind, it also meant the band never received the recognition they deserved at the time.

Musically, the album is a unique listen with a varied palette that will appeal to fans of a broad range of tastes. From the luscious, dreamy ballad ‘Rain’, which will melt even the stoniest of hearts, to the raw, drum-heavy funk of ‘Love To Love’, it showcases the group’s depth and versatility. Highlights include the string-laden, floaty stepper ‘Just From You’, and ‘Nothing Can Stop My Loving You’, with its spacey synth lines, which will be a joy for modern soul fans. Elsewhere, ‘Step Out’ opens with a heavy drum break (later sampled on Latyrx’s ‘Interlude’ from their 1997 debut) before unfolding into a brilliant male-female vocal exchange.

Every track on here is a winner and it’s criminal that the band never received the publicity or credit they deserved when it was first released. Alongside the TSG Records release in 1976, the album was later released again in 1978 with alternate cover art on another tax-scam label, Graham International. Both versions have since become highly collectable and over time, the album has steadily gained the recognition it always deserved. This reissue by Mr Bongo offers a wider audience the chance to experience a truly special record, one that stands as a testament to the overlooked brilliance of the era’s underground soul and funk scene.

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

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

In the wake of the release of Swedish post-rock luminaries OH HIROSHIMA's 6th studio album And The Dead Tree Gives no Shelter, Pelagic is reissueing OH's Oscillation (2019) and Myriad (2022) on vinyl. Myriad captures OH HIROSHIMA at their most focused and ambitious. The album moves between crushing despair and fleeting moments of catharsis weaving heart-wrenching melodies into towering walls of noise and explosive crescendos. The incorporation of trumpet, cello and trombone adds new dimensions to the band's sound, resulting in a record that resonates far beyond the post-rock scene and highlights the band's continued artistic evolution. Following the departure of bassist Simon Forsberg in early 2021, OH HIROSHIMA were reduced to a duo _ a shift that challenged the band to rethink and expand their creative approach. While Myriad remains firmly rooted in post-rock, brothers Jakob Hemström and Oskar Nilsson use the album as an opportunity to push beyond the genre's familiar boundaries, drawing from a far broader musical palette than ever before. To get a sense of what the album has to offer, watch the music video for "Humane". Guitarist & vocalist Jakob Hemström comments: "Humane might be the most direct and intense song we've created as a band. For us it marks a somewhat new direction that we wanted to explore and we're very proud of how it turned out. We felt right away that this was the first song of the new album we wanted our listeners to hear. The lyrics revolve around themes of human hubris and the video was filmed, directed and edited by our drummer, Oskar." Recorded by Kristian Karlsson (pg.lost, Cult of Luna) and once again mixed and mastered by Magnus Lindberg of Cult of Luna, Myriad blends soaring melodies with immense emotional weight and dynamic intensity and stands as a compelling testament to the band's continued evolution. Classic black or rosé (Dead Flamingo) vinyl available. FOR FANS OF Alcest Mogwai God Is an Astronaut Karnivool pg.lost

In the wake of the release of Swedish post-rock luminaries OH HIROSHIMA's 6th studio album And The Dead Tree Gives no Shelter, Pelagic is reissueing OH's Oscillation (2019) and Myriad (2022) on vinyl. Myriad captures OH HIROSHIMA at their most focused and ambitious. The album moves between crushing despair and fleeting moments of catharsis weaving heart-wrenching melodies into towering walls of noise and explosive crescendos. The incorporation of trumpet, cello and trombone adds new dimensions to the band's sound, resulting in a record that resonates far beyond the post-rock scene and highlights the band's continued artistic evolution. Following the departure of bassist Simon Forsberg in early 2021, OH HIROSHIMA were reduced to a duo _ a shift that challenged the band to rethink and expand their creative approach. While Myriad remains firmly rooted in post-rock, brothers Jakob Hemström and Oskar Nilsson use the album as an opportunity to push beyond the genre's familiar boundaries, drawing from a far broader musical palette than ever before. To get a sense of what the album has to offer, watch the music video for "Humane". Guitarist & vocalist Jakob Hemström comments: "Humane might be the most direct and intense song we've created as a band. For us it marks a somewhat new direction that we wanted to explore and we're very proud of how it turned out. We felt right away that this was the first song of the new album we wanted our listeners to hear. The lyrics revolve around themes of human hubris and the video was filmed, directed and edited by our drummer, Oskar." Recorded by Kristian Karlsson (pg.lost, Cult of Luna) and once again mixed and mastered by Magnus Lindberg of Cult of Luna, Myriad blends soaring melodies with immense emotional weight and dynamic intensity and stands as a compelling testament to the band's continued evolution. Classic black or rosé (Dead Flamingo) vinyl available. FOR FANS OF Alcest Mogwai God Is an Astronaut Karnivool pg.lost

For nearly a decade, Lucia has been carving out her place as an artist in the UK indie scene. Her latest record, Picking Petals, is the culmination of that hard graft and bold vision — an album rooted in her Scottish upbringing and shaped by the creative community she has built around her in Glasgow and beyond, featuring collaborations with Lauren Mayberry of CHVRCHES and Abigail Morris of The Last Dinner Party. Lucia’s debut, Burning Castles, was streamlined and statuesque, built on metronomic beats and synth-led pop. The intention behind Picking Petals sharpened into focus in the face of this. This time, it was crucial to capture the essence of Lucia & The Best Boys’ live shows— loud and electric. In recent years, Fairfull has shared bills with a new wave of women in alternative music: joining Wolf Alice on their Blue Weekend tour in 2022 and, more recently, opening for the aforementioned The Last Dinner Party. In summer 2024, she toured alongside fellow Scottish icon Shirley Manson on the UK and European leg of Garbage’s live shows. The Scottish synchronicity feels poignant. This rich and historical landscape is where Picking Petals came to be, Lucia heading north to write in weather-beaten bothies alongside the band or in solitude. Likewise, the songwriter was insistent that acclaimed alt-pop producer Yves Rothman experience her stomping ground rather than sun-drenched LA, hunkering down in Mogwai’s Castle of Doom studios, a Glasgow townhouse transformed into a citadel of sound. For some people, Picking Petals will be a coming-of-age album. For Lucia & The Best Boys, it’s just coming home.

Back on Swamp Green coloured vinyl! The album that broke Teenage Bottlerocket to the punk rock masses, They Came From The Shadows burst onto the scene in 2009, like a runaway train on greased rails. Featured in Alternative Press as a "Band You Need To Know," the album became a punk rock classic, with hits like "Skate or Die" and "Bigger Than Kiss." The most rocking thing to come out of Wyoming since, well... ever, Teenage Bottlerocket have taken pleasure in showing everyone just how potent and exhilarating that fresh, gimmick-free punk rock can be. On their debut Fat Wreck Chords release (third full-length), They Came From the Shadows is comprised of 14 straight forward punk rock gems, laced with the unforgettable melodies that have become the calling card of TBR. In the tradition of the Ramones (leather jackets and all), TBR brought an unrelenting barrage of fast-paced anthems that will no doubt serve as the soundtrack for a generation. Produced by Jason Livermore at the Blasting Room (Rise Against, Descendents) Features hit singles "Skate Or Die" (bands #1 song) and "Bigger Than Kiss" For fans of Ramones, Screeching Weasel, Descendents, The Queers, The Lillingtons

BLUES NOW! The title says it all. Blues in all caps – honest, emphatic, and raw. This collaborative album unites GA-20, one of today’s most celebrated young Blues trios, and Charlie Musselwhite, a legendary statesman of the genre. Musselwhite’s name is synonymous with the Blues, a harmonica virtuoso and esteemed vocalist with a 60-plus year career forged in authenticity and excellence. GA-20 burst onto the scene in 2018, garnering a quick reputation for dynamic live performance, built on a deep respect for the originators and an enduring commitment to carrying the torch forward. Together with BLUES NOW (New West Records), the Grammy award winning Musselwhite and Billboard chart-topping GA-20 shine with a chemistry that blends the spirit of the Blues pioneers with an electrifying modern energy.

With BLUES NOW, the collaboration between GA-20 and Charlie Musselwhite embodies a living musical conversation that spans generations. It is an ongoing dialogue and testament to the enduring spirit of Blues music. It reaffirms its timeless appeal and reminds us that the Blues is a living, breathing art form. It’s also a hell of a good time.

Not all tropical escapes are meant to soothe. Some are meant to seduce… and unsettle.

On Haunted Bossa Nova, Creepxotica reimagines the language of classic exotica through a darker, more cinematic lens—where swaying rhythms and lush melodies drift through shadows instead of sunlight. This isn’t background music for a carefree afternoon. It’s a late-night transmission from a hidden lounge at the edge of a dream.

Built on the bones of traditional bossa nova and mid-century exotica, the album pulses with nylon-string guitars, vibraphone shimmer, and hypnotic percussion—but everything feels just slightly off-center, like a memory slipping out of reach. There’s a tension beneath the beauty, a sense that something unseen is moving just beyond the music. Each track unfolds like a scene, contributing to a larger atmosphere that’s immersive, cohesive, and quietly haunting.

What sets Haunted Bossa Nova apart is its intention. This is not nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake—it’s a deliberate evolution. Creepxotica honors the lineage of the genre while pushing it into more mysterious territory, blending tropical warmth with ambient unease and cinematic depth. The result feels less like a throwback and more like a lost soundtrack—discovered, not created.

Sonically rich and meticulously arranged, the album invites deep listening. Every tone, every pause, every echo has purpose. It’s exotica for those who crave mood over kitsch, atmosphere over imitation.

For listeners drawn to the edges of jazz, lounge, and ambient soundscapes, Haunted Bossa Nova offers something rare: a fully realized world that lingers long after the final note fades.

BLUES NOW! The title says it all. Blues in all caps – honest, emphatic, and raw. This collaborative album unites GA-20, one of today’s most celebrated young Blues trios, and Charlie Musselwhite, a legendary statesman of the genre. Musselwhite’s name is synonymous with the Blues, a harmonica virtuoso and esteemed vocalist with a 60-plus year career forged in authenticity and excellence. GA-20 burst onto the scene in 2018, garnering a quick reputation for dynamic live performance, built on a deep respect for the originators and an enduring commitment to carrying the torch forward. Together with BLUES NOW (New West Records), the Grammy award winning Musselwhite and Billboard chart-topping GA-20 shine with a chemistry that blends the spirit of the Blues pioneers with an electrifying modern energy.

With BLUES NOW, the collaboration between GA-20 and Charlie Musselwhite embodies a living musical conversation that spans generations. It is an ongoing dialogue and testament to the enduring spirit of Blues music. It reaffirms its timeless appeal and reminds us that the Blues is a living, breathing art form. It’s also a hell of a good time.

Pacific Northwester Drew Sullivan is the man behind the Slow Dancing Society and on his latest album, he interrogates nostalgia with clearer eyes while sculpting analogue glow, treated guitar and patient ambience into scenes that breathe. Tracks drift like headlights through snow - hums, howls, bass rumbles, rain-veiled keys all feature, each motion subtle, deliberate and devastating. The record's power lies in restraint: chord changes feel meteorological, melodies arrive as messages, then vanish. It's ambient music with a spine, grief without spectacle. By the time 'Blue Suburban Skies' lifts into Twin Peaks-levels of ache, Sullivan has rebuilt a world you want to hide away in forever.