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DJ Tiddles' Acid Techno/Techno label returns with a second release of explosive female/non-binary fronted tracks from Tiddles herself - teaming up with Polish Acid Techno hero Ciuciek - plus Ireland's new female Acid icon Bubbless - 2 trax including the catchy reggae techno crossover 'Rudie' - and last but not least Jungle-tek legend Mandidextrous turning in something very different to their usual fare with the rip-roaring bouncy techno classic 'Oi Oi Oi'... a classic release that is gonna set harder dancefloors alight!!

Ammonite is an album by Ost, released in 2024. Ammonite includes a.o. the following tracks: “Fossils”, “Strong Enough”, “Dig”, “Leave” and more. The album is a Coloured Vinyl, High Quality original soundtrack LP.

High Roller Records, reissue 2024, 180g black vinyl, ltd 500, poster, insert, 10 tracks, mastered for vinyl by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony

Mit "Duet for Guitars #2" machte M. Ward durch sein charakteristisches Raspeln und seine Fingerpicking-Fähigkeiten auf sich aufmerksam. Die Songs sind weniger umfangreich als spätere Platten und die Bandbreite reicht von Wiegenliedern bis hin zu rockigen Liebeserklärungen. Erstmals erschienen 1999 bei Co-Dependent Records, fand eines der ersten 1.000 Exemplare seinen Weg zu Howe Gelb, der "Duet for Guitars #2" im Jahr 2000 bei Ow Om wiederveröffentlichte. Es wurde danach nicht mehr aufgelegt und blieb ein schwer zu findendes Stück des M. Ward-Katalogs bis 2007, als es mit drei neuen Tracks auf Merge wiederveröffentlicht wurde. Mehr als eine Entstehungsgeschichte, ist "Duet for Guitars #2" ein wunderschönes Album, das Lo-Fi und Americana-Liebhaber in Ohnmacht fallen lassen wird, ganz zu schweigen von neuen und alten M. Ward-Fans.

Warning: Riping Remains is absolutely disgusting death metal!

Ripping Remains by Dripping Decay, includes the following tracks: "Lead To Kill", "Oppressive Repulsive." and more.

This version of Ripping Remains comes as a 1LP pressed on a splatter, yellow & lime green vinyl.

Taiko artist Kioto Aoki teams with Chicago techno producer Takashi Shallow for Paper, not plastic Dubs. Using three tracks from Aoki's 2023 FPE Records release, Paper, not plastic, Shallow explores process
and medium, treating the sounds to analog production techniques in an operation analogous to Aoki's
process-based work in film, as well as Alvin Lucier's early flirtations with musique concrète.

90's techno tracks from this Rotterdam techno pioneer David Spanish (also one half of Im Kellar). This is a worthy re-issue a mid 90's release on the Communique sub-label founded by Woody McBride. Including 3 previously unreleased tracks found on the original session tapes. Excellent and relevant house and techno tracks.

Sdban Records, the renowned independent groove & jazz label behind Funky Chicken, Hip Holland Hip, and Discophilia Belgica, is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of its latest compilation album, "The Belgian Soundtrack: A Musical Connection of Belgium with Cinema." Packed with the finest soundtracks boasting an unmistakable Belgian connection, this compilation takes listeners on a captivating journey through a collection of cinematic hidden gems from the early sixties to the late seventies.

Curated by the passionate duo Robin Broos and Tom 'Pélé' Peeters, known for their profound appreciation of obscure soundtracks, "The Belgian Soundtrack" showcases the exceptional talents of both local and internationally acclaimed composers and musicians. From obscure finds composed by lesser-known artists to Hollywood scores performed by world-renowned musicians, this compilation offers a vibrant blend of tracks, including the occasional contribution from renowned international artists who have lent their musical prowess to Belgian films.

"The Belgian Soundtrack" came into being as a serendipitous adventure. Former film journalist Jan Temmerman reached out to us one day, offering a treasure trove of vintage soundtrack albums discovered in his attic," recounts Robin Broos. "With 650 long players, mostly unheard of titles, we embarked on an extraordinary quest-to listen to every single one of them, totaling a staggering 29,250 minutes. It was like watching the original Star Wars trilogy 78 times!"

What started as a quest soon evolved into an intriguing investigation fueled by curiosity. Along the way, Broos and Peeters unearthed dozens of treasures, delved into the backgrounds of obscure composers and musicians, and witnessed an array of enigmatic films. "We encountered an abundance of (un)necessary nudity that we never could have imagined existed," Tom Peeters laughs. The outcome of their explorations is "The Belgian Soundtrack," a meticulously curated collection of funky, melodic, and uplifting tracks, each crafted exclusively for the silver screen and boasting an unexpected Belgian connection.

Sign Libra's third album Hidden Beauty is an intimate voyage through feminine nature, guided by the arts of subtext, musical collage, and mysterious allusions. Elegantly arranged, enigmatic, and mischievous, Hidden Beauty seeks to "release the invisible and bring fragility to the surface." From the rainforests of Closer to the Equator (Sounds of the Dawn, 2016 / Antinote, 2018) to the surreal lunar landscape of Sea to Sea (RVNG Intl., 2020), Agata Melnikova, the Latvian musician behind the Sign Libra symbol, has developed a signature blend of evocative composition with lyricless, ethereal vocalizing. Hidden Beauty attends to a closer space than her first two albums, a playfully layered pastiche of refined references, drawing musical inspiration from the assortment of Erik Satie, the early work of Mylène Farmer and Laurent Boutonnat, and 90s R&B. The first inklings of Hidden Beauty arrived in 2019, with the basic contours of the album sculpted in 2020 and early 2021. Like Sea to Sea, Hidden Beauty was invented as a solitary creative effort, but this time under uniquely hermetic impositions. Tethered to the world only by screen, the artist sought inspiration from an unlikely array of activities: new, unorthodox approaches at composing, learning French, a virtual pedagogical practice, and plenty of jubilant dancing in her flat, sunglasses on, to 90s dance music. Hidden Beauty moves inward from the distant spaciousness of Sea to Sea in favor of a "chamber-like" sound, reflecting the intimate environs of its creation. Balancing the New Age balletic resonance of Closer to the Equator and the cosmic-dancerly tracks of Sea to Sea, Hidden Beauty combines deft, postmodern arrangements with popular, contemporary suggestions. The reverb drenching her previous recordings is sponged up in the songs of Hidden Beauty, giving the exercises contained within a feeling of presence, and closeness. And always Agata's crystalline vocal furnishings, less a lead vocal than a first instrument, the ever-returning counterpoint in a beatific swirl. The other hidden elements of this work are plenty, and perhaps best left concealed for the listener's enjoyment. Or perhaps they are hidden in plain sight and sound, depending on what the puzzle pieces reveal to your imagination. Sign Libra's Hidden Beauty will be released in vinyl, Japanese import CD, and digital editions on November 3, 2023. A portion of the proceeds from this release will benefit Coral Guardian, a non-governmental organization working internationally and with local communities to protect coral ecosystems.

Hard salsa with rocking tropical electric guitar! Príncipe's 1967 debut album, featuring powerful Afro-Latin rhythms like guaguancó and pachanga played with youthful exuberance and originality. Truly unique sound from the dawn of salsa in Venezuela. Príncipe y Su Sexteto, from Caracas, Venezuela, were early pioneers of "salsa con guitarra eléctrica" (salsa with electric guitar), a subset of the salsa genre where the electric guitar is the main melodic rhythm instrument, often taking the spotlight in place of the piano and brass section. They were the perfect combination arriving at the right moment, when salsa spontaneously emerged as a new musical movement coming from working-class youth of the barrios in Caracas. All the compositions are original to the band, and hold up really well more than 50 years later. Though the arrangements and playing are deceptively simple, the effect is both mesmerizing and energizing, like early rock 'n' roll fed through a Caribbean filter. This first time reissue has been remastered directly from the original tapes and licensed from Discomoda. With in-depth liner notes it has also been augmented by three smoking bonus tracks that were never released during Príncipe y Su Sexteto's existence as a band. 180g vinyl.

Rough and ready trippy Techno with a 90's UK lean. Four versatile tracks with the eerie lockdown of 'Bellmarsh', trancey hardgroove 'Dimples' and signature track 'Extendo' to the ravey closer 'Cheese Bin'. Ryan once again serves up the goods for heady dancefloors.

Ourtime Music returns with three fresh tracks from Dave Ball's archive.

A stunning EP of soulful Techno, emotive melodies and lopsided club grooves.

'Moments' and 'Fall' take us on melancholic, deep Techno journeys to the outer realms and beyond, before finally closing with 'IAM Pro', a minimal claustrophobic Techno track to jam your box !​

VERY Limited copies.

Kepler is free” represent the brand new Athenian Urban Jazz scene in full. You may say that they actually started the whole scene with their debut album "Teegarden" by Veego Records, an instant sold out! Voted by local music portals as one of the best albums of 2020 and probably one of the best debuts ever when it comes to the Greek jazz game. “Kepler Is Free” jazz rock ensemble makes expansive music that straddles the line between '70s soul-jazz, alternative hip-hop, and experimental electronica.

The name of the band is inspired by a retired space telescope launched by NASA to discover Earth-size planets orbiting other stars. Named after astronomer Johannes Kepler. Founded in November of 2018 by Sokratis Tsentoglou (drums) who gathered George Migdanis (electric guitar), Nikiforos Nugent (keys), Spyros Zardas (trumpet) and Vasilis Alexopoulos (bass guitar), they all came together from different musical backgrounds in order to create original and groundbreaking material.

Commuting over their shared love of jazz and hip-hop, they composed their debut album, “Kepler”, with five tracks that highlighted their love for the music of GoGo Penguin, Badbadnotgood and Alfa Mist.

The fact that all the members were young and had not played in other Jazz bands before was something that shook the Greek Jazz community. ''Second Light'' was recorded in difficult conditions and was delayed quite a while until it was finished due to the pandemic.

The band played a handful of sold out shows in Athens over the last few months proving with their performance and the attendance that the band created a crossover from Jazz to pop audience. "Juno" track was a smash hit on legendary "En Lefko'' Radio station over the last two years. Worth to mention that just a month before the release of their second album Kepler is Free collaborated with LEX, one of the most famous rappers in Greece with the "Spike Lee" track.

“Musica da Discoteca Vol.3” is l’oggetto’s last of three 12” EPs exploring the musical cross-pollination between NY, Chicago, Detroit, and the Italian Riviera. Percussive grooves, ethereal pads, bouncy basslines, sharp stabs, and digital flutes interweave in these 4 new tracks, creating a oneiric trip in the deepest areas of underground house music.

dirtybLends edition 8 is a 3 track INFERNO-SMACKDOWN combining 3 different ideas of new age/oLd scHooL Jakbeat inspired from a significant hero in the Chicago Underground scene of the early nineties dropping crucial releases on record labels: Saber, Dancemania and Relief.

The Falcon kicks the A-side into madness with ‘Sound The Alarm’ made 2 Jak 4 Crazies that’s completely bezerk n twisted!!
B1 introduces this nU cOhort to the label on this release comes from Grizzly Knuckles (a thuggish menace) bringing his weapon of choice musically in a hypnotic spell of mental riddims wit ‘Mad Bell’
this is chicago pit-tripping for those who are aware!
B2 brings The Jak as the final nail in the coffin to complete this 12 inch with ‘Aftermath’ that is for those who have any idea of SLaM dance body blows..this is that level of crazy!

—THIS ISN’T TECHNO—

UNDERGROUND Chicago TrACKs

This is a welcome return to the label for Amazingblaze who released his Can't Stop EP in January this year and his Venture EP in 2022. Since then he has continued to innovate with his heavy-hitting trance, techno and hardstyle influenced sounds. His ever evolving studio skills see him mix up old school influences with new school sound design that is perfect for engaging dance floors. His signature imprint is all over these four new cuts with their mix of big synths, bigger drums and all consuming grooves.

“Believe EP says it itself. All I wanted to say is that you have to believe in yourself”, Amazingblaze says. “This brand new EP contains 4 full-power tracks that definitely goes through your heart. Massive trance synths combined with vocals make it sound really mysterious and groovy. Hope you enjoy it, and believe in yourself.”

Charlotte de Witte adds: “It’s no secret that to me, Amazingblaze is one of the purest talents out there. This guy really understands what music is about and manages to create dancefloor bombs time after time. I’m super proud to have him on board for another EP on KNTXT and to watch him grow and become one of the top level artists out there.”

'Believe' kicks off with intense drum patterns and smart vocal samples that are lit up with bright and electric synths full of euphoric energy. 'Strange Candy' is a bulky and physical mix of clipped techno funk and throwback rave sounds with strobe-like lasers shooting across the face of the track. There is more peak time brilliance in the hard drums and hands-in-the air synth magic of 'It Happened Again' while 'Boyz Makin Noiz' shuts down with twitchy stabs and twisted acid lines and dark vocals appear from the shadows.

Amazingblaze delivers yet another exceptional EP, seamlessly blending forward-thinking techno and trance elements.

PLEASURE ZONE WELCOMES BOUTIQ.808 & TOM MARVIN TO THE LABEL FAMILY!
THIS VERY TALENTED DUO DELIVERS HERE A SWEET BREAKY & GROOVY DEBUT EP FOR US.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
All tracks writtend and produced by Boutiq.808 & Tom Marvin
* w& p by Abraham, Boutiq.808 & Tom Marvin

Featuring four of Peaceville’s current death metal artists, ‘Peace Till Death’ presents eight tracks of brutality from Autopsy, Cancer, Morta Skuld and Static Abyss.

With Autopsy’s latest masterwork ‘Ashes, Organs, Blood & Crypts’ just released to rave reviews, the legendary lords of gore supply two alternate versions of album tracks prepared especially for this limited release. This is followed by original UK greats Cancer presenting a brand new and exclusive track in the form of ‘Enter the Gates’, a malicious dose of old school metal in Cancer’s distinguishable fashion, leading on to a brand new 2023 “re-dip” cover version of the classic ‘Into the Acid’ from the band’s debut, ‘To the Gory End’.

Next up is long-standing US death masters Morta Skuld, presenting a new track taster in demo form from their upcoming album due for release March 2024 plus, highlighting 30 years since the release of debut ‘Dying Remains’, this release also includes a new rendition of the title track itself. Rounding out the release is Static Abyss, the recently formed act from Greg Wilkinson and Chris Reifert of Autopsy, with two exclusive alternate versions of tracks from their recently released second opus of eerie & monumental death, ‘Aborted from Reality’.

This CD edition of ‘Peace Till Death’ also includes a bonus disc featuring an expansive look at Peaceville’s close association with the genre spanning over three decades, including early masters of the scene such as Paradise Lost, Autopsy, Cancer and Darkthrone, through other influential acts such as At the Gates, Vital Remains plus more progressive death from Opeth and Barren Earth, as well as a whole selection of masters of darkness such as Bloodbath, Behemoth and Napalm Death. Artwork appears courtesy of Mark Riddick, and includes a 20 page booklet.

Repress!

Given the vital importance of your contribuNon as a member of the music community in France, we would like to tell you about our new approach – which aims to miNgate the impact of the current lack of events and fesNviNes – and explain iniNaNves organized to provide the best possible response to both your needs and those of the clubbers you are helping during this extraordinary crisis. Pixadelic and E.enne de Crécy are working to make new tracks available and help to limit the gloom that has been furNvely emerging over this period with the producNon of a third release in the Commercial ep series.
Begun in 2006 and halted in 2007, the series achieved very promising results, encouraging fun on the dance floor all over the world. In view of recent events, we felt it was urgent to conNnue our efforts in that direcNon. The result is two tracks: JUNK and DRUNK, whose effects on the body sNmulate those rushes of communicaNve excitement that have become essenNal at this Nme. We will be supplying these resources to players in the sector in order to contribute to cultural and fesNve events in France and the other countries of the world.

With a string of releases on prestigious labels such as The Gods Planet, Affin, Edit Select and Circular Limited - the London-based Acaera (formerly Basis Change) has become a reputable name in the realm of hypnotic techno. We are truly honoured to present this EP as our label’s first release, and we hope to return Acaera’s trust in us with the pressing of a beautifully packaged limited edition vinyl alongside the digital release.

The vinyl includes two vinyl-only ambient tracks that book-end the release, with the first being the track from which the EP takes its name. Unfold begins a deeply personal journey, and immediately the listener is welcomed by a rich and atmospheric soundscape. This depth remains through the rolling enchantment of Apex and the off-kilter percussion and shifting grooves of Anaesthesia. Onto the B Side, Learned Behaviour is a track of slow revelation, pulling the listener mesmerically through its unfolding landscape. Forella will resonate with those who know Acaera’s signature sound, with broken rhythm work soaked in beautiful pads. Closing out the EP, Reorientation culminates on an uplifting note, leaving you contemplating feelings of warmth and hopefulness.

This EP contains six tracks previously released as three 7" singles in 2003, and have not been available for almost two decades. Emerson Kitamura played his favourite songs from different eras and places with his organ equipped with bass pedals and accompanied by the legendary drum box TR-808.

Having had a long career playing keyboards in bands and sessions, Kitamura came to the fore in Japan with his self released 7" on his Bubblingnotes label. In 2018, he burst onto the international scene with his EP for EM Records, The Countryside Is Great, which gave him an opportunity to stretch out his inimitable style to make a bass/dub re-work of the Thai hit. The EP also debuted his collaboration with the guitarist/singer/songwriter/ mmm, with their cover of George McCrae's Rock Your Baby. The duo went on to release their LP Chasing Giants on Kitamura's label, and to grace Europe with a few legendary gigs.

This EP represents Kitamura's roots, with two Jackie Mittoo covers, some jazz evergreens, and a stellar version of the Lou Rawls classic

The most iconic italian italo-disco-syntpop, nu disco duo: “Italoconnecon” (aka Fred Ventura and Paolo Gozze!) are back on track with a brand new vinyl only release which collects 6 among their best producons of the near present, recently released digital only on Bandcamp. Their very many worldwide fans have been awaing a lot for this and finnally they have now their favourite tracks pressed on a vinyl support for the first me! This is an unmissable release unique for the freshness and contemporary quality of the sound, in fact, their remixes have been out on the most relevant publicaons so far such as Savage, Styloo, Scotch and many more… This is a super limited edion printed in only 100 copies on transparent blue vinyl and 100 copies on red vinyl, each edion come with a 30x30 cm insert poster , the blue one is signed by the duo and both variants are hand numbered

Finally a re-release of this brutal album, a classic for punks and metal heads all over the globe. Including reproduction of the original fold out color/black and white insert and three bonus tracks not included on the original release. Reissue of the legendary Brazilian crushers fourth album, released in 1989, with the original vocals in Portuguese. 21 tracks of pure neck crushing mayhem that would open the doors of the international scene for the band and made the record an instant classic: a masterpiece of crossover thrash still to be topped today. Includes 3 bonus tracks and reproduction of the original fold out insert.

Limited Transparent Blue vinyl. “Pop” is a tag that’s been assigned to Minus the Bear throughout their career. It’s been used to set a distinction between the unique brand of complex indie rock they introduced on their first EP, and the more angular and aggravated sounds of their previous bands Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving. It’s also a tag that was thrown around frequently in the wake of their streamlined fourth album, OMNI. And it’s a descriptor that immediately comes to mind within the first few seconds of their classic second formal EP, They Make Beer Commercials Like This. Beer Commercials is the evolutionary step between Minus The Bear’s first two landmark albums, Highly Refined Pirates and Menos El Oso. Opening track “Fine + 2 Points” remains one of the band’s strongest opening tracks in their discography, charging out of the gates with a syncopated stomp that comes across as a more agitated take on Kylie Minogue’s “Can’t Get You Outta My Head.” If Minus The Bear were looking to make pop music without any of its major-scale bubblegum trappings, they nailed it here. The band follows it with “Let’s Play Clowns” and “Dog Park”—nods to Highly Refined Pirates’ formula of frenetic clean guitar work, bombastic choruses, and Jake Snider’s lyrics of detached romantic nostalgia. These tracks may represent Minus the Bear’s original trademark version of pop but on songs like “I’m Totally Not Down With Rob’s Alien,” the band eschews its restless energy for atmosphere and dynamics, creating a sound that’s inspired more than a handful of contemporary melodic post-rock bands. By the time the band belts out “Pony Up!” the listener has watched the three-year sonic transition between Minus the Bear’s first two full-lengths transpire within under half an hour, with their earlier math rock predilections yielding to the tightly wound club-banging pedalboard trickery that defined their sophomore album. Even if Beer Commercials doesn’t fit within your definition of pop music, the unorthodox energetic charm of this relatively low-profile release serves as an exciting reminder of why Minus the Bear became one of the most important and influential indie rock bands of the new century

- Newly Expanded Deluxe Double LP Edition! - Includes the original 1972 album, plus all of Larry Mark's acoustic demos and tracks from his unreleased 1970 LHI LP for the first time on vinyl - Previously unreleased session outtake of "Cold Hard Times" plus demos of obscure Hazlewood compositions "Drums," "The - Start," "Susie," "Miracle on 19th Street," and "Peppermint Morning" - 30 total tracks - Remastered by GRAMMYr-nominated mastering engineer John Baldwin - Liner notes by GRAMMYr-nominated reissue producer Hunter Lea including interviews with Larry Marks, Joe Cannon, Torbjörn Axelman & Suzi Jane Hokom - Lee Hazlewood comic strip, the story of 13 told through original artwork by Jess Rotter - Double LP housed in a gatefold jacket // DESCRIPTION "Pimps_ whores_ pushers_ dopers_ gangsters_ and bottom of the human chain shit-heels. Now you're probably thinking I'm writing about major record companies and their unscrupulous executives_ and lawyers. You could be right_ but this time_ YOU'RE WRONG! I'm describing the characters in my album `13' _Some I knew_ some I invented _ some are true_ some are false_ some I liked_ some I didn't. But they all had a story to tell and I told it_none of `em seem to care_ and I don't either_ have fun_" - Lee Hazlewood "He (Lee) took my voice off the album and put his voice on the album. Now don't forget these were in my keys, it was my charts, it was my everything. Lee Hazlewood was not even remotely going to be considered as an artist for this album and that's the way he wanted it." - Larry Marks The album 13 was never supposed to be a Lee Hazlewood album. It is perhaps the strangest record in one of the most varied discographies in music. The Bombastic brass heavy funk, deep blues and soul paired with Hazlewood's subterranean baritone would be best enjoyed with a tall Chivas in an off-strip seedy Vegas lounge. By 1972 Lee Hazlewood had settled in his new homeland of Sweden. His days were spent carousing, making movies with Torbjörn Axelman and releasing albums. To keep up his prolific recorded output, Lee began to mine the recently defunct LHI Records archives for material. One such gem, was an unreleased album by Larry Marks (LHI producer, artist and the voice of the first Scooby-Doo theme). Larry's concept was to take Hazlewood's strongest compositions and arrange them in a soul vibe. An album was completed, but with no distribution in America and no funding, Lee had no vehicle to release Larry's record. The tapes were taken to Sweden, Larry's voice was wiped and Hazlewood's was dubbed_ 13 was born.

Soliton maximizes the compact format by further illuminating lesser-traveled paths. Contemplation and exploration weave harmoniously through five mysterious tracks. Influenced by a wide range of styles and sounds, such as Japanese ambient, the muted dissonance of Pharoah Sanders, and the chilly dub of the Scape catalog, Soliton evokes visions of lonely night drives punctuated by bright moments of bliss. The Calque EP from January 2023 saw them pursuing the minimal electronic side of their work even further. The opening track, "Kottbusser Tor,” showcases a conspicuous absence of the processed guitars that characterize most of their work, and instead explores sequenced filters, tape delays and analog synth patterns for eight minutes. On "Ammosel", they dive directly into dubby soundscapes, with crackling electronics and deep basslines, while "Kiyosumi" and "Fade Into Air" pay a visit to more familiar ambient territory. A darker undercurrent pervades on this EP, but one that goes particularly well with the coldest of seasons and its frosty air. The duo, consisting of Jason Kolb (Michigan, US) and Jonas Munk (Denmark) started working together in 2006, sending each other tracks across the Atlantic, eventually resulting in a full-length release on Felte in 2012. What started out as a side project to their respective main projects (Auburn Lull and Manual) have slowly become the main activity for both artists, now with a total of four full-lengths under their belt. Their music has also evolved and matured over the years, reaching a level of perfection that’s only granted producers who've been in the game for decades. Billow Observatory have by now established themselves as purveyors of highly refined ambient music and the Soliton EP sees them elegantly blend new and old, electronic and organic, into a gently drifting, enveloping whole. “.. mind drenching sunrises, glittering constellations, and sailing clouds, richly furnishing the familiar sense of hovering over vast natural orders that you're also inside. – Pitchfork // “So the world it inhabits is essentially that one between states, simulating a quietly vibrant ecology of sub-aquatic bass rumbles, washed out expanses of mid-range swirl and keening top end whose elusive colours seem to fade and coruscate in the low light. Lovely

Attention Banger Alert! Parissior Is a Spanish Dj Producer Who Has Been Producing Countless Tracks for Many Years Now. His Style Could Be Described as a Mix of Dark Disco, Indie Dance, Italo, Trance but Personally We Think It Goes Much Further. He Has a Total Mastery of the Art of Production (Something We Have Rarely Seen), It Looks More Like Sound Design It Sounds So Huge. His Tracks Are Not Just Dj Tools to Be Played but Bangers to Send in Pick Time. It Is Extremely Powerful, We Have Already Verified This During Our Recent Skylax Evenings (Especially for Our Event &Ldquo;série Noire”) and We Can Tell You That the Effect Is Devastating. for Us, He Managed the Perfect Ep, the One That All the Italian Indie Dance Producers, Even the Biggest Names in the Genre, Failed to Create. There's Nothing Cheesy About It, We've Been Listening to His Music Non-Stop Since We Received It, No Weariness in Sight. This Guy Is Monstrous. the 12 Inch Begins With the Brilliant Antennae, Which Is the Perfect Mix of Italo New Wave & Trance, Followed by Canes Venatici Which Could Have Been Created by Daft Punk if They Had Chosen to Be Less Commercial and Put Their Balls on the Table Instead of Hiding Behind Masks. Ceres and Alpha Apodis Follow the Same Line. We Miss Words So Much This Maxi Is Gigantic. a F%c$ing Masterpiece. to Add a Final Touch, Just Note That Many of His Recent Productions Have Been Recently Played a Lot by Pablo Bozzi & Soft Crash at Hör Berlin....

After a decade-long hiatus, Bristol-based shoegaze ensemble, The Fauns, have reemerged from their secret bunker with eagerly anticipated third album, 'How Lost' set for release Jan 19th, 2024 via Invada.

The Fauns’ journey began in 2007, self-releasing their eponymous debut album in 2009, followed by the 2013 release of "Lights." These two works garnered warm acclaim from both critics and fervent shoegaze-loving fanbase alike - arriving into an atmosphere rekindled by the return of My Bloody Valentine.

This latest album bridges The Fauns' transformation from their earlier incarnation to their current evolution. The tracks traverse a spectrum of styles, ranging from intricate, guitar-driven sci-fi fantasies to industrial-tinged new wave compositions. The hallmark shoegaze elements are now stretched over gritty pulsating electro beats.

Moreover, the album marks a shift in lyrical themes and attitude. Poignant tracks coexist with narratives of vodka-infused nights in dimly lit clubs, reflecting a departure from introspection. "This album is less about the melancholy associated with the genre and more about getting our audience dancing.”

Sad Lovers and Giants second album, a brilliant atmospheric post punk record with several elements akin to Joy Division and The Chameleons. We can definitely apply the term’ ethereal’ to these composition, certainly the sound is very oceanic and otherwordly melancholic, typical trademarks of the new wave renaissance. Recorded in 1983 – and released on their own label Midnight Music - Feeding the Flame showcases the original line up at its very best.

And finally a re-release of this crossover Masterpiece, a milestone in the hardcore punk/metal blending genre by these Brazilian beasts! Including reproduction of the original insert and two bonus tracks not included on the original release. Reissue of Ratos de Porao's fifth album, originally released in 1990 and since considered a Crossover Thrash milestone. With a more thrash metal-oriented sound than their previous efforts, it is a classic that reinforced the Brazilian band's legendary status among fans all over the world. Includes two bonus tracks and reproduction of the original insert. A must for any crossover thrash or extreme music fanatic!

From acclaimed director James Carney (‘Once’, ‘Sing Street’, ‘Begin Again’, ‘Modern Love’). Album features tracks performed by the film’s actors, including Eve Hewson, Joseph Gordon- Levitt and Oren Kinlan, with additional vocals by Lianne Carr Wyllie, Adam Hunter and Gary Clarke.

Starring Eve Hewson (‘Bad Sisters’, ‘Behind Her Eyes’, ‘The Knick’, ‘Robin Hood’), Oren Kinlan (‘Sunlight’, ‘Taken Down’), Jack Reynor (‘Midsommar’, ‘Sing Street’, ‘Glassland’) and twice Emmy-winner Joseph Gordon-Levitt (‘Create Together’, ‘HitRECord on TV’, ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’, ‘Lincoln’).

Two tracks submitted for Oscar consideration - ‘Meet In The Middle’ and ‘High Life’.

Die kratzigen Gitarrenhooks, das eingängige Schlagzeugspiel und die ausgedehnten Codas klingen eindeutig nach Großstadt, doch bei WIDOWSPEAK gesellt sich ein trockener Minimalismus und eine an die Atmosphäre von David Lynch Filmen erinnernde Düsternis, die aus der Kleinstadt der Bandmitglieder stammt. Während der Grunge Seattle berühmt machte und die Riot Grrl und die DIY Einstellungen synonym mit Olympia sind, steht Tacoma für etwas Raueres und Düsteres. Berühmt-berüchtigt für den beißenden Gestank der Papiermühlen hat die Stadt es dennoch geschafft, eine fruchtbare Musikszene ihr Eigen zu nennen - nur wenige Außenstehende wissen das. Drei Jahre, nachdem sie schon bei einem kurzlebigen Sampler Label Projekt aufeinander getroffen waren, fragte Michael Molly, ob es nicht Zeit wäre, eine neue Band zu gründen. Molly fing trotz Bühnenangst an, zu schreiben und kurz darauf lud Michael den Gitarristen Robert Earl Thomas zu einer ersten Probe ein. Obwohl Robert seine Gitarre über die Musikanlage spielen musste und Michael auf nur zwei Trommeln spielte, zeigte die erste Stunde, dass alles passte. Sie suchten einen Namen aus, den Molly sich schon Monate vorher ausgedacht hatte und der Sound von WIDOWSPEAK begann, Form anzunehmen. Im Herbst hatte das Trio sechs Songs für eine Kassette names ,October Tape" zusammen, die sie nur mit einem Laptop Mikrophon und Garageband aufgenommen hatten. Das Tape fiel in die Hände von Captured Tracks und hier ist das selbstbetitelte Debüt. Aufgenommen mit Jarvis Taveniere von WOODS bekamen die noch zittrigen Probetracks im Studio Luft zum Atmen. ,Widowspeak" erschafft eine unheimliche Atmosphäre, die sich manchmal auf den Jukebox Pop der Fünfziger oder auf die Psychedelia der Sechziger gründet. Während WIDOWSPEAK mit ruhigeren Acts wie MAZZY STAR oder CAT POWER verglichen wurden, haben sie einen Sound definiert, der ernsthaft nostalgisch und zunehmend selbstbewusst ist.

It's the pair you've all been waiting for! FINALLY!

Alan Tew's driving jazz-rock, sleuth-funk masterpiece, Drama Suite Part I is finally reissued to sate your appetites for arguably the very best library two-parter in existence. If you don’t know, get to know. Originally released in 1976 but wonderfully timeless, Drama Suite Part I is at the top of every library funk collectors' list. It's easy to see why...

Racing out the gate, the gritty crime funk of "The Detectives" makes for a thrilling, wild ride. A dramatic action theme, it's packed with strident playing and bags of attitude. There follows 10 (ten!) drama-tinged, horn-heavy, wah-wah-laced, conga-enhanced, synth-riddled links for neat segues and maximum funk fever. "Helicop" is another fast paced and energetic dramatic action background with great breaks and horns. "The Big One (Prelude)" has an ace bassline and creeps along superbly to create expectation and contains an amazing rolling piano loop that just stops you dead in your tracks. It's all building to "The Big One", a driving, dramatic, full-band action with fantastic funk breaks, heavy horns and *that* piano refrain. It was sampled by Jay-Z, and you can't really blame him, can you? The brief, tense "Headlights" and (even briefer) burner "The Burn" add some - you guessed it - deep drama over insistent rhythms to close out Side A.

Flip over for "The Detectives (Slow Version)", a relaxed, thoughtful version featuring synths. You might recognise it as being sampled by Domo Genesis and Evidence for "Tallulah" from their brilliant collaboration a few years ago. "The Detectives (Interlude)" is another slow, pensive version featuring electric piano and a trombone solo in the centre section. There follows 6 further links, Detectives versions essentially, with guitars, electric pianos, flugelhorns - all very cool and relaxed rhythms. The strutting majesty of big-time highlight "The Build Up" is next. It's a medium-slow drama background with occasional light statements of The Detectives theme peppered throughout. Nice. The fantastically-titled "Snout" is a slow, tense background theme which features a repetitive guitar figure with alto flutes over the top. The tense, stabby funk of "The Prowler" rounds out proceedings, with nervous figures over a slow, insistent cymbal beat.

As with all of our KPM re-issues, the audio for Drama Suite Part I comes from the original analogue tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Be With regular Simon Francis. And as usual, the sleeve reproduction duties were handed over to Richard Robinson, the current custodian of KPM’s brand identity. We're not quite sure what else to say about this landmark record, other than, GET IT!

Dutch lute player and composer Jozef Van Wissem's new album The Night Dwells in the Day out 19th January 2024. “It's like a part of my body,” says Jozef Van Wissem of the relationship he has to his chosen instrument, the lute. “The complexity of it is what keeps me going because you can always find something new.” The ability to constantly extract something different and explore fresh terrain is evident throughout Van Wissem’s sprawling back catalogue and up to his latest album, ‘The Night Dwells in the Day’. Over the years he’s released countless solo albums stretching into double figures, there’s been collaborations with Jim Jarmusch and Tilda Swinton, award-winning computer game soundtracks, along with award-winning film soundtracks, from Jarmusch’s Only Lovers Left Alive to Pierre Creton’s 2023 film A Prince. Since studying the lute in New York with Patrick O'Brien in the 1990s, Van Wissem has gone on to create works equally as rooted in classical Renaissance and Baroque forms of lute music, as contemporary sounds spanning drones, electronics and field recordings. Throw in some of his formative influences from the no wave and industrial scenes, alongside a dedicated approach to minimalism and this has resulted in Van Wissem producing distinct and singular work whose sound is often a marriage of opposites; meditative and intense, forward thinking but with a sense of the arcane. The Quietus has called him “probably the most famous lutenist in the world”. The genesis for his latest album began during lockdown in Warsaw, where Van Wissem splits his time between Rotterdam. “The Call of the Deathbird” was the first song he wrote from the album and is the first to be shared, along with an accompanying video today. Over a hypnotic yet beautifully fluid and plucked melody - captures scenes of deserted streets, death and the intense isolation that gripped us all. One of the relatively rare tracks that Van Wissem sings on - along with some stirring and enveloping guest vocals from Hilary Woods (who will tour with Van Wissem later this year – details below) - his towering voice circles above the music much like the swooping deathbird he sings of. Normally Van Wissem writes all the music for one album within a confined period but this one song from a few years ago stuck around and took on a new lease of life and so joined a bunch of freshly written songs for the album. While one song written during, and about, the pandemic came to be the album’s centerpiece, the rest of the album grapples with the world as it moved on and all the dualism and dichotomies that followed. “It has to do with darkness and light,” Van Wissem says of the album. “The title can mean different things to people but sometimes people say that if I play a happy piece of music that it still sounds sad. So this is why I came up with that title.”

Sasu Ripatti's complete "Dancefloor Classics" series. Music for imaginary dancefloors, released on Ripatti's own label Rajaton.

”Look up, into the light” she said, while the camera shutter clicked. ”Like this? Does it look holy?” His neck felt stiff. Her reply: ”Yes, just like that. What do you mean holy? Like religious? ”No, more like trying to look very far, somewhere beyond what we can see.” ”Okay, stand still, I’m going to come close to you now. The light hits your face great.” click, click, click.
He noticed her fingernails. They were not polished. Natural. Even somewhat rugged, as if something wore out the fingers slightly. What had these hands held besides the camera? What made the edges of her fingernails drift off?
He thought it’s weird to look straight into the camera. The photographer had closed her left eye, the one not looking into the lens. Then it opened, she looked up, perusing the surroundings, then she closed her eye again, then looked up, closed, looking up, very quickly. It all seemed very professional. Maybe she calculated the light, making sure it’s close to perfect. ”What will these photos look like?” – the thought popped into his head briefly. It was liberating to think it wouldn’t matter.
”What’s that song playing?” he asked. ”Wait a sec, Ol’ Dirty Bastard?” she replied. ”Oh yeah, right. But the sample?” ”Hey, could you look up again, like that. No, lower.”
New directions: ”Look out from the window, turn left.” ”My left or yours?” ”Yours, I always try to think from the direction of my model.” How professional! This is a good shoot, so natural. Should I worry about how the photos look like? No, I don’t want to. His thoughts bounced around. What would the story be like? It’s a big newspaper, everyone will read it. Maybe someone drinks coffee and eats a stroopwafel while they do it. Will they place the waffle on top of the mug for a brief while, so that it gets hot and the syrup melts a little? Then it feels wet, and you can bend the cookie.
She broke his train of thought off midway through: ”Now turn right, but look left, and slightly up, but don’t turn your face right.” ”Umm, like this? Sounds like a set of pilates instructions.” she laughed ”You do pilates?” ”Yeah, it’s hard sometimes. Have you tried?” ”No”, she said. ”I’m not good for sports that are done in groups.” ”Yeah, but in pilates you can just be inside your mind, drowning in your private thoughts.”
”What are you thinking in pilates?” she asked, taking more photos. ”Well, mostly just which way is right. And which left.” click, click.

Q&A with Sasu Ripatti:

1) Tell us something about the EP series ”Dancefloor Classics”, what’s the idea and what can we expect?

I’ve been slowly writing these sort of dance music pieces and finally curated them together for a conceptual release. I like to create music for a dancefloor that exists only in my imagination and doesn’t try to suck up to the standardized reality.

2) Your vinyl format is 10” which is quite special (as opposed to LP / 12”). Why did you choose it?

It’s my favourite format, absolutely. The size is perfect, and you can make it sound really good @ 45 rpm. And you still can make great artwork.

3) You seem interested in sampling/repurposing, what does it mean to you as an artist to approach something already existing from a new angle? How does the source material inform you about the approach to take?

I guess i could flip it around and just say I’ve outgrown synths or electronic sounds to a great extend, and having gotten rid off all my synths already good while ago I’ve used samples as my main source material a lot. It’s obvious on this series that i’ve sampled existing music, but I also sample instruments and things in the studio and resample my own library that I have built over the years, it’s quite large. To me the end result matters, not so much how I get there. Once I have something on my keyboard and play around, it’s all an instrument, though with sampling other music it becomes a really interesting and complex one as you’re possibly playing rhythm, but also harmonic content and maybe hooks or whatever, all at once.
I never sample premeditadedly, like listening to records and looking for that mindblowing 3 sec part. I just throw the cards in the air and see what lands where, just full intuition and hopefully zero mind involved, playing tons of stuff, trying things, just recording hours of stuff. Then comes the interesting part to listen to hours of mostly crazy stuff and finding that mindblowing 3 sec part.

4) What is your relationship with the dancefloor (conceptually and/or in experiences / as a performer)?

Very complicated. I have never really felt comfortable on a dancefloor but have always wanted to. There’s something in club music, in theory, that really speaks to me. It has never really materialized for me – speaking mainly from a performer’s point of view who goes to check on a dancefloor for a moment after a concert. I never have DJ’d or felt much interest towards it. But again, I love the idea and concept of DJing. As well as producing music for imaginary DJs. Lately, as in the past 10+ years, I haven’t even performed in any sort of club spaces. So my relationship to the dancefloor is quite removed and reduced, but there’s quite a bit of passion and interest left.

All tracks composed and produced by Sasu Ripatti.
Artwork & photography by Marc Hohmann.
Mastering by Stephan Mathieu for Schwebung Mastering.
Vinyl cut by SST Brueggemann.
Publishing by WARP Music Ltd.

Vladislav Delay's complete "Hide Behind The Silence" series. Intuitive and raw music, momentary and reflective, released on Ripatti's own label Rajaton.

Stillness is a myth. Consider concepts such as ”still water”, or ”still air” for that matter. Go to a restaurant, ask them for a glass of still water, hold it against the light and see where we’re at. Even though the water itself has been captured and imprisoned in the glass, it never stops breathing. It’s filled with tiny particles, dancing. Everything can be explained on a molecular level, but since we’re not scientists – and even if you happen to be – it’s the natural world of perception that moves me.
Still air is very similar. A hot summer’s day with zero wind feels completely still. It’s the closest I have felt to complete stillness. Or for a more urban adaptation, imagine the same vibe inside a normal apartment. In those moments, revelations and mind- blowing experiences can be had with experiments in stillness.
Try this: Just sit down for a minute on a sunny day, making sure there’s enough natural light. Do absolutely nothing. Try not to breathe for a bit. (If you need a mental anchor, you can play Cage’s 4’33” in your head but nothing else.) Watch the tiny dots of dust dancing :..’ ̈.:; ́ ́*°.,’:,. ̈ ̈ ̈ ̈:,.’
The movement is crazy, but the feeling of stillness comes from witnessing how subtle it is. In (perceived) complete stillness, every act of microscopic mobility seems to speak volumes. Yet, it feels both reassuring and oddly threatening that the stillness is never complete. What if we would need absolute stillness? Or is it just enough that we can perceive something as such? Extremes attract, so for both water and air, extraordinary movement is equally fascinating. That is also a luxury item of sorts. For us to enjoy a very ”loud” body of water or air, we need to be safe, in enough control of the situation. So when you are, it’s worthwhile to pay attention and take it all in.
A rapid flowing free with extreme strength and just barely in control. Look at that water go! No still water on this one, only ”sparkling”. A windy day when birds seem surprised how hard it is to fly, but in the end they make it. Trees bend but don’t break. The wind shows you its movement but doesn’t hurt you. It feels friendly, like a big clumsy dog that doesn’t quite understand its size.
It’s beautiful to be a guest of the elements, but not at the mercy of them. A new kind of dialogue forms.

Q&A with Sasu Ripatti:

1) Tell us something about the EP series ”Hide Behind the Silence”, what’s the idea and what can we expect?

Exploration of inaction. Of many kinds. In arts and in personal life, or at bigger and more serious levels. Questioning myself as a human being as well as an artist. Acknowledging the growing activism all around, and the very clear need for it, and how it reflects my own inaction.
Musically speaking, after Rakka, Isoviha and Speed Demon, I finally found some relief, but more importantly lost the need to go musically ever more outward and intensive. I felt quite strongly certain periods/moods from the past and they made me revisit some musical ideas or states of mind I was exploring early on.
It’s about live moments being captured, not much premeditation or editing. More intuitive and raw, even though the end result (to me) feels and sounds quite introspective and calm. It’s not very ambitious. Momentary and reflective.

2) Your music doesn’t sound very silent. Does it come from somewhere behind the silence?

Oh, this time to me it sounds quite quiet and playing with space if not silence. I don’t know what’s actually behind silence, but I think silence is the source of everything. We just don’t understand it yet.

3) What kind of thoughts or experiences gave inspiration to this series?

Writing this in Nov ’22, it’s not a stretch to say the world has been really unwell. Sometimes, like Mika Vainio put it, the world eats you up. I feel a bit like that. And I try to hide in my studio and stay away from it all, but it’s getting harder by the day. I’ve been questioning myself and thinking if what us artists are doing is worth anything, and whether it’s just a selfish thing I’ve been doing for the past 25 years, running away from everything. I haven’t come to a conclusion yet.

4) Is it easy for you to be in silence, or around silence?

Absolutely. I not only hide behind silence but I also love silence. It’s only since I started going back to nature as a grown-up person that I sensed and was enveloped by silence, true silence. I have begun to appreciate it a lot. I think all the people should spend more time in silence.

All tracks composed and produced by Sasu Ripatti.
Artwork by Marc Hohmann, photography by Shinnosuke Yoshimori.
Mastering by Stephan Mathieu for Schwebung Mastering.
Vinyl cut by SST Brueggemann.
Publishing by WARP Music Ltd.

The Vampisoul chicas are back. And for the third time. And, although collectors and connoisseurs have never stopped playing the songs by these Spanish female singers, here they are again, sounding as vibrant as they did half a century ago. Because these children of their times, the musical decades of the 60s and 70s covered by this compilation, boldly ventured into the limited spaces of freedom open to female artists back then. And they did so with attitude, in search of the right repertoire, proudly presenting new, daring personal projects often breaking away from the demure tone adopted by mainstream local female singers. And they were canny about it too. Realizing that the censors working back would just listen to the song that the record company flagged up as the listening target on the A side and not bother to flip the single over, they recorded many of their racier songs on the B side. That exciting dark side of singles, which have long tempted collectors. Lacking the freedom and visibility enjoyed today, these daring records by these female singers went as far as they could and a few managed to go beyond. The songs on this compilation tell everyday stories, narrating small socio-musical conquests revolving round the enduring theme of young love. Sass, sex, boy-girl rivalry, the defense of liberating women's fashion and, saying what women think loud and clear, all characterize these grooves. Performed in a variety of musical styles ranging from ye-yé, twist, disco, beat, popcorn, flamenco pop to Northern Soul, and, even more surprisingly, sung in an everyday, natural and self-assured tone that must have ruffled some feathers. As in previous volumes of "¡Chicas!", this third compilation includes female singers from outside Spain but whose career, their decision to sing in Spanish or their long tours and local stays, and occasionally permanent residence, meant their albums were created, recorded or produced here in Spain. It's a winning proposition for everyone. Take the band Los Bravos, four of the singers that passed through the ranks of this quintessentially Spanish group were foreigners. It's part of our open-door policy. Spain is different. In every sense. But let's get down to the serious stuff and the ritual: vinyl on the turntable and needle poised ready to play. Third volume of Vampis' ¡Chicas! series, an irresistible collection of ye-yé, twist, disco, beat, popcorn, flamenco pop and even Northern Soul! From the early 60s and in the middle of a difficult political and social context, Spanish female singers - and those who moved to Spain - disregarded conventions and overcame all barriers to be part of a music movement that shook the Spanish society of the period. Many of the 24 tracks are reissued for the first time, including very hard-to-find records. It includes extensive notes by Vicente Fabuel featuring all the original record sleeves and artist photos.

Out of print for quite a few years now, this album is a stunning power-pop gem recorded at a time when this kind of girl group pairing with punk rock was unusual.b This is one of the most iconic albums released on Greg Shaw's Bomp! Records. It now includes bonus tracks on top! Definitely stood the test of time. Check out the titles, these young ladies were wearing their collective hearts on those sleeves of theirs. This kind of girl group pairing with punk rock was unusual at the time and it provided a much-needed antidote to the male dominated skinny tie brigade. Nikki looked like Pam Dawber (Mindy from Mork and Mindy) and sounded like Clare Grogan (of Altered Images) what was not to be instantly smitten by. Born and bred in Detroit, Miss Corvette reportedly ran away from home at age 16 because her mother refused to allow her to attend an MC5 show. Greg Shaw wrote the following in the liner notes to the 20th Anniversary label compilation, Destination Bomp! "Nikki was a tireless worker. Like some coalminer's daughter, she'd travel around the country with her band. Playing 200 shows a year. She knew everybody and was a lot of fun to hang out with so, I figured that if all her friends bought the record... so I signed her. The girl had style and attitude galore plus, she had master guitarist/songwriter and former Romantic Peter James. One of Detroit's most savvy cats." The lady herself kindly supplied the following summary. "We went to LA and signed with Bomp in maybe 1979 but Greg wasn't sure what to do with us. We did the Honey Bop single with Ronny Weiser at Rollin Rock and a couple songs with the Kessel Brothers. We started something with Kim Fowley that did not work out. They kept trying different producers until we finally decided to go back to Detroit and do the album on our own. We didn't have a lot of experience but we knew what we wanted and Detroit was part of that so we recorded the album and had a blast doing it. Peter wanted us to be poppier and I wanted to be more punk. We sort of met in the middle with what I've always called Bubblegum Punk. I can't believe it's been 43 years since this came out and there are still kids discovering it and people who grew up with it that still listen to it. I constantly hear from people all different ages, all over the world about how much they love it album and that really means so, so much to me!" Hear the phenomenon for yourself.

- Newly Expanded Deluxe Double LP Edition! - Double LP expanded edition includes outtakes, demos and instrumentals, including 10 previously unreleased recordings - 26 total tracks - Album remastered from pristine LHI master tapes by GRAMMYr-nominated mastering engineer John Baldwin - Liner notes by GRAMMYr-nominated reissue producer Hunter Lea including interviews with Torbjo?rn Axelman, Suzi Jane Hokom, Nina Lizell, Don Randi, Hal Blaine and Shel Talmy - Rare film production photos from the Torbjo?rn Axelman archive - Double LP housed in a gatefold jacket // Description: By the end of the 1960s Lee Hazlewood's LHI Records had burned piles of cash, gone through a half dozen distributors and failed to achieve the kind of chart success "Boots" had promised. Fortunately for Lee there was a land where he was still on the top of the charts, a place where women flowed like Bra?nnvin...Sweden was calling. Released as the last LHI LP, Cowboy in Sweden was a soundtrack to the 1970 cult classic film of the same name starring Lee Hazlewood. The film was a surreal psychedelic account of Lee's journey to his new homeland, while the soundtrack was a perfect compilation of Hazlewood's orchestral melancholy country pop songs. Recorded over a prolific globe trotting three year period, Lee's peak on LHI records was ironically the label's swan song.

plastic death - the second album by glass beach - is a follow-up record almost five years in the making. The band's 2019 debut, aptly titled the first glass beach album , has over the years grown a cult fanbase for its unflinching depiction of queer life as mediated through social media, its oversized ambition, and its scrappy yet adventurous production. And while it took some time to arrive, plastic death sounds like the logical expansion of all the things that made their first album so special. Years and years of relentless writing, tinkering demos, cancelled tours and a few lockdowns only strengthen the chaotic core of what makes glass beach' s maximalist approach work so well. Frontperson and primary songwriter J McClendon is joined by lead guitarist Layne Smith, bassist Jonas Newhouse and drummer William White to create something adventurous on each song. Trumpet, trombone, violin, and even marimba dance and bloom alongside the band's own creative and dextrous instrumentation - a stunning, transformative creation that pulls from indie rock, jazz, prog, hardcore, metal, experimental, and beyond. Songs like lead single "the CIA," are examples of the band's ambitious writing. It's a dark, dancy, post-punk/jazz hybrid, a coordinated, breathless braid of synth and saturated guitar. Tension and confusion explode into a brutal modern metal climax to close the track, flickering with glitchy production zaps and razor-sharp stops. The artwork of plastic death is similarly rich with detail, resulting in a bioluminescent, fully-realized double album depicting sprawling scenes where moments of neon brightness shine momentarily in a dark undersea - a metaphor for the moments of optimism and catharsis glass beach provide on these songs. "This album is the Pacific garbage patch: cultural trash strewn together seemingly by accident, standing in stark juxtaposition to each other ," says McClendon. plastic death is a complete, uncompromising, playful work of art; every corner and crevice of the record's 13 tracks, each arrangement and timbre and texture, is alive with intention and possibility.