quête:ti mo

Vinyl AudiophilAls Pavlov's Dog im vergangenen Jahr die Veröffentlichung des karriereübergreifenden Boxsets Essential Recordings 1974 - 2018 feierten, arbeitete die Band bereits hart an einem neuen Album mit Originalmaterial. Dieses Album, genannt Wonderlust, ist 2025 erschienen. Und das ein halbes Jahrhundert, nachdem ihre Debüt-LP Pampered Menial und der darauf enthaltene Hit „Julia“ Pavlov's Dog kurzzeitig zu den Lieblingen der Progressive-Rock-Szene der 1970er Jahre machte. Das neue Album ist ein äußerst kreatives Werk mit Songs, die auf intelligentem Songwriting, erstklassiger Musikalität und einem untrüglichen Gespür für das Dramatische aufbauen, das den Sound der Band über all die Jahre geprägt hat.

Pavlov‘s Dog wurde Anfang der 1970er Jahre in St. Louis, Missouri, gegründet und erlangte mit seiner einzigartigen Mischung aus Rock, Klassik und Folk Kultstatus. Ihr damaliger Erfolg war jedoch nur von kurzer Dauer: Bereits 1977 löste sich die Originalbesetzung auf. Leadsänger, Gitarrist und Hauptkomponist David Surkamp machte weiter und schloss sich 1990 mit seinem Gründungsmitglied Doug Rayburn zusammen, um das Album Lost in America aufzunehmen. Doch das zweite Kapitel in der Karriere von Pavlov Dog kam erst nach der Jahrtausendwende so richtig in Schwung, als eine talentierte Gruppe von Musikern der nächsten Generation das Erbe weiterführte. Unter der Leitung von Surkamp hat sich die Band in den letzten Jahren weiterentwickelt. Eine neue Welle des Interesses an Prog-Rock ermöglicht es ihr, regelmäßig zu touren. Die aktuelle Besetzung hat die ursprüngliche Version von Pavlov's Dog in puncto Langlebigkeit inzwischen weit übertroffen: Sängerin Sara Surkamp, Geigerin Abbie Steiling, Bassist Rick Steiling und Keyboarder Mark Maher bilden zusammen mit dem Gründer David Surkamp seit sieben Jahren den Kern der Band.

Bereits auf dem gefeierten Album Prodigal Dreamer aus dem Jahr 2018 vertreten, beweist dieses erfahrene Team von Musikern – mit Unterstützung von u.a. Schlagzeuger Steve Bunck und Gitarristen Phil Ring – nun auf Wonderlust einmal mehr sein Können. Schon beim ersten Hören sind die große Tiefe, Reife und Vision der elf Tracks spürbar. Einige Songs, wie der Opener „Anyway There's Snow“, bei dem Abbie Steilings wunderschöne Geige im Vordergrund steht, glänzen durch große Dramatik. Das von Streichern durchtränkte „Another Blood Moon“ ist ein weiteres Beispiel der für Pavlov’s Dog typischen, musikalischen Melancholie. Auf einem Album voller eindringlicher Gesangsperformances erreicht Surkamp hier wohl seinen Höhepunkt.

Dennoch sollte man nicht vergessen, dass Pavlov's Dog in erster Linie eine Rockband ist. Stücke wie das treibende „Mona“ und das knallharte „Collingwood Hotel“ treffen ins Schwarze. „Jet Black Cadillac“ klingt wie der Titel einer klassischen Rock'n'Roll-Nummer, doch der Song beginnt wehmütig. (Seien wir ehrlich: Pavlov's Dog klingt fast immer zumindest ein bisschen wehmütig.) Doch sobald der titelgebende Cadillac im Refrain auftaucht, erhebt sich der Song und das Traumauto fungiert als Mittel zur Flucht vor dem Blues. Hinzu kommen der freche Charme von „Solid Water, Liquid Sky“ und die Hardrock-Anleihen von „Can't Stop The Hurt“.

Besonders langjährige Fans, die mehr von dem wollen, was typischerweise „Prog“ ausmacht, können sich über die zweite Hälfte des Albums freuen. Auf dem von Abbie Steiling geschriebenen, instrumentalen Prunkstück „Calling Sigfried“ entfesselt die Band kurzerhand ihre gesamte musikalische Brillanz. Das Album schließt mit einem Trio von Songs, die Surkamp gemeinsam mit seinem früheren Songwriting-Partner, dem inzwischen verstorbenen Doug Rayburn, geschrieben hat. Von diesen verströmt vor allem „Canadian Rain” die abenteuerlichen Vibes des Progressive Rock der 1970er-Jahre mit zahlreichen Tempowechseln und einem elektrischen Slap-Bass-Solo wie aus heiterem Himmel.

Auf Wonderlust klingen Pavlov's Dog wie die Veteranen, die sie sind; diese Musiker sind schon lange genug dabei, um zu wissen, was sie tun. Doch gleichzeitig beweisen sie, dass ihre kreative Quelle immer noch sprudelt. Das langersehnte Wonderlust ist ein Album voller geschickt eingespielter, vollständig realisierter Rockmusik, bei dem Surkamp zeigt, dass er stimmlich keineswegs nachgelassen hat und, dass ein alter Hund doch ein paar neue Tricks lernen kann.

Gute Musik wie diese wird nie aus der Mode kommen.

Living in the present is an album built around the work of American minimalist poet, Robert Lax (1915-2000) who is widely praised for his artistic concept of reduction, in which a pause becomes as important as the things said.

The album brings together the sound of Robert Lax reading his poetry, narrative field recordings by Nicolas Humbert and subtle yet imaginative timbres by Carina Khorkhordina (trumpet) and Miki Yui (electronics) who is also behind the final mixing of the album.

Living in the present is drawing from an archive of audio recordings originally made by film maker Nicolas Humbert while shooting a film on Robert Lax entitled Why Should I Buy A Bed When All That I Want Is Sleep?, ( Nicolas Humbert and Werner Penzel, Germany, 1999) The film was made on the Greek island of Patmos where Lax has lived withdrawn for 3 decades.

More than 25 years after the premiere of Why Should I Buy A Bed When All That I Want Is Sleep?, Humbert, Khorkhordina and Yui are revisiting the original audio material and patiently open worlds within worlds, pointing to new harmonic textures and isolating timbres, synchronizing different layers of time and traces of various locations into a new composition in its own right.

In some ways this album feels like an expansion of the work Humbert and Penzel did with Lax across six years, between 1993 and 1999, where they developed a unique intimacy in their textual-visual collaboration. On two long pieces, for each side of the album, “Where do i begin” and “One moment passes, another comes on” respectively – Yui’s electronics and Khorkhordina’s trumpet interweave beautifully with Humbert’s field recordings, in a manner that shadows the reflective reduction of Lax’s poetry. Indeed, it's no surprise that Lax’s poetry draws musicians into its orbit; it offers the curious a welcoming reduction in which only individual words and syllables represent the essence of language.

Lax’s poetry is notable for its qualities of near-stillness and its capacity to pause the reader’s thought, asking them to hold the sensuality of language for an extended, quietly revelatory moment. His readings on this album share a similar cadence, interested in settling with syllables, with single or several words, for an extended time.

Ultimately, Living in the present unfolds with unforced grace and poetics – one moment passes, then another comes on. (Jon Dale)

Before he became better known as Porn Sword Tobacco (PST), Swedish producer Henrik Jonsson released two albums under the name of Stress Assassin. Like his later oeuvre, the tunes are spacious, cinematic and multi-layered, influenced by the likes of Harold Budd and Tangerine Dream, but for this project there is additional guidance from Lee Perry and Moritz von Oswald.

Released on vinyl for the first time, Within the Office of Eye and Ear’s smoked-out ambience and blissful beats are permeated with melodic bass and cinematic space. Found sounds, floating voices and intermittent pops ripple amongst the sweet harmonies, lush atmospheres and pulsating basslines, creating a captivating other-worldly dreamspace.

As Henrik explains: “Made often at night in an attic in Gothenburg, it’s music I did in a world far away from today: the music was, and is, about not running along with a stress-y society soaked in TV, media and materialism, out of touch with the calm beauty this world gives us”

He certainly succeeded as Within the Office of Eye and Ear offers the ultimate stress assassination.

Ostinato as resistance: Rafael Anton Irisarri’s landmark work reimagined. Marking the tenth anniversary of the American composer’s critically acclaimed album 'A Fragile Geography', this new edition arrives renewed, both sonically and visually.

First released in 2015 (Room40) during a period of personal upheaval and creative reinvention, it endures as a testament to resilience, transformation, and the connection we hold with the places that shape us.

Written in the aftermath of a devastating theft, A Fragile Geography was born out of loss. Just days before a cross-country move to New York, Irisarri’s entire Seattle-based studio was wiped out. Instruments. Recordings. Archives. Gone without a trace. He arrived on the East Coast to an empty room and the daunting task of starting over.

“This album wasn’t just a record; it was a lifeline,” Irisarri reflects. “It became a way to process the emotional chaos that followed: uprooting, instability, and ultimately, the slow, intuitive rebuilding of a life.”

Composed and recorded in the rural woods of the Hudson Valley, the album took shape in seclusion, surrounded by nature, and through a process guided by improvisation. Embracing limitations, Irisarri wove textural layers of field recordings with half-remembered melodies from his Seattle years, piecing them together like fragments of memory. Tracks like “Displacement,” “Hiatus,” and “Persistence” juxtaposed haunting stillness with restless momentum, mapping an inner terrain of grief, catharsis, and rebirth.

Among its defining sounds is “Empire Systems,” a monumental centerpiece built around a simple four-chord progression, organ textures, and guitar drones. Gradually, the track expands into layers of immersive loops and thick, enveloping distortion that wash over the listener like a rolling wave. Often cited as the album’s most majestic passage, it captures Irisarri at his most sonically ambitious. With a harmonically saturated structure crafted from restraint and repetition, it remains one of his most recognizable compositions: an exercise in the art of maximal minimalism.

From the outset, “Reprisal” received praise from BBC’s Mary Anne Hobbs, who championed the track on her radio show. Her support played a key role in introducing Irisarri’s work to wider audiences and solidifying his place within the lineage of electronic, drone, and experimental sound artists. A slow-burning elegy, the piece emerges from a haze of distortion and sub-bass, with dense, unrelenting drones carrying a sense of mounting tension. Just as it seems to collapse under its own weight, flickers of guitar emerge like distant light through fog. It’s a meditation on dissonance, resolve, and the elusive possibility of release.

The closing track, “Secretly Wishing for Rain,” is steeped in saudade: a longing for Seattle’s dour grey skies, lush green landscapes, and desaturated sunsets. Through it, Irisarri mourns a vanished chapter of life bound to the city, a time documented in scattered mementos and cherished collections, now permanently gone. A reflection on what could never be recovered: an era lost to time. Julia Kent’s looped cello motifs added a melancholic warmth to the track, marking the first collaboration between the two artists and sparking a musical dialogue that would keep growing in the years that followed.

More than a career highlight, A Fragile Geography has laid the foundation for Black Knoll studio, which Irisarri rebuilt from the ground up. The studio has since grown into a creative hub for countless projects, with Irisarri engineering records for iconic music figures like Terry Riley, Ryuichi Sakamoto, William Basinski, MONO, Devendra Banhart, Grouper, Emeralds, Steve Hauschildt, Julianna Barwick, and many others. Carried by its lasting influence, the album has quietly captured the ear of a younger generation, its sound and emotional arc finding new listeners in unexpected corners.

The album’s new visual language was reimagined in collaboration with Mexico City–based designer Daniel Castrejón. Irisarri captured ghostly images at Gaztelugatxeko Doniene, a historic coastal site in Bermeo, Euskal Herria. Castrejón then treated the photographs with distressed textures and spectral overlays. The final artwork channels the rugged, elemental forces that shaped both the music and Irisarri’s aesthetic, renewing his ties to ancestral ground inspired by the Basque homeland of his bloodline.

Mastered by Stephan Mathieu with exceptional attention to detail, this anniversary edition uncovers every nuance in the sound design, enhancing clarity and presence. With each listen, new elements emerge, inviting discovery and reconnection.

“I don’t experience this album as a document of grief anymore,” says Irisarri. “I hear adaptation and I'm reminded that when everything falls apart, something meaningful, maybe even beautiful, can emerge.”

Ostinato as resistance: Rafael Anton Irisarri’s landmark work reimagined. Marking the tenth anniversary of the American composer’s critically acclaimed album 'A Fragile Geography', this new edition arrives renewed, both sonically and visually.

First released in 2015 (Room40) during a period of personal upheaval and creative reinvention, it endures as a testament to resilience, transformation, and the connection we hold with the places that shape us.

Written in the aftermath of a devastating theft, A Fragile Geography was born out of loss. Just days before a cross-country move to New York, Irisarri’s entire Seattle-based studio was wiped out. Instruments. Recordings. Archives. Gone without a trace. He arrived on the East Coast to an empty room and the daunting task of starting over.

“This album wasn’t just a record; it was a lifeline,” Irisarri reflects. “It became a way to process the emotional chaos that followed: uprooting, instability, and ultimately, the slow, intuitive rebuilding of a life.”

Composed and recorded in the rural woods of the Hudson Valley, the album took shape in seclusion, surrounded by nature, and through a process guided by improvisation. Embracing limitations, Irisarri wove textural layers of field recordings with half-remembered melodies from his Seattle years, piecing them together like fragments of memory. Tracks like “Displacement,” “Hiatus,” and “Persistence” juxtaposed haunting stillness with restless momentum, mapping an inner terrain of grief, catharsis, and rebirth.

Among its defining sounds is “Empire Systems,” a monumental centerpiece built around a simple four-chord progression, organ textures, and guitar drones. Gradually, the track expands into layers of immersive loops and thick, enveloping distortion that wash over the listener like a rolling wave. Often cited as the album’s most majestic passage, it captures Irisarri at his most sonically ambitious. With a harmonically saturated structure crafted from restraint and repetition, it remains one of his most recognizable compositions: an exercise in the art of maximal minimalism.

From the outset, “Reprisal” received praise from BBC’s Mary Anne Hobbs, who championed the track on her radio show. Her support played a key role in introducing Irisarri’s work to wider audiences and solidifying his place within the lineage of electronic, drone, and experimental sound artists. A slow-burning elegy, the piece emerges from a haze of distortion and sub-bass, with dense, unrelenting drones carrying a sense of mounting tension. Just as it seems to collapse under its own weight, flickers of guitar emerge like distant light through fog. It’s a meditation on dissonance, resolve, and the elusive possibility of release.

The closing track, “Secretly Wishing for Rain,” is steeped in saudade: a longing for Seattle’s dour grey skies, lush green landscapes, and desaturated sunsets. Through it, Irisarri mourns a vanished chapter of life bound to the city, a time documented in scattered mementos and cherished collections, now permanently gone. A reflection on what could never be recovered: an era lost to time. Julia Kent’s looped cello motifs added a melancholic warmth to the track, marking the first collaboration between the two artists and sparking a musical dialogue that would keep growing in the years that followed.

More than a career highlight, A Fragile Geography has laid the foundation for Black Knoll studio, which Irisarri rebuilt from the ground up. The studio has since grown into a creative hub for countless projects, with Irisarri engineering records for iconic music figures like Terry Riley, Ryuichi Sakamoto, William Basinski, MONO, Devendra Banhart, Grouper, Emeralds, Steve Hauschildt, Julianna Barwick, and many others. Carried by its lasting influence, the album has quietly captured the ear of a younger generation, its sound and emotional arc finding new listeners in unexpected corners.

The album’s new visual language was reimagined in collaboration with Mexico City–based designer Daniel Castrejón. Irisarri captured ghostly images at Gaztelugatxeko Doniene, a historic coastal site in Bermeo, Euskal Herria. Castrejón then treated the photographs with distressed textures and spectral overlays. The final artwork channels the rugged, elemental forces that shaped both the music and Irisarri’s aesthetic, renewing his ties to ancestral ground inspired by the Basque homeland of his bloodline.

Mastered by Stephan Mathieu with exceptional attention to detail, this anniversary edition uncovers every nuance in the sound design, enhancing clarity and presence. With each listen, new elements emerge, inviting discovery and reconnection.

“I don’t experience this album as a document of grief anymore,” says Irisarri. “I hear adaptation and I'm reminded that when everything falls apart, something meaningful, maybe even beautiful, can emerge.”

First released in 2016, Continuum sees Shook exploring a more introspective side, trading funk for spacious ambient compositions and stripped-down piano work recorded on his Yamaha CP70B. Inspired by Vangelis, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Japanese Kankyo Ongaku, this is Shook at his most minimal and meditative. A personal journey inward, now reissued on vinyl for the first time.

Off The Record (faitiche 39), the new album by French collagist Roméo Poirier, is an amusing romp through the discarded history of recording studios. It contains fourteen miniatures based on accidental recordings of studio talk, revealing things that were never meant for the public: we hear instructions from studio staff, scraps of talk between musicians, or just microphones being adjusted, as well as false notes, false starts: everyone stops. Start again: 1, 2, 3, 4!

Poirier’s approach recalls Accumulation, an artform practiced by Arman, Jean Tinguely and Daniel Spoerri that involved piling up everyday items into assemblages. The objects themselves often remained unaltered, the artistic gesture consisting in the careful curating of a distinctive selection. Poirier’s audio collages explore similar terrain. The fourteen pieces on Off the Record combine more than a thousand found sounds from studio archives into complex miniatures. The audio content of these outtakes is twisted, stretched, cut, reassembled, slowed down and accelerated. Voices cut into a microgroove, from a very old recording, intertwine with digital voices gleaned from YouTube. All of them in dialogue, engaging the listener with the impression of being part of a new music group.

Poirier uses the mundane routine of setting up before the actual recording gets underway to tell a universal story about working in a recording studio. And he manages something few achieve, transforming specialist knowledge into a narrative whose beauty goes far beyond its immediate subject. It speaks to everyone, because the story is told in a musical language that is open and accessible, evoking magical images reminiscent of Oz – a world consisting less of events than of camp hallucinations, captured in grainy black-and-white photographs. En passant, Poirier shows us how the notion of material accumulation can produce great art.

Written and produced by Roméo Poirier, mastered by Stephan Mathieu, photos by Roméo Poirier, graphic design by Tim Tetzner.

With the Scratch EP, Scottish techno powerhouse Gary Beck delivers four razor-sharp cuts that bring raw energy and dancefloor pressure to FJAAK's label CROWD. Known for his unmistakable grooves and stripped-down power, Beck presents a no-frills EP that bridges classic techno aesthetics with forward momentum. Opening with the single 'French System', the EP kicks off in full throttle. It's a propulsive roller built around tough drums, catchy synths, a female vocal leading the way and Beck's signature percussive tension. Title track 'Scratch' follows with a twitchy, angular rhythm that spirals around a fragmented vocal motif and bold machine-funk energy with tense breaks leading to ecstatic drops. On the record's flip side, 'How Do You Feel' keeps the level high, fusing jacking rhythms with a funky vocal and a Beck's heavy signature kicks. Finally, 'Eclipse' closes the EP pushing the energy into darker territories with relentless drive, its distorted pulse and industrial edge. This release marks a fierce debut on CROWD for Gary Beck - four no-nonsense weapons crafted for peak-time moments and the rawer corners of the club. A heavy-hitting addition to the label's catalog and a must-have for techno selectors with a taste for precision and punch.

A stunning re-envisaging of Sade ‘Cherish The Day’ in a upfront reggae style from singer Sailor Jane. It is produced by the great Michael Goldwasser. A side mixed by the maestro mixer Gregory Morris, the B side features a magnificent dub piece from Jallanzo The Dub Wizard.

The release comes on a criss 7inch housed in a beautiful picture sleeve designed by Madein876 Productions / Streets of Jamaica & formatted by Classic Blends.

Sailor Jane is out of Florida but has spent a lot of time in Jamaica honing her skills as a singer and musician. This track is taken from her album of Sade covers which is certainly worth checking out called No Ordinary Dub.

Daniil Trifonov, „einer der beeindruckendsten Pianisten unserer Zeit“ (New York Times) veröffentlicht sein
mit Spannung erwartetes Tschaikowsky-Album!
Der Starpianist erkundet darin ausgewählte Werke von Tschaikowsky für Klavier solo. Diese offenbaren die
intimere, private Seite des romantischen Komponisten, denn „Tschaikowsky war kein mürrischer Sonderling,
sondern pflegte vor allem in jüngeren Jahren sehr fröhliche Freundschaften und fand großen emotionalen
Rückhalt in seiner Familie“, sagt Trifonov.
Zu hören sind die frühe Klaviersonate in cis-Moll, „ein zu Unrecht übersehenes Meisterwerk“, welches
reich an wechselnden Stimmungen und originellen Ideen ist, das Thème original et variations in F-Dur und
das Kinderalbum op. 39. Zusammen eröffnen diese Werke einen Einblick in das, was Daniil Trifonov die
„private Ebene Tschaikowskys“ nennt – „einen Geist, geprägt von Erinnerungen an Jugend und Familie“.
Das Album endet mit der farbenprächtigen Suite aus Dornröschen. Diese wurde 1978 von dem damals erst
21-jährigen Pianisten und Dirigenten Mikhail Pletnev transkribiert, der im selben Jahr – genau wie Trifonov
33 Jahre später im Jahr 2011 mit einem spektakulären Sieg – den Internationalen Tschaikowsky-Wettbewerb
gewann. Pletnevs Bearbeitung für Soloklavier von Highlights aus dem beliebten Tschaikowsky-Ballett ist
für Daniil Trifonov „ein meisterhaftes Klavierwerk in sich“.

"Hyperglyph" is the first new album in 11 years from composer/trumpeter/synthesist Rob Mazurek and composer/percussionist Chad Taylor"s long-running Chicago Underground Duo project. Mazurek and Taylor have played music together in a multitude of formations over nearly three decades, including their ongoing partnership in Mazurek"s large-format-skyward-expressionism vehicle Exploding Star Orchestra, in the expanded Chicago Underground Trio, Quartet and Orchestra (all with guitarist Jeff Parker), as well as a plethora of other assemblages. The early albums by the Duo have proven to be embryonic blueprints for the avant-jazz / electronic / indie rock hybridizing of the time, making them majorly important moments in the articulation of the "jazz" dimensionality of the then-burgeoning "post rock" sound. That sound, of course, was being transmitted far and wide due to the success of these groups as well as the Mazurek/Parker project Isotope 217, and the Chicago Underground"s frequently-intersecting collaborators in Tortoise. Just as most of the still-working projects born of that era have evolved, reconfigured, and grown, the Chicago Underground Duo has undergone a number of musical moltings, with the project always in the background of disparate individual aural investigations. The concurrent personal evolutions of Mazurek and Taylor as the Duo project drops off and picks back up makes it a true reflection of their own lives and friendship.

Collecting Orders For 2025 Repress

Nick Curly celebrates the 50th release on his imprint with label partner Marc Scholl. Together, they present Nick Curly’s Altrip EP, featuring a guest remix by Manda Moor.

The EP commences with the title track 'Altrip,' where robust sub-bass melds seamlessly with vigorous drum programming. Following suit, 'It's You And Me' maintains the same potent energy, featuring cascading note arpeggios and intricate percussive elements that traverse the mix. Manda Moor's 'Burning Remix' of 'Altrip' injects her high-octane sonic signature into the original, employing rave-inspired stabs, panning drums, and sliced vocal samples.

As the year '23 enters its final quarter, Cécille Records is set to reinvigorate its event series in collaboration with Peoples Agency. Two official dates stand as markers of this revival. Alongside Nick Curly, an array of artists including Sidney Charles, Manda Moor, Fabe, Leon, De La Swing, Dennis Quin, Timmy P, Reboot and more are poised to join the festivities. The launch will take place under Cécille tent owned by Groove Fest London, while another event is scheduled at ADE in partnership with promoter Hush, hosted at Amsterdam's Melkweg Club.

Eco Coloured Edition
Elena Tonra ist zwar keine passionierte Schwimmerin, aber der Sound auf dem neuen Daughter Album "Stereo Mind Game" klingt wie ein Ozean, in den man eintauchen möchte. Das dritte Album der britischen Band, gleichzeitig das erste Studioalbum seit sieben Jahren, setzt sich damit auseinander, was es bedeutet, von geliebten Menschen und auch von sich selbst getrennt zu sein - ein komplexes Thema. Daughter, das Trio bestehend aus Elena Tonra, Igor Haefeli und Remi Aguilella - wurde 2010 gegründet. Nach der Veröffentlichung von zwei Studioalben, "If You Leave" (2013) und "Not to Disappear" (2016), und dem Videospiel-Soundtrack Music "From Before the Storm" (2017), beschlossen sie, eine Auszeit voneinander zu nehmen. Kurz zuvor jammten sie allerdings noch gemeinsam in Los Angeles, zwischen einer Support-Tour für The National und ihren ersten Headline-Shows in Südamerika. Hier begann die Arbeit am neuen Album. Danach herrschte erst einmal Stille - als Band und untereinander. In den nächsten Jahren, in denen die Mitglieder an ihren eigenen Projekten arbeiteten, darunter auch Tonras Soloplatte als Ex:Re, trafen sich Daughter gelegentlich zum gemeinsamen Schreiben in Studios in London, Portland und San Diego, wo Haefeli 2019 für sechs Monate lebte. Die zentrale romantische Figur der Platte ist jemand, den Tonra dort kennengelernt hat, als sie aus London zu Besuch kam. Sie teilten eine bedeutende Verbindung, aber sie wusste, dass der Atlantik zwischen ihnen liegt. Daughter begann 2021 konkret mit den Aufnahmen für die zwölf Songs des Albums. Haefeli, der in Bristol lebt, traf sich mit Tonra in den Middle Farm Studios in Devon. Aguilella, der in Portland, Oregon, lebt, nahm seine Schlagzeugparts im Bocce Studio in Vancouver, Washington, auf. Haefeli produzierte eine Reihe der Songs, während Tonra "Junkmail" produzierte. Den Rest haben sie gemeinsam produziert. Die Sehnsucht, physische Entfernungen zu überwinden, ein Gefühl, das sich während der Pandemie noch verstärkt hat, ist in viele dieser Stücke eingeflossen. Auf "Wish I Could Cross the Sea" hören wir Sprachnotizen von Tonras junger Nichte und ihrem Neffen, die in Italien leben. "(Missed Calls)" enthält eine weitere Sprachnotiz, in der ein Freund einen Traum beschreibt. Gefüttert mit einigen modularen Effekten, klingt er geisterhaft eindringlich. Diese Nachrichten, Versuche einer Verbindung von geliebten Menschen, die man nicht sehen kann, "können einen aus dem Brunnen ziehen", sagt Tonra - aber nur, wenn man den Hörer abnimmt. Wenn man andere hereinlässt, kann Schönheit entstehen. Tiefes Gefühl kommt von den Bögen des 12 Ensemble, dem in London ansässigen Streichorchester, das bei vielen Stücken des Albums zu hören ist. Die von Haefeli und Tonra arrangierten und von Josephine Stephenson orchestrierten Stücke wurden, passenderweise, im The Pool aufgenommen, einem Raum in Bermondsey im Süden Londons, der eine ehemalige Badeanstalt war. Ein Blechbläserquartett verleiht auch "Neptune" und "To Rage" eine wohlig klangliche Wärme. Während Daughters frühere Arbeiten ihre Kraft in ihrer entwaffneten und emotionalen Ehrlichkeit fanden, handelt "Stereo Mind Game" von gegensätzlichen Gefühlen. "Es geht darum, nicht in absoluten Kategorien zu arbeiten", sagt Haefeli. Nach mehr als einem Jahrzehnt, in dem sie die dunkelsten Emotionen darstellten, haben Daughter ihr bisher optimistischstes und ein fast schon strahlendes Album aufgenommen.

"Na Rua, na Chuva, na Fazenda" is a landmark 1975 album by Hyldon, a key figure in Brazilian soul music. His debut release was one of the top-selling albums that year, capturing the vibrant musical spirit of the 1970s and reflecting the influence of the black power movement alongside artists like Tim Maia and Cassiano. With a mix of MPB, soul, and funk, Hyldon brought his unique sound to life, collaborating with influential artists and contributing to the Brazilian music scene. With a mix of MPB, soul, and funk, Hyldon brought his unique sound to life, collaborating with influential artists like Azymuth. The album, which features the iconic title track, is a celebration of love with timeless songs like 'As Dores do Mundo', 'Na Sombra de uma Arvore' and 'Meu Patuá.' Produced by Guti Carvalho with arrangements by Hyldon and Waldir Arouca Barros, the studio band included the talented musicians from Azymuth (José Roberto Bertrami, Alex Malheiros and Ivan Conti "Mamao"), making it a memorable piece of Brazilian musical history. This album has earned cult status over the years, securing its place as one of the most coveted Brazilian records of all time. Once incredibly rare and expensive, it's now at the top of every serious collector's wishlist. After being unavailable outside of Brazil for years, it's finally been reissued - don't miss your chance to own this legendary piece of music history.

Already deemed one of the best releases of 2025 (Vulture), Mark William Lewis' timeless self-titled album moves between nostalgic, deep-rooted poems and upbeat, indie rock grooves. Presented as A24 Music's first independent artist release.

Eager Buyers is an observation of longing, of memory, of attempted connection, of lost innocence, and irreconcilable dreams. It"s the sound of broken promises for a bright future, where rose-tinted glasses have lost their clarity, dirtied with disaffection over time. Across this sultry, smoky, cinematic epic, JASSS attempts to process mixed feelings amidst the modern malaise. Alluringly atmospheric and cerebral, but bold and direct, with high-spec sound design, JASSS spaces each element with expert definition. Searing swathes of noise nestle with crisp breakbeats, billowing bass, dark ambience, prepared piano, phosphorescent electronics and calibrated percussion.

Clear Vinyl. ,A Series of Actions in a Sphere of Forever" ist eine Sammlung von neun Soloklavierwerken, die sich mit Widerstand, Resonanz und Raum mit einer ausgeprägten spektralen Sensibilität auseinandersetzen. Diese Stücke sind Nocturnes, die tief in der Stille des Winters in einem kleinen ländlichen Studio in Valens, Kanada, geschrieben wurden. A Series of Actions in a Sphere of Forever ist der Nachfolger von From Where You Came, das im Mai veröffentlicht wurde und eine RA-Empfehlung sowie die Auszeichnung ,Experimentelles Album des Monats" von The Guardian erhielt, das es als ,stille Ekstase eines Komponisten ohne Grenzen" bezeichnete.

,A Series of Actions in a Sphere of Forever" ist eine Sammlung von neun Soloklavierwerken, die sich mit Widerstand, Resonanz und Raum mit einer ausgeprägten spektralen Sensibilität auseinandersetzen. Diese Stücke sind Nocturnes, die tief in der Stille des Winters in einem kleinen ländlichen Studio in Valens, Kanada, geschrieben wurden. A Series of Actions in a Sphere of Forever ist der Nachfolger von From Where You Came, das im Mai veröffentlicht wurde und eine RA-Empfehlung sowie die Auszeichnung ,Experimentelles Album des Monats" von The Guardian erhielt, das es als ,stille Ekstase eines Komponisten ohne Grenzen" bezeichnete.

Tauche ein in die magische Klangwelt von Olafur Arnalds: Found Songs kehrt zurück - erstmals als transparente Vinyl-Edition! Ursprünglich 2009 auf schwarzem Vinyl veröffentlicht und lange vergriffen, erscheint dieses intime Meisterwerk nun in einer streng limitierten Neuauflage. Die sieben Stücke entstanden in einem außergewöhnlichen Projekt: ein Song pro Tag, sieben Tage lang - direkt geteilt mit der Welt. Zwischen zarten Klaviermotiven, subtilen Elektronik-Elementen und kammermusikalischer Tiefe entfaltet sich ein eindrucksvolles Porträt eines jungen Komponisten, der die Grenzen zwischen Klassik, Pop und Ambient neu definiert. Found Songs ist ein poetisches Zeitdokument - roh, ehrlich und voller Gefühl. Ein Muss für alle, die Musik als Kunstform erleben. Step into the delicate sound world of Olafur Arnalds: Found Songs returns - for the first time ever on clear vinyl! Originally released in 2009 on black vinyl and long sold out, this intimate masterpiece is now reissued in a strictly limited edition. Born from a unique project - one song per day for seven days, shared instantly with the world - these seven pieces blend fragile piano, subtle electronics, and chamber textures into a deeply personal portrait of a young composer redefining the boundaries between classical, pop, and ambient. Found Songs is a poetic time capsule - raw, honest, and profoundly moving. A must-have for those who experience music as art.

'SOPHIE', das selbstbetitelte zweite Album der visionären Künstlerin, Produzentin und Pop-Pionierin, wird am 27. September 2024 über Transgressive und Future Classic veröffentlicht.

Dieses Album wurde von SOPHIE und einigen ihrer liebsten Kollaborateure geschaffen. Es stand kurz vor der Fertigstellung, als sie auf tragische Weise starb, und wurde von denjenigen, die ihr am nächsten standen, liebevoll fertiggestellt. Als SOPHIEs Studiomanager und vertrauenswürdiger Gesprächspartner für über ein Jahrzehnt war Benny Long maßgeblich an der Veröffentlichung von 'Oil Of Every Pearl's Un-insides' beteiligt und zeichnete für Mastering, Produktion und Mixing verantwortlich. Die beiden arbeiteten dann über mehrere Jahre zusammen, um das Konzept und die Produktion dieses Nachfolgealbums zu entwickeln, das Benny liebevoll vollendet hat, um SOPHIEs Vision zu ehren.

'SOPHIE', das selbstbetitelte zweite Album der visionären Künstlerin, Produzentin und Pop-Pionierin, wird am 27. September 2024 über Transgressive und Future Classic veröffentlicht.

Dieses Album wurde von SOPHIE und einigen ihrer liebsten Kollaborateure geschaffen. Es stand kurz vor der Fertigstellung, als sie auf tragische Weise starb, und wurde von denjenigen, die ihr am nächsten standen, liebevoll fertiggestellt. Als SOPHIEs Studiomanager und vertrauenswürdiger Gesprächspartner für über ein Jahrzehnt war Benny Long maßgeblich an der Veröffentlichung von 'Oil Of Every Pearl's Un-insides' beteiligt und zeichnete für Mastering, Produktion und Mixing verantwortlich. Die beiden arbeiteten dann über mehrere Jahre zusammen, um das Konzept und die Produktion dieses Nachfolgealbums zu entwickeln, das Benny liebevoll vollendet hat, um SOPHIEs Vision zu ehren.

Clement "Minkie" Moore's introduction to the music business came via his friend the great deejay U Roy. Back in the mid 1970s, Minkie and U Roy were both living in the Tower Hill area of Kingston, and U Roy was resident deejay on King Tubby's sound system. Minkie followed his friend and the sound, and occasionally U Roy let him hold the mic and deejay on Tubby's set. U Roy encouraged Minkie to take music more seriously, and with that encouragement, his first record "Wickedness" was made. Minkie got a cut of a rhythm from his friend the late Sydney Wilson, and voiced and mixed the rugged deejay tune "Wickedness" at King Tubby's studio. Sydney had earlier voiced this rhythm as a tune called "Why Do I Cry", but alongside "Wickedness", voiced it again with a new vocal called "Time Has Gone". In fact that tune and "Wickedness" share the same dub version. Clement continued to move in the music scene, next recording for Harry J's Jaywax label in 1979 with a tune called "Jah Is Real", as a duo named UNI-TONE along with his friend Denzil. Then in 1980, Clement revisited the great rhythm of "Wickedness", deciding to this time sing rather than deejay on the rhythm. He returned to Harry J studio, adding some choice new instrumental overdubs on the rhythm for this new cut, "Every Time I Do My Thing." In the decades since, astute roots collectors have honed in on this excellent rhythm and its several cuts, not least of all this pair of them by Mr. Clement "Minkie" Moore. It should be noted that in the manner of the day, other associates of Tubby's studio, Prophets Yabby You and Alric Forbes, also utilized this rhythm. Minkie's musical journey continued thru the 1980s, when he linked with American group Lambsbread, writing and performing on their second album which was recorded at Channel 1 in early 1987. In the 1990's Clement returned to self-production on his Allah label, in addition to cutting a 45 for Chinna Smith's High Times label. Nowadays Clement is still going strong, occasionally dropping new music like "Greedy", recorded at Bravo's Small World studio in downtown Kingston.

Clement "Minkie" Moore's introduction to the music business came via his friend the great deejay U Roy. Back in the mid 1970s, Minkie and U Roy were both living in the Tower Hill area of Kingston, and U Roy was resident deejay on King Tubby's sound system. Minkie followed his friend and the sound, and occasionally U Roy let him hold the mic and deejay on Tubby's set. U Roy encouraged Minkie to take music more seriously, and with that encouragement, his first record "Wickedness" was made. Minkie got a cut of a rhythm from his friend the late Sydney Wilson, and voiced and mixed the rugged deejay tune "Wickedness" at King Tubby's studio. Sydney had earlier voiced this rhythm as a tune called "Why Do I Cry", but alongside "Wickedness", voiced it again with a new vocal called "Time Has Gone". In fact that tune and "Wickedness" share the same dub version. Clement continued to move in the music scene, next recording for Harry J's Jaywax label in 1979 with a tune called "Jah Is Real", as a duo named UNI-TONE along with his friend Denzil. Then in 1980, Clement revisited the great rhythm of "Wickedness", deciding to this time sing rather than deejay on the rhythm. He returned to Harry J studio, adding some choice new instrumental overdubs on the rhythm for this new cut, "Every Time I Do My Thing." In the decades since, astute roots collectors have honed in on this excellent rhythm and its several cuts, not least of all this pair of them by Mr. Clement "Minkie" Moore. It should be noted that in the manner of the day, other associates of Tubby's studio, Prophets Yabby You and Alric Forbes, also utilized this rhythm. Minkie's musical journey continued thru the 1980s, when he linked with American group Lambsbread, writing and performing on their second album which was recorded at Channel 1 in early 1987. In the 1990's Clement returned to self-production on his Allah label, in addition to cutting a 45 for Chinna Smith's High Times label. Nowadays Clement is still going strong, occasionally dropping new music like "Greedy", recorded at Bravo's Small World studio in downtown Kingston.

One of our all time favorite New York dancehall tunes, finally back again. 20+ years ago, in a different era of reggae record collecting where there was little to no information to be found about so many '80s reggae records, the original 12 inch single of this one was a mythical tune among our set of friends. In fact this one was on the earliest DKR wish lists, but all good things take time. By now we expect most of our followers know Junior's digital masterpiece "Rampers Music", which we first issued in 2014, and is now back in stock. But this one is his earliest and first tune, a heavy piece of a rub a dub cut at Munchie Jackson's Sunshine Studio in the Bronx, with Jackie Mittoo at the helm of the session. The original 12 inch was self released by Junior on his own label in 1985, with one of our all time favorite label designs. The lyrics are a great snapshot of mid 80s New York, a nod to all those making their way, for better or worse, thru the posses and cliques of the Jamaican scene of the day.

Lucrate Milk baigne dans le nihilisme et l’insouciance et aime jouer avec l’absurde, le culte de la provocation et de la dérision forcenée, la fascination morbide, la déviance et l’anormalité. Rajoutons une bonne dose de chaos, d’énergie trépidante et de déglingue pour produire un son bizarroïde… Le groupe disparaît en février 84 après un dernier concert en apothéose au Théâtre du Forum des Halles (Paris). C’est paradoxalement après l’arrêt du groupe que sa notoriété s’étend, notamment grâce au transfuge d’une partie de ses anciens membres au sein de Bérurier Noir. En 37 concerts, de salles glauques (avec baston générale) en squats autonomes, des bars et boîtes branchées (Pont∼à∼Mousson) aux festivals (Berlin, Paris…), une légende urbaine se crée autour de Lucrate Milk, devenant une référence sans avoir vraiment rencontré de succès populaire de son vivant…

Originellement paru en 1987, regroupant le EP “Lustiges Tierquartett” (octobre 1981) le EP “Nepla Relou” (mai 1983) la face “Lucrate” du split LP avec MKB Fraction Provisoire et enregistré chez WW (juillet 1983). Épuisé depuis trop longtemps lui aussi…

Guitar Solos is the debut solo album of British guitarist, composer, and improviser Fred Frith. It was recorded while Frith was still a member of the English experimental rock group Henry Cow and was released originally in October 1974. Voted one of the best albums of 1974 by NME critics it also attracted the attention of Brian Eno, resulting in Frith playing guitar on two of Eno‘s albums. Frith‘s never tiring spirit in creating and performing music has made him one of the most notable and creative guitar players and musicians in the scene of improvised and composed music. For the anniversary of this release we have encouraged Frith to arrange a set up similar to what he used 50 years ago to record an album of new compositions which will accompany the original record.

Barcelona born and based young composer Olivia Font's debut album, Invictam explores resilience and adaptation through a unique blend of strings, analog synthesizers, electronics, and experimental percussion. The album's narrative, guided by a transformative female voice, unfolds through long, repetitive melodic patterns that meditate on time, transience, and the passage of seasons.

This unique vision is further enriched by collaborations with British cellist Oliver Coates and actress-singer Ana San Martín, alongside a track from producer Pedro Vian himself. Preorder Invictam today and be part of this remarkable journey. Cover by Adrià Cañameras.

Since their reunion in 2015, Malka Family has been enchanting stages once again and releasing fabulous albums. Le Retour Du Kif (2018) and SuperLune (2022), featuring almost all of the original musicians, have marked their comeback.
Today, Planète Claire, a 16 tracks album, is undoubtedly one of Malka Family’s best works.
It was urgent for the great Funk families to return and give the new generations a lesson of kif…
Back to the Roots

In 1987, after organizing the Chez Roger Boîte Funk parties with Dee Nasty and Actuel/Radio Nova, Joseph Mannix and Isaac Ben Araz (then guitarist and trombonist of the group Human Spirit) decided to create a French-style Funk band.
The group quickly became one of the most spectacular live sensations of the 1990s.
Their self-produced debut album, Malka On The Beach, was released in 1991. Both the press and the public went crazy for these little funkateers, leading to a series of non-stop tours. Their concerts—wild, costumed performances—drew massive crowds. Warner France took notice and signed them.

Their second album, Tous Des Ouf (WEA), a true Space Opera P-Funk featuring guests like Sidney (Hip-Hop), Dee Nasty, Marco Prince (FFF), Juan Rozoff, and more, was released in 1992.

After touring the world multiple times, the band became independent again in 1995 and recorded an EP for Big Cheese Records: Fricassé De Funk.

By the late ‘90s, the rise of DJs and electronic music signaled the decline of large live bands. Due to its logistical weight—the band had over 14 members on their last tour—Malka Family was forced to part ways in 1997 after touring for their album Fotoukonkass (RCA/BMG).

But that was without counting on the resilience and extraordinary freshness of these Funk performers…

By the end of the 1970s Linval Thompson had cut out a successful dual career for himself as both singer and producer. Naturally he moved in the dub field as well, getting further use out of rhythms he used in his other works. Dub had begun strictly as an album format with limited pressing runs for scene insiders, but it had swiftly gained the interest of the rank and file reggae buffs.

'Negrea Love Dub', originally released in 1978, is a cornerstone in the reggae dub scene.

Linval Thompson produced riddims which were laid at Channel One studio by The Revolutionaries – at the time a celebrated studio band led by drum and bass partners Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespear – and mixed at King Tubby's renown studio at 18 Dromilly Avenue in Kingston by Prince Jammy.

The sound of the ten dubs featured here is hypnotic and its effects are euphoric to say the least.

Nicola Conte & Nico Lahs return with their eagerly awaited second EP, continuing the musical journey they began with their acclaimed 12” Macumba de Oxalȧ / La Danse de l’Esprit.
This new release confirms the creative synergy between two producers who speak the same musical language: a refined blend of spiritual jazz, Afro-American rhythms and electronic sensibility, designed for the most eclectic and sophisticated dancefloors. The Tema Due project is aimed at a refined club scene, attentive to the depth and purpose of sound. Once again, Conte and Lahs are turning the dance floor into a ritual space, where body and spirit move in harmony in a musical language that not only entertains but also elevates.


In this “EP2”, Nicola Conte and Nico Lahs collaborate for the first time with the talented young Brazilian percussionist Gabriel Prado and consolidate their long-standing partnership with pianist Pietro Lusso, who plays a fundamental role in shaping the musical identity of this work. Among the tracks, “Share Your Love” stands out in particular, interpreted by Brazilian singer Nina Miranda, who brings emotional depth to a track that talks about peace, sharing and love between peoples, and is enriched by the participation of Giovanni Guidi on Fender Rhodes and synths.
“EP2” precedes the release of Tema Due’s full-length album, which is currently taking shape – a work that promises to further consolidate the duo’s shared vision, expanding their conceptual and sonic scope. To crown this creative cycle, the album will also be followed by a third EP with additional unreleased tracks, symbolically closing a trilogy of sound and vision. A coherent, intense and uncompromising musical journey, where club culture meets spirituality and artistic exploration.

Fabio Nobile is a drummer and multi-instrumentalist who has been active on the music scene for over 25 years. Today, his musical
exploration draws from the deep roots of Afro traditions and the expressive freedom of jazz—two musical cultures that are an integral
part of his identity.
Sankofa Soul is a musical project born from the encounter between jazz, African traditions, and the search for a profound connection
between past and present. The term “Sankofa” comes from the Akan language (spoken in Ghana) and means “to go back and fetch what
is good” —an invitation to look to the past to better understand the future.
In an era where music is evolving at a rapid pace, Sankofa Soul looks to a rich and multifaceted cultural heritage, while also embracing a
modern voice—a universal call to reconnect with our European origins through the lens of African legacy.
Each track on Sankofa Soul reflects Fabio Nobile’s experiences, studies, and roots, forming a dialogue between past and present, the
sacred and the profane, individuality and community.
Sankofa Soul is a heartfelt tribute to West Africa, with a special focus on Nigeria.
Zuma Rock leads us into the rich and ever-changing soundscape of West Africa—a space where tradition meets innovation, and rhythm
tells stories older than words. Here, the legacy of Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat pulses through every beat, anchoring the music in political fire and
deep ancestral roots. At the same time, the unmistakable horn section weaves a vibrant fusion of Afro-Funk and Jazz. In Zuma Rock, we
enter a dialogue between past and present—a musical return to the source.
And then appears Kalakuta Republic, a heartfelt homage to the self-declared commune that was home to the legendary Fela Kuti—a
reminder not to forget the rebellious spirit of the Kalakuta Republic. This track gives voice to the very essence of Afro-jazz, wrapped in a
hypnotic 12/8 rhythm that echoes ancient African traditions. Its immersive pulse blends seamlessly with jazz’s boundless expressive
freedom, creating a vibrant, compelling dialogue suspended between ancestral roots and modernity.
Landed in Lagos and I Read the Stars naturally embrace the distinctive sound of Manu Dibango, while Say Your Prayer Now reminds us
how the evolution of Jamaican reggae—and its cultural and musical foundations—remains deeply linked to Mother Africa.
This is Sankofa: the soul’s journey back to the past to move forward.

It began with a cassette tape entitled 'Pleased To Meet You' gifted to us at Sessa's Fasching, Stockholm show by Yann Dardenne, the multi-tasking tour manager/sound engineer/producer/merch stall worker and co-owner of Seloki Records. On first listen, the selection of underground Brazilian artists from the Seloki's roster was superb, however, one song stopped us in our tracks. The hauntingly captivating ' GOSTO MEIO DOCE' by Nina Maia and Francisca Barreto, gave us a taste of Nina's ethereal, addictive voice and we knew we needed to hear more. Born in Minas Gerais but now based in Sao Paulo, the 22-year-old has already packed a lot into a relatively short space of time. The singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and producer, has already collaborated on the soundtracks for six Brazilian feature films, including a track with the vocalists Maria Gadu, Iza, and Liniker. But things enter a new exciting era with this, her remarkable debut album entitled 'INTEIRA', which translates to English as 'whole'.

As much inspired by Billie Eilish and Rosalia, as Milton Nascimento and Toninho Horta and not sounding like other records coming out of Brazil, 'INTEIRA' is unique. Though rich in its Brazilian heritage, inspired by samba cancao, MPB, and the Clube da Esquina movement, it also channels influence from bands such as Portishead and Massive Attack, mixed with jazz, contemporary leftfield and electronic pop artists. Musically, it is not easily pigeonholed, with beautiful, well-crafted songs, sophisticated arrangements, eloquent vocals and intimate lyrics. Each track reflects different moments and stories from Nina's youth but with dialogues, feelings, and questions that span generations and resonate with all. This ambitious debut album is Nina's vision and sound, expressing herself without constraints and making music with her friends. Featuring a lineup of Thalin (drums), Valentim Frateschi (bass), Francisca Barreto (cello and vocals), Thales Hashiguti (viola and violin), Yann Dardenne (acoustic guitar and co-producer) and Nina on piano, Rhodes, guitar and production. The album led to a nomination in Paulista Association of Art Critics (APCA) award's 'Breakthrough Artist' category, who also listed 'INTEIRA' as one of the 50 best albums of 2024.

It also received support from Bandcamp Weekly and Jamz Supernova on BBC 6 Music. Released digitally by Seloki Records in Brazil in 2024, Mr Bongo in partnership with Seloki Records now present this new, deluxe worldwide edition that includes four additional songs. These comprise the brand-new exquisite 'MANHA', as well as an original twist on Vinicius de Moraes' classic 'Serenata Do Adeus'. Elsewhere you'll find a live recording showcasing Nina's remarkable energy on stage courtesy of 'DE DENTRO' and 'GOSTO MEIO DOCE' with the amazing musician/vocalist Francisca Barreto, where our whole story began. Here at Mr Bongo, we are honoured to release music by such a remarkable new talent - one whose musical trajectory is most certainly about to soar.

After their epic run with Channel One beginning in the mid 1970's, the Mighty Diamonds moved to producer Gussie Clarke for a string of albums starting in 1979 and running thru the 1980s. Among the many many great tunes from this run, the title track of their 1982 album "The Roots Is There" is simply one of the Diamond's best ever, and probably the most lyrically militant tune they ever made. This tune was never released as a single at the time, though new mixes were released as a single in 2017. But prior to the release of the album back in the day, this song was played on dubplate in a raw mix without the horns and added percussion that made it onto the final album mix. This raw vocal cut, followed by a raw instrumental version, changes the whole tone of the tune and brings it into another level of militancy right up there with the hardest stuff you can name, even in an era filled with so many extra tough stepping classics. Rather than remaster from an old dubplate, for this 45 we had producer Gussie Clarke and Music Works' close associate engineer Curtis Lynch go back to the original tapes, and with an original dubplate as reference, perfectly recreate the original raw cut, now released in pristine tape quality. Again we present this release on Music Works' original early 1980s dubplate label design, just like the original slate would have been adorned with. If you only know the sweet harmony side of the Diamonds, give this one a try to see their other tuff side, and listen to the lyrics, as relevant to the struggles of right now as they were in 1982.

Metatone is a tonic-containing substance used to help restore health and vitality after illnesses or when you are feeling tired. A metaphor, which perfectly describes Ement's debut album - a mixture of peak-time electro/techno tunes spiced up with the modern traces of EBM, which perfectly fits clubs and festivals. It is a personal dancefloor experience materialization of a non-stop party rebel, who started his music production journey in the periphery and got inspired by his brother's hard dance production experiments. After an intensive exploration of the local and foreign club scene through years of intensive djing, remixing and never-ending afterhours, Ement finalized his recent definition of dance, which launches on the new co-curated PZ Records label.
An unexpected break and a long-lasting limbus of the dancefloor consumption turned out as a perfect slot to reveal one of many underestimated Lithuanian producers, who are too shy and too critical to themselves. It's no fiction, as "How Much Is Too Much" was already noticed and compiled by Dave Clark in his "Whitenoise" radio show.

Flabaire’s third album draws the attention away from the dancefloor with ambient psychedelic tunes. In his own words: “These tracks are live improvisations that have been recorded during the worldwide lockdown of 2020 and are an expression of what I felt then, during a few weeks where time seemed to have slowed down.” Turn on, tune in, drop out
DOWNLOAD PACK

Plug Trax is a Lithuanian-born techno and house producer currently based in Amsterdam. Deeply influenced by the iconic 90s Detroit techno movement, his sound combines a rhythmic, raw aesthetic with machine-driven intensity. Known for his classic sampling approach and swing-infused grooves, Plug Trax strikes a balance between timeless underground sounds and a forward-thinking edge.
Release Spotlight: Groovelicious EP on Gars Records
"Groovelicious EP" captures Plug Trax’s signature blend of gritty drum patterns, vintage-inspired chords, and percussion-driven energy, crafted for purists of the genre. The EP features two dynamic remixes by rising talents Octavio Octavio from Argentina and Gockel from Germany who bring fresh perspectives that enhance the EP’s raw, dancefloor-ready appeal.

Kerala Dusts großartiges neues Album 'An Echo of Love' ist ein Paradebeispiel dafür, niemals stillzustehen. Im Mittelpunkt seiner musikalischen Hybridität - wo Artrock auf innovative Elektronik trifft und die warme Umarmung der Tanzfläche Raum für weite Ausblicke auf Americana, Wüstenblues und dämmrige Fahrten durch eine neonbeleuchtete Stadt lässt - steht ein Album, das die Möglichkeiten des ständigen Wandels lebt.

Es ist ein wunderbar wandelbares Album; eine rastlose Fusion, deren Bedeutung eher in Fragmenten als in etwas Festem oder Statischem liegt. Kurz gesagt: Es dreht sich alles um Dynamik. Dieses Gefühl der ständigen Bewegung spiegelt sich nicht nur in der wechselnden Besetzung der Band wieder - Keyboarder Tim Gardner und Schlagzeuger Pascal Karier sind Neuzugänge und gesellen sich zu den langjährigen Mitgliedern Edmund Kenny (Gesang und Elektronik) und Lawrence Howarth (Gitarre) -, sondern auch in den Orten, an denen das Album geschrieben und aufgenommen wurde. Die Sessions fanden in der Toskana, Austin, Berlin, Zürich und schließlich Rom statt. Für Sänger Edmund "existiert das Album in gewisser Weise an all diesen Orten". Im Oktober und September ist die Band auf GSA-Tour!

Gars Records proudly presents the first release in our "Gars of Gars" series, celebrating classic Detroit and modern techno with a fresh, boundary-pushing approach. This dynamic compilation features breakthrough artists BENZA, Mython, and James Harbrecht, alongside rising talent Deranged. Local Lithuanian producers y2kati and Phaseline join forces with international heavyweights like Bondarük, delivering a truly global sound. A bold yet respectful nod to techno’s roots, "Gars of Gars" is set to make waves and stand the test of time. And last but not least, the entire release was mastered by the almighty Joe Farr, bringing over 25 years of industry expertise to the sound.

There’s not many musical journeys that connect Sligo and Ibiza via Berlin, but this is the unique sonic path that Tiarnan McMorrow has been on in recent years. The Berlin-based Irish producer, also known as Spray, is now releasing new music under the Spriitzz alias. “Spray for the club, Spriitzz for the sunset,” he explains of the two monikers.

And Spriitzz’s debut track, ‘Where R U’, radiates the feeling of sunset from every second of its glistening run time. While it’s unquestionably a piece of uplifting, euphoric and hypnotic trance, it also has that beautifully, hazy, dreamy and woozy feeling that most perfectly captures the feeling of a night ending and a new day beginning. “When I wrote it I was in Ibiza,” he explains. “And I wanted to make something that sounded like it could have been on an Ibiza sunrise compilation CD. One of those one-off tracks by an artist you can’t find any other music by. It’s a bit of an ode to an old Ibiza that I romanticize that doesn’t really exist any more but I’m still always chasing when I visit.”

• nicht nur Blues - es ist ein Aufschrei.
•  2025 wird Trout sowohl im Sommer also auch im Oktober auf Deutschland Tournee sein.
•  Umfassende Online-Kampagne über Facebook/Instagram, YouTube und alle wichtigen Webseiten.
•  ’Sign Of The Times’ ist Walter Trouts Statement zur Lage der Welt

Walter Trout - Sign Of The Times
Große Künstler sind immer am Puls der Zeit. Der unverwüstliche Blues Gitarrist Walter Trout hat in dem halben Jahrhundert in dem er auf den Bühnen dieser Welt steht, seinen Fans nie gesagt, was sie denken, wie sie fühlen, wo sie politisch stehen oder was sie auf ihre Protestplakate kritzeln sollen.Aber in einer Zeit, in der sein Heimatland - und die ganze Welt - an den Fronten des modernen Lebens zerreißt, ist das neue Album mit dem Titel 'Sign Of The Times' ein Urschrei und ein Druckventil, das wir alle dringend brauchen. „Ich wollte die Wut und die Angst, die in der Welt vor sich geht, zum Ausdruck bringen“, erklärt der 74-Jährige. "Für mich ist das Schreiben dieser Songs eine Therapie. Sie handeln nicht nur von dem, was da draußen passiert, sondern auch davon, wie es sich in deinem Kopf auswirkt. 'Sign Of The Times' war einfach der naheliegende Titel..."
 
Sign Of The Times erscheint am 5. September bei Artone / Provogue

Universo Vives proudly presents the 30th Anniversary Special Edition of La Tierra del Olvido (1995), the groundbreaking album by global icon and multiple GRAMMYr winner Carlos Vives. This collector's edition is pressed on 180-gram translucent clear vinyl and available in limited quantities - a must have for fans and vinyl lovers alike. Carlos Vives, the legendary Colombian singer, producer, and actor, revolutionized the sound of Latin music by bringing vallenato to the world stage. With 2 GRAMMYr Awards, 18 Latin GRAMMYsr, and the title of Latin GRAMMY Person of the Year 2024, Vives is one of the most celebrated artists of our time. His legacy has also been recognized by Billboard, the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame, and major institutions across Spain and Latin America. Celebrate the 30th anniversary of "La Tierra del Olvido" with this special remastered vinyl edition - a timeless tribute to the album that redefined Latin music on the global stage. Originally released in 1995, Carlos Vives created a new sound by reimagining Colombian vallenato with pop and rock influences, inventing a groundbreaking sound that reshaped Latin Music and inspired a new generation of artists worldwide. Now, beautifully remastered for vinyl, this collector's edition invites music lovers around the world to rediscover a landmark recording that brought the heart of Colombia to the ears of the world.

Q.A.S.B.'s Debut Album Finally Released on LP!

Before the release of “The Mexican” (produced by RYUHEI THE MAN), Q.A.S.B.'s self-titled debut album "Q.A.S.B" was originally released in 2009 on CD only, during the late Deep Funk movement. Now, in 2025, as the band celebrates its 20th anniversary, the album is finally available on vinyl for the first time!

Recorded in a single take with no edits using analog tape to recreate the sound of the 1970s, the raw and vivid energy of the album remains intact even after 16 years.
This album captures the essence of Q.A.S.B., featuring passionate performances by the original members, including the first vocalist amy-A (at the time). Most of the tracks were composed by Rob.T, who is now known as the sound producer for Hannah Warm. The 7-inch single “The Key” received high praise both domestically and internationally. Its explosive power on the dance floor was undeniable. I was really looking forward to the full album release from Q.A.S.B., and honestly, it blew me away. This is not imitation or homage—this is authentic, homegrown Japanese soul and funk music.

— Yusuke Ogawa (universounds / Deep Jazz Reality)

Japan’s proud funk band Q.A.S.B. finally releases their long-awaited debut album! About six months after their sensational debut single “The Key” took the world by storm, this much-anticipated album is here! With uptempo danceable tracks, heavy mid-tempo grooves, and soulful tunes that evoke the golden era, the album showcases both musical depth and confidence. Vocalist amy-A’s passionate singing and the band’s rock-solid performance come together in a stunning fusion of future funk. This is the crystallization of music sung and played from the heart!
— Ryuhei The Man (universounds)

It’s finally coming out! I’ve been waiting!

Sometimes gentle, sometimes powerful—amy’s voice breathes life into each track. Singing really is a wonderful thing.
By the way, does Q.A.S.B. stand for something? Whisper it in my ear next time.

— Naoichi “Bobsan” Kobayashi (MOUNTAIN MOCHA KILIMANJARO)

HMGRWN Welcomes up and coming Dutch talent Jamback to the label. With his debut EP which includes two tracks that have been huge peak time plays for ROSSI. over the past few months. The A1 is 'Can't Resist', a track with captivating vocals and gritty baselines, a track that has taken over dancefloors across the world this summer - On the B1 is 'Attention' a peak-time track with a groove heavy drop, with garage influences... A track made for peak-time moments that has seen much attention itself throughout the summer already!

First time reissue of this French cold-wave / minimal-synth treasure.



November 1981 – In the heart of autumn, we set off in two cars along the Nationale 1 (!) to reach Choisy-le-Roi, where a 16-track studio was waiting for us—a place where, over the course of a weekend, we would finally be able to carve our own grooves into vinyl. We were quite nervous, as Guerre Froide had already been around for a year and a half. Our elders in Kas Product had already released two EPs—one with four tracks, the other with three—in 1980, even though they’d started only a few months before us. Admittedly, there wasn’t really a sense of urgency—some of us came from the punk movement, where the prevailing mood was still very much No Future, even if we’d long since stopped believing in it... And yet others had truly lost everything, like those from the generation before us. The reasons, ironically, were often the same: heroin and/or love—hard drugs, in both cases.

Speaking of which, I had a terrible stomach ache—due to nerves or some form of tension—which forced us to make a pit stop in the Oise region so I could rush to the toilet of a local café. That same stomach discomfort would hit me again once we arrived at the studio—whose name, incidentally, I’ve since forgotten...

We had gotten there thanks to the generous initiative of a friend, Sylvain S., known as “Perlin” (what a phonetic coincidence!?), who had specifically created the Stechak Products label to produce our record. Stechak because it was consistent with his earlier association called Tchernoziom, and Products as a plural tribute to the trailblazers from Nancy.

Guerre Froide originally consisted of four members: Fabrice Fruchart on guitar-synth (Korg MS-20), Patrick Mallet on bass, and Gilbert Deffais, known as “Bébert”, on Korg drum machine. At the time, I was already singing in a rock/post-punk band called Stress, and that’s how Guerre Froide picked up the bad habit of rehearsing in the same basement in Amiens as Stress. Within a month or two, we had half a dozen songs. We then had the opportunity to record a 4-track demo with a friend from Radio France Picardie, and to perform in October at a festival held at the Amiens municipal circus. Then came the now-legendary concert on November 11 at B.J.’s Club. After that, we self-produced and released 50 completely DIY copies of a cassette titled Cicatrice. A few concerts later—after Jean-Michel Bailleux had joined us on bass and Patrick had switched to guitar, which felt more natural to him—and with more concrete plans starting to take shape, we had to find a new rehearsal space and start renting a room.

Then came the moment when Fabrice told us he was leaving to go study in Lille... After the June 19, 1981 concert, which was naturally dubbed “Farewell to 2F,” Marie-José, Bébert’s wife, offered to take over on synth.

That’s when Perlin, who was a close friend of the Deffais couple and a great fan of our music, offered to fully finance the production of a 4-track 12-inch EP—covering the studio time, mastering, pressing, and artwork. What up-and-coming band would have turned that down? An improvised contract was signed with each member of Guerre Froide. The first step was choosing which four songs we would record. Berlin 81 was an obvious pick, having already become the group’s flagship track. We wanted to avoid reusing songs from Cicatrice, so the focus shifted to new material—some written before, some after Fabrice’s departure. Ersatz, for example, was his composition, but Mauve and Peine Perdue, which were also selected, were both written by Patrick.

Their final LP, recorded with Jeremy Lemos, Purple On Time dropped in late 2003, and found new drummer Adam Vida cannily replacing the fairly departed Pat Samson. With consolidations and developments heavy on the ground, the band once more surged and retarded in near-orchestral precision, as Johnson"s voice swooped through fresh ranges. The songs were tangy, more rock than ever, yet just as potent when it came to drawing forth that thrusting, demented hip-shake that they induced in their faithful. 180-gram DELUXE with a die-cut sleeve and contains an extra song and a poster.

Etched in the grooves of this 12” record, listeners will find an inspired moment in time. The 5-track LP, serving as the debut album of Estrada Orchestra, was recorded early one morning after a live gig. No session exactly the same as the next one, the founding members used their last chance to record together in their underground studio. Needless to say, these lunatics used it to fall into a frenzy of improvisation, a state characteristic of Estrada’s avant-garde spirit.

Formed of vinyl diggers, street musicians and self-taught aficionados, Estrada Orchestra started out as a spontaneous jam band in 2013. Their only intention was to enjoy leisure time and keep an open mind; unknowingly they ended up pioneering the return of jazz-funk in Estonia. (Henrik Ehte)

The official soundtrack to the first season of the acclaimed historical drama Vikings is now, for the first time, available on vinyl, offering fans and collectors a rich and immersive listening experience. Composed by Emmy Award-winning composer Trevor Morris (The Tudors, The Borgias, Dragon Age: Inquisition), the score captures the raw intensity, emotional depth, and mythic atmosphere that helped define the tone of the series. From sweeping orchestral moments to brooding ambient textures, the music reflects the harsh beauty of the Viking world and its complex characters. One of the standout tracks is the opening theme, “If I Had A Heart” by Swedish artist Fever Ray, whose haunting vocals and minimalist electronics set the tone for the series. The track became iconic, earning recognition for its unique contribution to the show’s identity. The series itself has received widespread acclaim and multiple awards, both for its storytelling and technical execution, with the music playing a vital role in its success. Vikings (Music From The TV Series) is available for the first time on vinyl as a limited edition of 750 numbered copies on blue coloured vinyl. This 2LP package includes a 4-page booklet with pictures and liner notes by Trevor Morris.

Iris Juice Coloured LP, limitiert auf 500 Exemplare. Nach dem von Presse und Fans hoch gelobten Album WE CANNOT AWAKE (2024) schafft es die Düsseldorfer Psych Band diese Leistung im 35. Jahr ihres Bestehens zu toppen. Das neue Studioalbum hat alles, was ein moderner Klassiker braucht. Die Bandbreite der Songs pendelt mühelos zwischen Psych-Pop und ausgiebigen psychedelischen Eskapaden. Die Songs haben dabei einen hohen Wiedererkennungswert. So klingt echter Neo Kraut Rock.

Auf ,Wo das Meer am tiefsten ist" ist keine reine Gitarrenband mehr zu hören. Neben ineinander verzahnten Gitarren hört man Posaune, Klavier, Sitar, Satelliten und zufallende Türen. Der Motor der Band ist Sehnsucht. Ein Nährboden für epische und opulente Songs, die gegen den Strich gebürstet sind, über das Radiosongformat hinauswachsen und keine Scheu vor großen Melodien haben.

Two Seminal albums from cult Ghanaian musician Alhaji K. Frimpong and his group the Cubano Fiestas, recorded in 1976 and 1977 respectively and considered to be some of the best highlife albums ever recorded, at the pinnacle of West African musical tradition and innovation. Both originally self titled, they have become known by the colour of the covers - Blue and Black respectively. The Blue Album brings new arrangements to traditional Ghanaian melodies and features the masterpiece Kyenkyen Bi Adi M"awu (come back my love) - universally known in Ghana, covered and sampled by artists such as Chronnix, Gnarls Barkley and many more. The Black Album expands the electronic elements and features the equally visionary Hwehwe Mu Na Yi Wo Mpena, although the real gem is hiding on the B side: the extended groove of "Adam Nana". Sinuously evolving guitar lines, clavinet vamps, harmonised vocal snatches and otherworldly percussion expand and contract over a full quarter of an hour - a Ghanaian repost to the Afro Jazz experiments going on at the same time on the other side of the Atlantic. Although popular in Ghana at the time of the release, the albums were never distributed internationally and original copies of the album are extremely rare. The albums got a limited reissue in 2011 and have been unavailable since - even reissue copies sell for high prices on the second hand market.

Butch’s unmistakable music has always worn the influence of disco proudly on its sleeve. Both his mega-hit No Worries and his first contribution to the Running Back catalogue, Desire, are essentially modern-day disco records. The same goes for his return to the label with Glory Night—perhaps even more so, thanks to its vintage engineering and authentic aural treatment. Equipped with the genre’s signature sounds and arranged like a lost disco edit from the late ’70s, Butch applies the lotions and potions that today’s dancers demand, creating one of those peak-time sensations that make him unique—complete with confetti, a firecracker breakdown on top, and an extra rhythm section bonus tool included. Just Chill and Just Fly continue that narrative. While the first appeals to fans of R&B or funk samples (though no recordings were harmed in the process), it is catchy as hell and creates an inescapable maelstrom. The second, meanwhile, draws on the principles of deep house and exercises itself in contemplation. Be that as it may, here are a couple of tracks that work on almost any floor and at any time. Or, to quote Giorgio Moroder: “Disco is music for dancing, and people will always want to dance.”

A photo in Rodney Stepp’s scrapbook sums this period in his life in music. It’s 1974, The Spinners were headliners at the “Zaire 74” music festival, a sideshow to Muhammad Ali’s fabled “Rumble in the Jungle” fight with George Foreman. Among the faded snapshots, there’s a picture of Stepp backstage posing arm in arm with Ali; another image shows The Greatest seated at Stepp’s Fender Rhodes alongside vocalist Etta James. It was all a dream for this Naptown wunderkind, who had previously recorded for Herb Miller’s LAMP Records as the Diplomatics and had issued the sweet soul killer “Young Girl” as Jazzie Cazzie and the Eight Sounds on a rare Knaptown 45. (These recordings have been documented on the Now-Again LAMP anthology and our Loving On The Flipside compilation.) But as exciting as his rise out of those local status was, as exciting as it was to headline festivals and arenas and appear on late night talk shows, Stepp grew restless with the mechanical routine of being a sideman. He grew tired of playing the same charts night after night. He was hungry for a creative outlet that mimicked his earliest days in recorded music. So, in 1978, Stepp left The Spinners and returned to Indianapolis, where he established an all-stargroup of musicians–including members of Jazzie Cazzie and the fabled Amnesty–and he named the band Rapture. They inspired countless others. They recorded an album’s worth of material. Now-Again’s Egon first got tapes from Stepp in 2002 and dutifully transferred them, but the time was not right for a foray into this wealth of material. Come 2025, and this is the first time it Rapture’s music is seeing the light of day, a triumphant, late career moment for Stepp and a cause for celebration of those intrigued by deep, sweet soul and disco funk

After a much acclaimed series opener, the creators of The Hidden Beauty Of Dutch House ’94-’98 are back! They’re bringing us this second batch of eight carefully selected masterpieces from The Netherlands’ blossoming scene of the day.

Just like volume I, its sequel is filled with thought-to-be-lost tracks from Dutch producers whose names you rarely come across. It took another deep and long dive into the "Atlantis" of Dutch House to gather this collection. Most of the original master tapes literally had to be dusted off before playing…

Suitable for any true House afficionado, you’ll find a panoramic range of styles and flavours on this second selection, as there was on the first. A truly representative flashback has to show the versatility and broadness of both the music and culture of the nineties. The days of open minds and dancing-like-nobody’s-watching. When we went to the club to discover new sounds and dimensions. The time when this attractively fresh music was the hero of every successful night.

Lovingly compiled for your listening pleasure. So, sit back, open up, and surrender to the beauty of Dutch House!

Trailblazing outlet for forward-thinking Danish Jazz, April Records proudly presents the debut from trumpeter/composer Rolf Thofte; a vivid and personal record that blends lyrical melodies, inventive rhythms, and subtle harmonic exploration. Written while Thofte adjusted to fatherhood - the album captures moments of joy, reflection, and experimentation, brought to life by a handpicked quintet of Denmark"s most exciting young jazz talents. Martha"s Dance is set for release on September 19th, 2025 via April Records. The title track is a tribute to Thofte"s three-year-old daughter - a playful, clapping, goat-hoof-stomping tune in quirky 5/4 that channels the spirit of childhood joy and spontaneity. "It"s just a fun tune to play, and I feel like it really captures Martha"s spirit," says Thofte. "This band came together at a time when I was trying to get a foothold in a new life situation as a father, so it felt perfect to make this the title track." The album moves between moods and textures with elegance: from the rich harmonic language of "Vice Versa" - inspired by Wayne Shorter"s ability to cast simple melodies in shifting harmonic light - to the understated power of "Changing Tides," a piece about imperceptible gradual changes in our lives, nature, and politics. "Bendico," written in 15 minutes as a conservatory assignment, showcases Thofte"s gift for strong melodic statements, while "Dunkelflaute" evokes melancholic Nordic greyness through sparse, emotive phrasing. From the swaggering second-line feel of "The Big 5" to the hypnotic pulse of "All...", the album explores rhythm as both a driving force and a canvas for creative interplay. Throughout, Thofte"s trumpet and flugelhorn lead the ensemble with warmth and clarity. The quintet features some of Copenhagen"s top next-generation players: Andreas Toftemark (tenor saxophone), a powerhouse improviser and composer who brings NYC-honed energy and detail to the group dynamic. Rasmus Sorensen (piano), a rising star of the European scene, known for his sensitive, exploratory playing and fearless interaction. Jakob Roland (bass) and Henrik Holst (drums) - two of Thofte"s oldest musical collaborators - round out the rhythm section with deep swing, taste, and musical empathy.

2025 ist das 60. Jubiläumsjahr von John Coltranes Albumklassiker „A Love Supreme“. Mit ”A Love
Supreme: Mono Edition” kann man jetzt einen faszinierenden neuen Blick auf dieses ikonische Album
werfen.
“A Love Supreme” erschien in einer Ära, als Alben sowohl in Mono als auch in Stereo veröffentlicht
wurden. Für viele Audio-Nostalgiker ist nicht zwangsläufig immer der Stereo-Mix der Bessere, sie bevorzugen teilweise die kraftvollen, prägnanten Mono-Varianten. Zum 60. Jubiläum erscheint das Album jetzt
erstmals seit über 50 Jahren wieder im originalen Mono-Mix, originalgetreu von Ryan K. Smith von den
analogen Originalbändern gemastert, bei RTI auf 180-g-Vinyl gepresst und im Gatefold-Tip-on-Cover. Eine
hochinteressante Ergänzung für die Plattensammlung aller Coltrane-Fans!

Als Crushed machen die Musiker Bre Morell und Shaun Durkan maximalistische Dream-Pop-Musik für sich selbst. Sie nehmen in verschiedenen Wohnungen auf, ohne an einen bestimmten Ort gebunden zu sein (Morell aus Texas, jetzt in Los Angeles, und Durkan in Portland, Oregon), schreiben sie die Songs, die sie hören wollen, und stimmen sich dabei auf ihren gemeinsamen Geschmack (für Trip-Hop, Britpop, Electronica und den Kanon des alternativen Radios der 90er Jahre), ihr Verlangen nach Emotionalität und ihr Gespür dafür, wann es richtig und ehrlich klingt, ab; wann es für sie etwas Echtes bedeutet . Ihr Debütalbum verkörpert ihr Vertrauen zueinander und in ihr Handwerk. Ein ,No Scope"-Kill im Videospiel-Jargon wird erreicht, indem man aus nächster Nähe mit einem Scharfschützengewehr schießt, ohne das Ziel anzuvisieren - eine treffende Metapher für zwei Künstler, die ihren Pop-Impulsen folgen und aus der Hüfte schießen, aber mit Präzision. ,Es könnte auch bedeuten, keine Zukunft zu haben", scherzt Morell, ,vom Leben ohne Zielfernrohr getroffen zu werden." Die Realität des Scheiterns schwebt über den meisten kreativen Unternehmungen, vielleicht umso ausgeprägter, je weiter man in seinem Fachgebiet voranschreitet. Mehrere musikalische Leben und nächtliche Übertragungen haben Morell und Durkan zu diesem Projekt geführt. Und auf dem triumphalen ,no scope" nehmen sie die besten Schläge des Lebens mit ihrem stärksten Werk auf und setzen melodische, offenherzige Hooks in einem Labyrinth aus Breakbeats und gespleißtem Sounddesign mit beispielloser Unmittelbarkeit und Klarheit ein. Die nächste Stufe ist erreicht. no scope folgt auf ,extra life", die EP aus dem Jahr 2023, die eine Welle der Unterstützung auslöste und frühe Fans bei Pitchfork (,müheloser, großformatiger Dream Pop, der ruhig ist, ohne sentimental zu sein"), NPR (,...eine Gruppe, deren Musik, obwohl sie nur eine EP veröffentlicht hat, ein tiefes Gefühl für Ort und Zeit vermittelt") und Ghostly International, die die Band unter Vertrag nahmen und ,extra life" 2024 in einer erweiterten physischen Version zusammen mit Remixen der Bandfavoriten Real Lies und DJ Python veröffentlichten.

Since their debut, The Frail Tide in 2007, Australian Progressive Death Metal powerhouse BE‘LAKOR has made a huge impact on the international metal scene, turning heads with their technical-driven yet melodic songwriting. Now, almost 15 years later, the legendary five-piece returns with their new album Coherence (out October 29 via Napalm Records), proving themselves to be on top of their game with their most ambitious project yet! Eight tracks on Coherence display BE’LAKOR’s impressive spectrum of musical abilities, ranging from 12-minute-long journeys on “Much More Was Lost” to the atmospheric, fully instrumental “Sweep of Days”. Coherence is full of details that reveal more and more with every listen of the album: BE’LAKOR are not afraid to focus on extensive, cohesive songwriting while still managing to keep the listener on their toes.!

Burnski's Pilot takes flight once more with another journey into the heart of minimal and tech house, this time with Joolmad at the buttons. He is a UK artist making bold moves on the likes of Pillz and TSOL where he has showcased a contemporary take on the classic tech sound. 'Superlative' opens up here with bouncy drums and steel percussion to get things moving then 'Wobbler' gets more playful with some twisted acid lines and silky synth wisps that keep things trippy. 'Gone For' is more of a straight up driver with thudding kicks and warped sirens and 'Yurgen' has a woozy late night fluidity to it.

Singer, songwriter, humanitarian, activist, poet, philosopher, artist… ever since music lovers first became aware of Labi Siffre in the early 1970s subsequent generations have continued to discover and be beguiled by his timeless artistry. To this day, his music has endured – seemingly as relevant and contemporary as when first released. It was these qualities that led Madness to cover his 1972 UK hit ‘It Must Be Love’ in the early 1980s, and Eminem and Dr. Dre to sample a substantial chunk of ‘I Got The…’ for the former’s debut hit ‘My Name Is…’ in 1999.

His 1988 classic ’Something Inside) So Strong’ became an anthem twice over when it both soundtracked the struggles of Apartheid South Africa and became a beacon of strength and solace for gay men during the AIDS crisis. More recently, the streaming / TikTok / Insta generation have responded in their hundreds of thousands to ‘Crying Laughing Loving Lying’, as featured in the 2023 cult film ‘The Holdovers’ and to ‘Watch Me’ as included in the ever-iconic ‘Dr Who’. Also, this decade, they might have been drawn into Labi’s world via another film, ‘Companion, or the TV shows ‘Better Call Saul’, ‘Sweetpea’, and ‘The Man Who Fell To Earth’. To bring things bang up to date, they may have been among the legions who liked, shared, and saved ‘Bless The Telephone’ after its unforgettable soundtracking the season 4 finale of bitter-sweet comedy phenomenon ‘Hacks’. ‘The Best Of’ is the definitive Labi Siffre collection for the ages. Released on 2LP and 2CD formats, it was personally sanctioned by Labi himself who also provided art direction for the package.

Tapete Records präsentiert eine Werkschau der Ausnahmeband der Hamburger Schule Mit "Ich möchte auf deinem Plattenteller liegen (1988-1992)" erscheint erstmals eine umfassende Werkschau der Band Huah!, die zwischen 1988 und 1992 mit ihrem eigenwilligen Mix aus Rock"n"Roll, Beat, Theorie und Pop die Hamburger Musikszene aufmischte. Gegründet von Knarf Rellöm, Sonny Motor, Nixe, Bernadette La Hengst und Claudia Bollig, war Huah! das einzige gemischtgeschlechtliche Bandkollektiv der Hamburger Schule - und musikalisch wie textlich eine Ausnahmeerscheinung. Die Songs dieser Sammlung zeigen, wie Huah! zwischen Liebeslied und Agitation, Analyse und Tanzbarkeit changierten - oft alles zugleich. Ihr Stil ist spleenig, eklektisch, politisch, aber nie belehrend. Statt sich in Szene-Codes zu verlieren, setzen sie auf Offenheit, Witz und Haltung. Die Band war ihrer Zeit voraus - und passt gerade deshalb perfekt in unsere Gegenwart. Diese Werkschau ist ein magischer Reminder daran, was in der Hamburger Schule neben den bekannten Namen alles möglich war - und was davon heute wieder relevant ist.

South London singer, songwriter and cultural powerhouse Joy Crookes has today unveiled the news that her worth-the-wait second album Juniper will be released on September 26th ahead of a full UK & EU headline tour.

A stunningly candid and fearless body of work, the album reaffirms Joy as one of the UK’s most vital and original voices. A once-in-a-generation talent, Crookes delivers a record that is both emotionally raw and sonically rich; humorous, heartbreaking and profoundly human.

Following the success of her 2021 debut Skin, which earned BRIT and Mercury Prize nominations, went Top 5 in the UK charts, and drew acclaim from The Guardian, NME and many more, Joy set out to make an album that pushed her further both musically and personally.

Juniper is the result: a project defined by its depth and dynamism.

Written with a stripped-back approach and produced by long-time collaborators including Blue May (Kano, Jorja Smith), Tev’n (Stormzy) and Harvey Grant (Arlo Parks),

Juniper features standout guest appearances from Vince Staples on the incendiary ‘Pass The Salt’ and Kano on the bittersweet confessional ‘Mathematics’.

Crookes describes the record as “more nuanced” than Skin: “With Juniper, every situation is visceral and I’m very much in it. It’s me in the centre of it all.”

The title itself nods to resilience (an evergreen that thrives in harsh conditions) and the album dives deep into themes of body politics, mental health, queer love, anxiety, industry hypocrisy and the ecstasy (and terror) of falling in love.
Lead singles like ‘Pass The Salt’ and ‘I Know You’d Kill’ showcase Crookes’ lyrical agility – blending poetic detail with razor-sharp wit. Meanwhile, the euro-pop inspired ‘First Last Dance’ channels euphoric melodies to mask deep emotional struggle, and the cinematic ‘Perfect Crime’ sees Joy fully self-actualise in the style of a Western showdown.

On ‘Paris’, the closing track, Joy reflects on a formative queer relationship: “Something I feared so much finally, actually felt like love.” It’s a sentiment echoed across Juniper – a record that captures the beauty and brutality of emotional openness.

The album arrives after a period of personal upheaval for Crookes, including a mental health crisis that shadowed the album’s creation. “I was in the trenches,” she says. “But the studio became my solace. What you hear is live and direct from that time.” Despite the darkness, Juniper radiates warmth, levity, and life, powered by Crookes’ ever-restless creativity and artistic excellence. Ahead of her performance this weekend at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend event in Liverpool, followed by a slot at Glastonbury, Joy is pleased to announce a full UK & EU headline tour for the backend of the year.

In celebration of Juniper's release, Joy will head out to all major cities including Dublin, Manchester, Bristol and London where she’ll play the much coveted 02 Academy Brixton for the first time. See below for full routing and ticket info.

Heaven Vol. 3 is the third in an ongoing limited-edition 10" EP series by MONO. Three brand new songs pressed in a one-time-only limited edition of 1,000 copies worldwide - all on Opaque Purple colored vinyl.

Double LP pressed on transparent neon pink and opaque neon green vinyl Including exclusive unreleased tracks Holographic gatefold sleeve Reversible artwork concept After months of overwhelmingly positive reviews on the game and half a million streams on the digital album, it is finally time to announce the physical release of the original soundtrack for Sorry We're Closed. Akupara Games, à la mode games and Black Screen Records put every effort into the vinyl that lives up to the one-of-a-kind nostalgic, survival horror game with rich lore, deep characters and multiple endings. While players explore unsettling locations in Sorry We're Closed, they're being haunted by the chilling tracks, created by C.Bedford, Okumura, Devix and Catton Arthur. The soundtrack is as diverse as its artists: From the atmospheric and minimalistic electronic pieces by C.Bedford, who involved in the development of the game, to the full-on hip hop tracks by Okumura, Devix is adding a sensible folk track, while Catton Arthur is finally throwing in some heavy guitars to complete this excentric and highly enjoyable mix. For the vinyl release of the Sorry We're Closed soundtrack, the teams of à la mode, Akupara and Black Screen created a package that has its twists and turns. It comes with colourful neon LPs, transparent pink and opaque green, that are housed in a shiny holographic gatefold sleeve that you can turn around to see a second, alternative artwork.

„Fearless“ ist die ultimative Anthologie, die Ronnie Woods Karriere umspannt – der legendäre Gitarrist,
meisterhafte Songwriter und weltweite Rock-Ikone. Dieses Doppelalbum erzählt die Geschichte von Ronnies
außergewöhnlicher musikalischer Reise, von seinen ersten Aufnahmen als Wunderkind in den 1960er-Jahren
bis hin zu vier brandneuen Tracks, seinem ersten Solomaterial seit „I Feel Like Playing“ aus dem Jahr
2010. Es enthält herausragende Momente aus allen sieben seiner Solo-Studioalben sowie Co-Autoren und
wichtige Momente mit den Rolling Stones, den Faces, Rod Stewart, Ronnie Lane, der Jeff Beck Group
und anderen. Ronnie Wood wurde zweimal in die Rock and Roll Hall of Fame aufgenommen und ist
seit 1975 ein Eckpfeiler der Rolling Stones. Sein Name ist tief in der Rockmusik verankert. Von seinen
ersten Studioerfahrungen bis hin zu den vier neuen Tracks würdigt „Fearless“ einen virtuosen Gitarristen,
begnadeten Songwriter, Performer, gelegentlichen Frontmann und internationalen Star. Es ist ein würdiges
Kompendium einzigartiger Kreativität aus über 60 Jahren.

“New York’s Harlem River Drive is a dividing line, a highway where the rich zip past the poor,” says singer Jimmy Norman. Eddie Palmieri’s Latin-funk band of the same name tackled these hard truths, playing prisons and speaking to the common man. Ultimately, Norman and Palmieri made a powerful socio-political statement that continues to resonate to this day." Pablo Yglesias/Wax Poetics. When initially released in 1971, many critics panned Eddie Palmieri’s album Harlem River Drive. Those critics were wrong. Regardless of critical opinion, the release was not the crossover success Palmieri and Roulette Records had hoped for, at least in the immediate. Over the years the release has developed a following among listeners, DJs, and aficionados of rare-grooves. The record may have been recorded towards the end of the Latin soul era, yet it features that genre's wonderful mix of Puerto Rican soul, Spanish Harlem Latin, and New York funk. Palmieri worked with an incredibly talented crew of Latin and R&B session musicians to create this quintessential New York vibe, a synthesis of funk and Afro-Cuban sounds. Contributors include Victor Venegas from Mongo Santamaria’s band, Palmieri’s brother Charlie, an accomplished musician in his own right, Bruce Fowler who went on to join Frank Zappa’s band, Dick Meza who went on to great things with Tito Puente, Ray Barretto and Celia Cruz, as well as Andy Gonzalez who’s pedigree includes recordings with Barretto, Johnny Pacheco, Willie Colon and even Chico O’Farrill. Also appearing Randy Brecker and one of the all-time greatest of the greats Bernard Purdy. An over-arching theme of Harlem River Drive is the thought that, as Palmieri puts it “The U.S. is richest country, all this immense wealth, side by side with the most intense poverty, racial prejudice; how is that possible?” A question that’s perhaps more even more relevant today than it was in 1971. A question that can be further explored with Get On Down’s reissue of this seminal recording.

FONCEDALLE is a high-volume amplified trio, a warm wave of acid guitars fuelled by addictive bass and electronic beats. In late 2021, they released their Traboule EP and went on a tour that saw them perform 40 gigs between 2022 and 2023, half of which were in Europe. Their debut, self-titled album is set to be released in March 2024 on EXAG’ Records (BE). It's rawer, with tracks meticulously crafted and reworked live. While still exploring the realms of rock fused with machines, electronic trance, and melodic flights, the album also has its share of oppressive sections, unbridled chaos, and ambient, ethereal passages. FONCEDALLE serves as the missing link between the Manchester scene of the 80s, Gilla Band’s noise rock, Soulwax’s electronic rock, and the motoric turbines of Turing Machine. Preferring not to choose between being an open door or an impertinent product, the band chooses to concoct a recipe it envisions coming from the future rather than flipping through a book filled with references

Reissue

GAISTER (Olivia Salvadori, Akihide Monna and Coby Sey) release their self-titled LP.

The record captures the embodiment of an encounter, one moment of the trio’s ongoing relationship as artists who communicate with each other through sound, voice and music.
After orbiting in the same circles at each other's shows around 2016 in London, Sey and Salvadori eventually crossed paths. In 2017 Sey joined Salvadori’s artistic collective Tutto Questo Sentire on a residency in Capalbio, the southernmost part of Tuscany, Italy, and started working together. Down the line the pair ended up joining with Akihide Monna (of Bo Ningen), performing together in 2019 at Camden Art Centre on Cork Street in London.

When the trio come together something new is created, brought out after laying dormant, like an Icelandic Geysir. The setting of this particular encounter amongst the trio is essential in the album’s sonic palette, process and emotion. The album was recorded in Iceland at
Greenhouse Studios, where the trio formalised a set of intuitions; how nature can provide a guideline in the choices of the instruments, their materials and related rhythms; reflections on the voice as a sculptural element, pure sound and words.

As Akihide has said of the experience during their short and intense recording period: “The sound spontaneously spun out as if we were pulling at each other's hearts and minds with a strange internal connection and sensation. Something pure was brought out.”

‘Gaister’ itself is a made up word, sprung from the German ‘Geist’ to mean ‘spirit’, and made into a sound of its own. A purity, spirit and essence is pulled from the trio, in spite of their varying mother tongues (Italian, Japanese and English), musical genres and identities to create something new. Olivia Salvadori’s operatic vocals run free, flowing and moving in
synergy with Monna’s rhythmic drumming. Sey sings freely with Salvadori, their voices braided together like a waterfall.

This flowing nature is reflected in the album itself, its timestamps and scores are marked by encounters rather than tracks themselves. This album can be considered as one constant piece and a journey of its own that is not foreclosed, in keeping with the band’s ethos of
constant conversation and collaboration.
As Sey speaks of the trio’s relationship: “Olivia, Monchan and I had performed live together once before, several years before this song and this album came to be… and yet, we fully trust each other’s intuition when performing and creating music together because of our unified belief in the ability of sound and music to communicate and connect.”
credits
releases November 1, 2024

Olivia Salvadori: voice
Akihide Monna: voice, drums, percussions
Coby Sey: voice, percussions, synths, wurlitzer

Recorded at Greenhouse Studios in Reykjavik, Iceland

Recorded and producer: Sandro Mussida
Sound engineer: Francesco Fabris
Studio assistant: Domiziano Maselli and Jakob Vasak

Mixing engineer: Kristian Craig Robinson at Total Refreshment Centre, London, UK

Spanish label MATE always deals in house that is deep but seriously musical and classy. Glenn Davis is next up to keep that tradition going and does so with spine-tingling vocal soul on opener 'To Believe,' which taps into classic early Chicago sounds. 'Reality Check' is a balmy follow up with painterly synths and persuasive stabs, while 'True To Yourself' rides on a gentle broken beat with Italo piano chords adding a retro 90s feel. Completing the trip is the deep space odyssey 'Don't Be Misled', which is infused with glowing, golden chords and super soft and fluffy acid modulations.

Mit 'Hallo' melden sich die belgischen Garage-Rocker SONS kraftvoll zurück - und schlagen dabei ein völlig neues Kapitel auf. Das Quartett bleibt laut, roh und ungezähmt, doch diesmal mischt sich ein ungewohnter Glanz in ihren Sound: jugendliche Wucht trifft auf neue Tiefe. Produziert vom renommierten David McCracken (u.a. dEUS, Beyoncé, Depeche Mode), klingt „Hallo“ reifer, tanzbarer und überraschend lebensbejahend. Die Zusammenarbeit mit McCracken erwies sich für SONS als die perfekte Ergänzung: „Er hat uns völlig aus unserer Komfortzone geholt“, sagt Sänger/Gitarrist Robin Borghgraef. Mit explizitem Fokus auf die Texte wurden diese direkter und persönlicher als bisher und waren oft zentraler Ausgangspunkt der Songs. 'Hallo' ist ein lautes, ehrliches Hallo an alle, die genug haben von der ständigen Erreichbarkeit und dem digitalen Lärm und gleichzeitig eine freundliche Einladung in die Welt der SONS.

- Ltd. Col. LP: (Blue Vinyl)

Was ist das Leben anderes als eine endlose Reihe von ,Oh oh"-Momenten? Von unseren frühesten Kindheitsunfällen bis hin zu unseren überwältigenden Ängsten als Erwachsene - dieser kleine Ausdruck prägt unser gesamtes Dasein. Fragen Sie einfach den Indie-Pop-Maestro Patrick Watson aus Montreal, der kürzlich mit dem größten ,Oh oh"-Moment konfrontiert wurde, den ein professioneller Sänger erleben kann. Eines Morgens im Winter 2023 wachte Patrick auf und stellte fest, dass seine Stimme - das engelsgleiche Instrument, das 2006 sein kunstvolles Art-Rock-Opus ,Close to Paradise" auf das Podium des Polaris Music Prize katapultierte - komplett kaputt war. ,Natürlich singe ich gerne für Menschen, aber ich hatte auch viel Spaß mit meinem Modular Synthesizer und tauchte tief in die Instrumentalmusik ein" - eine natürliche Neigung für Patrick, der bis heute über 15 Filmmusiken komponiert hat. ,Aber dann dachte ich mir: ,Oh, es wäre cool, Songs für all diese verschiedenen Sänger zu schreiben, die ich wirklich gerne singen hören möchte - so finde ich einen Ausweg aus dieser Situation.` Denn meine Stimme sollte eigentlich nicht zurückkommen. Und als sie es doch tat, dachte ich einfach, dass es für ein Album immer noch cooler wäre, all diese anderen Sänger zu haben, als mich selbst singen zu hören." Einzelne schwarze Vinylplatte in einer Gatefold-Hülle mit bedruckter Innenhülle.

Was ist das Leben anderes als eine endlose Reihe von ,Oh oh"-Momenten? Von unseren frühesten Kindheitsunfällen bis hin zu unseren überwältigenden Ängsten als Erwachsene - dieser kleine Ausdruck prägt unser gesamtes Dasein. Fragen Sie einfach den Indie-Pop-Maestro Patrick Watson aus Montreal, der kürzlich mit dem größten ,Oh oh"-Moment konfrontiert wurde, den ein professioneller Sänger erleben kann. Eines Morgens im Winter 2023 wachte Patrick auf und stellte fest, dass seine Stimme - das engelsgleiche Instrument, das 2006 sein kunstvolles Art-Rock-Opus ,Close to Paradise" auf das Podium des Polaris Music Prize katapultierte - komplett kaputt war. ,Natürlich singe ich gerne für Menschen, aber ich hatte auch viel Spaß mit meinem Modular Synthesizer und tauchte tief in die Instrumentalmusik ein" - eine natürliche Neigung für Patrick, der bis heute über 15 Filmmusiken komponiert hat. ,Aber dann dachte ich mir: ,Oh, es wäre cool, Songs für all diese verschiedenen Sänger zu schreiben, die ich wirklich gerne singen hören möchte - so finde ich einen Ausweg aus dieser Situation.` Denn meine Stimme sollte eigentlich nicht zurückkommen. Und als sie es doch tat, dachte ich einfach, dass es für ein Album immer noch cooler wäre, all diese anderen Sänger zu haben, als mich selbst singen zu hören." Limitierte Edition auf canary-yellow Vinyl in einer Gatefold-Hülle mit bedruckter Innenhülle.

Berlin-based Buttechno has reputation for being one of techno's hardest hitters, but this EP of 'X-berg dubs' is as much about the tease as the impact. 'Tech March' opens proceedings, ruthlessly combining the kind of low end thump beloved by Autechre and LFO with snaking, junglist frills, making it dark and brooding but also irresistibly danceable all at the same time. 'Dub 22' gives us his unique take on dub techno, speedier and flightier than the genre's usual template and much more rhythmically embellished too. 'Hypno Dub' is similarly way uptempo but lithe and light, murky stabs poking through the filters, before 'Grey Dungeons' goes full on old skool junglisms, like an early Ram or classic Moving Shadow affair from the early 90s, all voodoo vocals and tense, splintered snares. Dub be good to us.

Cate Le Bons siebtes Album 'Michelangelo Dying', dessen Entstehung von purer Emotion geleitet wurde, hat das Album, das sie zu machen glaubte, verdrängt. Als Produkt eines alles verzehrenden Herzschmerzes überwanden ihre Gefühle ihren Widerwillen, ein Album über die Liebe zu schreiben, und wurden in diesem Prozess zu einer Art Exorzismus. Herausgekommen ist ein wunderbar schillernder Versuch, eine Wunde zu fotografieren, bevor sie sich schließt - und dabei auch in ihr zu stochern.

Musikalisch gibt es eine Fortsetzung und Erweiterung eines Sounds - eine Maschine mit Herz -, der auf ihren letzten beiden Platten 'Reward' (2019) und 'Pompeii' (2022) Gestalt angenommen hat, da Le Bon zunehmend selbst die Kontrolle über das Spielen und Produzieren übernommen hat. Wenn Gitarren und Saxophone durch Pedale gepresst und Perkussion und Stimmen durch Filter gejagt werden, entsteht ein schillernder, grüner und seidiger Sound, in dem die künstlerischen Eigenheiten von David Bowie, Nico, John McGeoch und Laurie Anderson aufblitzen und wieder verschwinden.

Was übrig bleibt, ist eine sich ständig verändernde, kontinuierliche Einheit, eine Art Songzyklus. Jede Iteration reflektiert die letzte und entwickelt sie weiter. „Jede ist eine Scherbe desselben zerbrochenen Spiegels“: Sie verschiebt sich, glitzert, verbirgt und enthüllt, je nachdem, wie sie im Licht gedreht wird. Letztendlich gibt es, so Cate, „keine Enthüllungen. Keine Schlussfolgerungen. Es gibt keinen Grund. Es gibt nur Wiederholungen und Chaos. Ich habe mir schließlich erlaubt, einen offenen Geist zu haben, um es ohne Widerstand zu erleben, ohne nach einer Offenbarung oder Ordnung zu suchen.“

'Michelangelo Dying' ist eine Übung in der Viszeralität des Lebens, der Liebe und der Menschlichkeit, sowohl für den Hörer als auch für die Künstlerin selbst, und es weiß, was es heißt Halt zu geben, gehalten zu werden aber auch sich ganz und gar allein zu fühlen. „Die Figuren sind austauschbar“, schließt Cate, „aber am Ende bin ich es, der sich selbst begegnet.“

- LP: (Vollfarbige Hülle, 140g schwarzes Vinyl, bedruckte Innenhülle und Download-Karte)

Tallahassee"s Pool Kids are turning up the heat with Easier Said Than Done, their electrifying new album dropping September 26 via Epitaph Records. Kicking things off with the punchy, addictive lead single of the same name, the band showcases a sharpened edge to their signature blend of math rock intricacy and indie-pop charm. Following the critical success of their 2022 self-titled album-hailed by Paste, Stereogum, and Consequence-Pool Kids have been making waves on the road with the likes of Soccer Mommy, PUP, Joyce Manor, and most recently, Beach Bunny. Easier Said Than Done finds the band leveling up in every way, delivering explosive energy, emotional depth, and undeniable hooks that cement their place as one of the most exciting acts in indie rock today.

Tallahassee"s Pool Kids are turning up the heat with Easier Said Than Done, their electrifying new album dropping September 26 via Epitaph Records. Kicking things off with the punchy, addictive lead single of the same name, the band showcases a sharpened edge to their signature blend of math rock intricacy and indie-pop charm. Following the critical success of their 2022 self-titled album-hailed by Paste, Stereogum, and Consequence-Pool Kids have been making waves on the road with the likes of Soccer Mommy, PUP, Joyce Manor, and most recently, Beach Bunny. Easier Said Than Done finds the band leveling up in every way, delivering explosive energy, emotional depth, and undeniable hooks that cement their place as one of the most exciting acts in indie rock today.

Die Berliner Künstlerin Rosa Anschütz, bekannt für ihre fesselnde Gesangsarbeit im elektronischen Underground, veröffentlicht ihr neues Album "Sabbatical" auf dem Kultlabel Heartworm Press. "Sabbatical" ist ihr erster internationaler Release außerhalb Deutschlands und ein ambitioniertes 14-Track-Statement, an dessen Entstehung über ein Jahrzehnt gearbeitet wurde – ein Album von eindringlichem Minimalismus und visionärer Tiefe. Anschütz tauscht pulsierende Clubbeats gegen eine rohe, filmische Intimität und kanalisiert die geisterhafte Schönheit von Cat Power aus der "Moon Pix"-Ära, die Mystik von Nico und die experimentelle Klarheit von Björk und Dead Can Dance. Das reduzierte Arrangement stellt Anschütz’ fesselnde Stimme in den Vordergrund und trägt Texte, die sowohl prophetisch als auch persönlich wirken. Mit "Sabbatical" erweist sich Rosa Anschütz als eine der überzeugendsten Avantgarde-Stimmen ihrer Generation – eine Künstlerin, die sich nicht scheut, Genres, Geografien oder Erwartungen zu dekonstruieren. Das Album ist eine mutige Neuerfindung und ein Beweis für die Geduld und Präzision einer einzigartigen kreativen Vision.

Produziert von dem mit einem Grammy ausgezeichneten Produzenten Leon Michels (Norah Jones, Clairo) und mit musikalischen Beiträgen von Homer Steinweiss, Nick Movshon, Marco Benevento und Brainstory. Lady Wray meldet sich mit "Cover Girl", ihrem dritten Album bei Big Crown Records, mit Spannung erwartet zurück. Der Album-Opener "My Best Step" sagt alles: "My next step is my best step", und in der Tat hebt sie ihre künstlerische Leistung auf ein neues Niveau und macht die beste Musik ihres Lebens. Das feierliche "Cover Girl" nimmt den Hörer mit auf eine ausgelassene Spritztour, die von Soul und Disco der 60er und 70er Jahre, Hip-Hop und R&B der 90er Jahre und dem vielleicht wichtigsten Element, dem Gospel, geprägt ist. Nach dem 2022 veröffentlichten "Piece of Me" trat Nicole Monique Wray a.k.a. Lady Wray in der Late Show With Stephen Colbert und bei NPR's Tiny Desk auf und tourte durch die ganze Welt. "Cover Girl" ist mühelos und unbestreitbar der bisherige Höhepunkt ihrer langjährigen Zusammenarbeit mit dem Produzenten Leon Michels (Norah Jones / Clairo / El Michels Affair), die sich über ein Jahrzehnt erstreckt. "Ich habe mich mit diesem Album mehr der Liebe und der Selbstfürsorge zugewandt. Piece of Me war die Erkenntnis, dass ich Mutter werde, und all diese Gefühle lagen mir auf dem Herzen", sagt Lady Wray. "Jetzt kann ich mich zurücklehnen und eine echte Chefin sein. Ich habe meine Karriere, meine Mutterschaft und meine Ehe in den Griff bekommen. Ich bin zu einer selbstbewussteren und schöneren Werbeträgerin für Cover Girl geworden." Die Singer-Songwriterin mit der allmächtigen Stimme, den aufrüttelnden Texten und ihrer anziehenden Persönlichkeit erzählt von ihrer Wertschätzung für ihre Familie, ihrem Glauben und ihrer erneuerten Liebe zu sich selbst - all das ist der Antrieb für ihr neues Album. Die Leadsingle "You're Gonna Win" ist ein tanzbarer Feel-Good-Banger. Nicole lässt sich gehen, während sie ihre Macht benennt und einfordert: "I do not care who came before me, after me there will be none". Der Chor der Fabulous Rainbow Singers schließt sich dem Refrain an und bringt die ganze Angelegenheit in die Kirche und stellt sie neben die besten Gospel-Disco-Platten, die je gepresst wurden. "Be a Witness" ist ein funkiges Mid-Tempo-Kraftpaket, das Prince stolz machen würde. Nicole findet den perfekten Groove über druckvollen Drumcomputern und ansteckenden Synthesizern, singt über eine Liebe, die dazu bestimmt ist, zu geschehen, und verbreitet die guten Vibes an jeden in Hörweite. Der Titeltrack von Cover Girl ist einer der verletzlichsten Momente des Albums. Lady Wray liefert eine atemberaubende Darbietung in dem schlichten Stück, in dem sie ihre Reise zur Selbstfindung beschreibt: ""I lost myself trying to please someone else / I want to be me again." Der Titel leitet sich von einem Spitznamen aus ihrer Kindheit ab, den sie sich wegen ihres stets gepflegten Stils zulegte. Lady Wray erklärt. "Als ich erwachsen wurde und ins Musikgeschäft einstieg, verlor ich diesen glücklichen Teil von mir. Ich sehe dieses Glück in meiner Tochter, die einfach wunderschön, talentiert und klug ist. Mit ,Cover Girl' kehre ich zu diesem kleinen Mädchen zurück. Es geht darum, sich selbst wieder zu lieben". In ähnlicher Weise fordert sie in "Where Could I Be" das Glück und den Sinn für Identität zurück, den sie durch die Kämpfe des Lebens verloren hatte. In "Best For Us" und "Hard Times" schwärmt Nicole von ihrer Liebe und ihrem Respekt für ihre Ehe, wobei sie sowohl die Unvollkommenheit anerkennt als auch auf die Stärke und Widerstandsfähigkeit der wahren Liebe verweist. In "Higher" singt sie für ihre Tochter und lehrt sie, wie man liebt und geliebt wird, und ermutigt sie, beharrlich und ausdauernd zu sein. Lady Wray wurde geboren, um zu singen und ihre Seele und ihr Leben durch ihre Musik mit uns zu teilen. Mit ihren glaubwürdigen Botschaften und ihrer unvergleichlichen Stimme hat sie sich weltweit eine treue Fangemeinde geschaffen. Egal, ob sie von ihren Kämpfen oder ihren Stärken singt, es ist tröstlich zu hören, dass sie uns wissen lässt, dass wir nicht allein damit sind. Nicole Wray ist inspirierend und aufbauend. Sie hat viel durchgemacht und ist durch all das zu einem besseren Menschen und einer besseren Künstlerin geworden. "Du musst deine eigene Welt beherrschen. Lass niemanden in deinen Weg kommen. Du rockst mit deinen Träumen, bis die Räder abfallen", sagt Lady Wray. "Das ist es, was ich mit meiner Karriere seit 1998 mache. Ich weiß, wer ich bin und was ich auf den Tisch bringe. Es war eine Wahnsinnsreise, und ich bin so glücklich, die beste Musik meines Lebens zu machen."

Produziert von dem mit einem Grammy ausgezeichneten Produzenten Leon Michels (Norah Jones, Clairo) und mit musikalischen Beiträgen von Homer Steinweiss, Nick Movshon, Marco Benevento und Brainstory. Lady Wray meldet sich mit "Cover Girl", ihrem dritten Album bei Big Crown Records, mit Spannung erwartet zurück. Der Album-Opener "My Best Step" sagt alles: "My next step is my best step", und in der Tat hebt sie ihre künstlerische Leistung auf ein neues Niveau und macht die beste Musik ihres Lebens. Das feierliche "Cover Girl" nimmt den Hörer mit auf eine ausgelassene Spritztour, die von Soul und Disco der 60er und 70er Jahre, Hip-Hop und R&B der 90er Jahre und dem vielleicht wichtigsten Element, dem Gospel, geprägt ist. Nach dem 2022 veröffentlichten "Piece of Me" trat Nicole Monique Wray a.k.a. Lady Wray in der Late Show With Stephen Colbert und bei NPR's Tiny Desk auf und tourte durch die ganze Welt. "Cover Girl" ist mühelos und unbestreitbar der bisherige Höhepunkt ihrer langjährigen Zusammenarbeit mit dem Produzenten Leon Michels (Norah Jones / Clairo / El Michels Affair), die sich über ein Jahrzehnt erstreckt. "Ich habe mich mit diesem Album mehr der Liebe und der Selbstfürsorge zugewandt. Piece of Me war die Erkenntnis, dass ich Mutter werde, und all diese Gefühle lagen mir auf dem Herzen", sagt Lady Wray. "Jetzt kann ich mich zurücklehnen und eine echte Chefin sein. Ich habe meine Karriere, meine Mutterschaft und meine Ehe in den Griff bekommen. Ich bin zu einer selbstbewussteren und schöneren Werbeträgerin für Cover Girl geworden." Die Singer-Songwriterin mit der allmächtigen Stimme, den aufrüttelnden Texten und ihrer anziehenden Persönlichkeit erzählt von ihrer Wertschätzung für ihre Familie, ihrem Glauben und ihrer erneuerten Liebe zu sich selbst - all das ist der Antrieb für ihr neues Album. Die Leadsingle "You're Gonna Win" ist ein tanzbarer Feel-Good-Banger. Nicole lässt sich gehen, während sie ihre Macht benennt und einfordert: "I do not care who came before me, after me there will be none". Der Chor der Fabulous Rainbow Singers schließt sich dem Refrain an und bringt die ganze Angelegenheit in die Kirche und stellt sie neben die besten Gospel-Disco-Platten, die je gepresst wurden. "Be a Witness" ist ein funkiges Mid-Tempo-Kraftpaket, das Prince stolz machen würde. Nicole findet den perfekten Groove über druckvollen Drumcomputern und ansteckenden Synthesizern, singt über eine Liebe, die dazu bestimmt ist, zu geschehen, und verbreitet die guten Vibes an jeden in Hörweite. Der Titeltrack von Cover Girl ist einer der verletzlichsten Momente des Albums. Lady Wray liefert eine atemberaubende Darbietung in dem schlichten Stück, in dem sie ihre Reise zur Selbstfindung beschreibt: ""I lost myself trying to please someone else / I want to be me again." Der Titel leitet sich von einem Spitznamen aus ihrer Kindheit ab, den sie sich wegen ihres stets gepflegten Stils zulegte. Lady Wray erklärt. "Als ich erwachsen wurde und ins Musikgeschäft einstieg, verlor ich diesen glücklichen Teil von mir. Ich sehe dieses Glück in meiner Tochter, die einfach wunderschön, talentiert und klug ist. Mit ,Cover Girl' kehre ich zu diesem kleinen Mädchen zurück. Es geht darum, sich selbst wieder zu lieben". In ähnlicher Weise fordert sie in "Where Could I Be" das Glück und den Sinn für Identität zurück, den sie durch die Kämpfe des Lebens verloren hatte. In "Best For Us" und "Hard Times" schwärmt Nicole von ihrer Liebe und ihrem Respekt für ihre Ehe, wobei sie sowohl die Unvollkommenheit anerkennt als auch auf die Stärke und Widerstandsfähigkeit der wahren Liebe verweist. In "Higher" singt sie für ihre Tochter und lehrt sie, wie man liebt und geliebt wird, und ermutigt sie, beharrlich und ausdauernd zu sein. Lady Wray wurde geboren, um zu singen und ihre Seele und ihr Leben durch ihre Musik mit uns zu teilen. Mit ihren glaubwürdigen Botschaften und ihrer unvergleichlichen Stimme hat sie sich weltweit eine treue Fangemeinde geschaffen. Egal, ob sie von ihren Kämpfen oder ihren Stärken singt, es ist tröstlich zu hören, dass sie uns wissen lässt, dass wir nicht allein damit sind. Nicole Wray ist inspirierend und aufbauend. Sie hat viel durchgemacht und ist durch all das zu einem besseren Menschen und einer besseren Künstlerin geworden. "Du musst deine eigene Welt beherrschen. Lass niemanden in deinen Weg kommen. Du rockst mit deinen Träumen, bis die Räder abfallen", sagt Lady Wray. "Das ist es, was ich mit meiner Karriere seit 1998 mache. Ich weiß, wer ich bin und was ich auf den Tisch bringe. Es war eine Wahnsinnsreise, und ich bin so glücklich, die beste Musik meines Lebens zu machen."

Produziert von dem mit einem Grammy ausgezeichneten Produzenten Leon Michels (Norah Jones, Clairo) und mit musikalischen Beiträgen von Homer Steinweiss, Nick Movshon, Marco Benevento und Brainstory. Lady Wray meldet sich mit "Cover Girl", ihrem dritten Album bei Big Crown Records, mit Spannung erwartet zurück. Der Album-Opener "My Best Step" sagt alles: "My next step is my best step", und in der Tat hebt sie ihre künstlerische Leistung auf ein neues Niveau und macht die beste Musik ihres Lebens. Das feierliche "Cover Girl" nimmt den Hörer mit auf eine ausgelassene Spritztour, die von Soul und Disco der 60er und 70er Jahre, Hip-Hop und R&B der 90er Jahre und dem vielleicht wichtigsten Element, dem Gospel, geprägt ist. Nach dem 2022 veröffentlichten "Piece of Me" trat Nicole Monique Wray a.k.a. Lady Wray in der Late Show With Stephen Colbert und bei NPR's Tiny Desk auf und tourte durch die ganze Welt. "Cover Girl" ist mühelos und unbestreitbar der bisherige Höhepunkt ihrer langjährigen Zusammenarbeit mit dem Produzenten Leon Michels (Norah Jones / Clairo / El Michels Affair), die sich über ein Jahrzehnt erstreckt. "Ich habe mich mit diesem Album mehr der Liebe und der Selbstfürsorge zugewandt. Piece of Me war die Erkenntnis, dass ich Mutter werde, und all diese Gefühle lagen mir auf dem Herzen", sagt Lady Wray. "Jetzt kann ich mich zurücklehnen und eine echte Chefin sein. Ich habe meine Karriere, meine Mutterschaft und meine Ehe in den Griff bekommen. Ich bin zu einer selbstbewussteren und schöneren Werbeträgerin für Cover Girl geworden." Die Singer-Songwriterin mit der allmächtigen Stimme, den aufrüttelnden Texten und ihrer anziehenden Persönlichkeit erzählt von ihrer Wertschätzung für ihre Familie, ihrem Glauben und ihrer erneuerten Liebe zu sich selbst - all das ist der Antrieb für ihr neues Album. Die Leadsingle "You're Gonna Win" ist ein tanzbarer Feel-Good-Banger. Nicole lässt sich gehen, während sie ihre Macht benennt und einfordert: "I do not care who came before me, after me there will be none". Der Chor der Fabulous Rainbow Singers schließt sich dem Refrain an und bringt die ganze Angelegenheit in die Kirche und stellt sie neben die besten Gospel-Disco-Platten, die je gepresst wurden. "Be a Witness" ist ein funkiges Mid-Tempo-Kraftpaket, das Prince stolz machen würde. Nicole findet den perfekten Groove über druckvollen Drumcomputern und ansteckenden Synthesizern, singt über eine Liebe, die dazu bestimmt ist, zu geschehen, und verbreitet die guten Vibes an jeden in Hörweite. Der Titeltrack von Cover Girl ist einer der verletzlichsten Momente des Albums. Lady Wray liefert eine atemberaubende Darbietung in dem schlichten Stück, in dem sie ihre Reise zur Selbstfindung beschreibt: ""I lost myself trying to please someone else / I want to be me again." Der Titel leitet sich von einem Spitznamen aus ihrer Kindheit ab, den sie sich wegen ihres stets gepflegten Stils zulegte. Lady Wray erklärt. "Als ich erwachsen wurde und ins Musikgeschäft einstieg, verlor ich diesen glücklichen Teil von mir. Ich sehe dieses Glück in meiner Tochter, die einfach wunderschön, talentiert und klug ist. Mit ,Cover Girl' kehre ich zu diesem kleinen Mädchen zurück. Es geht darum, sich selbst wieder zu lieben". In ähnlicher Weise fordert sie in "Where Could I Be" das Glück und den Sinn für Identität zurück, den sie durch die Kämpfe des Lebens verloren hatte. In "Best For Us" und "Hard Times" schwärmt Nicole von ihrer Liebe und ihrem Respekt für ihre Ehe, wobei sie sowohl die Unvollkommenheit anerkennt als auch auf die Stärke und Widerstandsfähigkeit der wahren Liebe verweist. In "Higher" singt sie für ihre Tochter und lehrt sie, wie man liebt und geliebt wird, und ermutigt sie, beharrlich und ausdauernd zu sein. Lady Wray wurde geboren, um zu singen und ihre Seele und ihr Leben durch ihre Musik mit uns zu teilen. Mit ihren glaubwürdigen Botschaften und ihrer unvergleichlichen Stimme hat sie sich weltweit eine treue Fangemeinde geschaffen. Egal, ob sie von ihren Kämpfen oder ihren Stärken singt, es ist tröstlich zu hören, dass sie uns wissen lässt, dass wir nicht allein damit sind. Nicole Wray ist inspirierend und aufbauend. Sie hat viel durchgemacht und ist durch all das zu einem besseren Menschen und einer besseren Künstlerin geworden. "Du musst deine eigene Welt beherrschen. Lass niemanden in deinen Weg kommen. Du rockst mit deinen Träumen, bis die Räder abfallen", sagt Lady Wray. "Das ist es, was ich mit meiner Karriere seit 1998 mache. Ich weiß, wer ich bin und was ich auf den Tisch bringe. Es war eine Wahnsinnsreise, und ich bin so glücklich, die beste Musik meines Lebens zu machen."

FOR FANS OF: Helloween, Gamma Ray, Primal Fear, Grave Digger, Running Wild, Blind Guardian, Hammerfall
Beginnen wir diese kleine Abhandlung mit einer selbstbewussten These: In der langen erfolgreichen Karriere der deutschen Band Rage hat es
vermutlich noch kein Album gegeben, dass in einem so hohen Maße die positive Stimmung unter den beteiligten Musikern, ihre Spielfreude, die
Kreativität und den Optimismus widerspiegelt wie ‚A New World Rising‘. Knapp zwei Jahre nach dem eher dystopischen Vorgänger ‚Afterlifelines‘
feuern Peavy Wagner (Gesang, Bass), Jean Bormann (Gitarre) und Vassilios „Lucky“ Maniatopoulos (Schlagzeug) diesmal ein positives, ultra-heavy
Thrash Metal-Feuerwerk ab, das den typischen Rage-Sound mit modernen Elementen kombiniert und in seiner Gesamtheit das bis dato
abwechslungsreichste Werk der Band darstellt. „Nicht nur für uns, sondern für alle Menschen gilt: Wir müssen rauskommen aus dem destruktiven
Mindset, das derzeit überall zu finden ist. Viele denken, die Welt geht unter, alles wird schlechtgeredet, und manches davon ist sogar gezielt
gesteuert, denn mit Angst kann man Menschen besser kontrollieren. Deswegen lautet unsere Botschaft: Denkt für euch selbst! Und glaubt nicht alles,
was man euch erzählen will!“ erklärt Bandgründer Peavy Wagner den Grundtenor von ‚A New World Rising‘.