Search:ti

Those in the know are well aware of Bobby Marin's work, and the fact that he was behind the scenes for some of the best boogaloo and salsa of the '60s and '70s. Yet, until now, no one has explicitly put Bobby's name in the headline and given him his due on the cover of a properly credited Latin soul compilation. This compilation comprises twenty four essential boogaloo, Latin funk, rock and afro disco gems, each one bearing the mark of quality: "A Bobby Marin Production", including songs by Ricardo Marrero, the Ghetto Brothers, Ocho, Louie Ramírez_ A freshly curated overview of his fascinatingly complex back catalog in these genres. Since the late 1980s there have been numerous Latin soul and boogaloo compilations, and certainly much has been written about the history of the music too and an an excellent documentary (We Like It Like That, by Mathew Ramírez Warren) have brought the music to a broader audience. Generally, when discussing the "first wave" of Latin soul and boogaloo, it's the bands and their leaders, the singers and the songs that get all the recognition. But what of the producers, composers, and arrangers behind the music? Over the years, one of the best old-school New York Latin music producers, Bobby Marin, has occasionally been given some well-deserved credit and popped up sporadically in articles or liner notes (Wax Poetics, Fania, Gladys Palmera). However, to the casual public, he is not a household name, even among some fans of boogaloo. There are even some contemporary Latin soul compilations that contain mostly material licensed, produced and / or written by Bobby (or his brother, Richard), and a tip of the hat must go to Bobby's friend Dean Rudland for all his work in this area, as well as to Rocafort Records for digging up the long-lost Nitty Gritty Sextet album. Yet, until now, no one has explicitly put Bobby's name in the headline and given him his due on the cover of a properly credited Latin soul compilation. This collection aims to change that and give the man his Latin soul "props" for the first time on a freshly curated overview of his fascinatingly complex back catalog in this genre.

See You At The Maypole, the sixth full-length album in Half Waif"s prolific catalog, is a recognition of personal sadness, and a call to ecstatic togetherness. It"s gathering the colors of our spirit, in all its shades, and making something intricate and remarkable. The ceremonial folk dance performed around a maypole is filled with fauna and flora, with ribbons woven into complex braids incapable of unraveling; these dances are survivals of ancient ritual, honoring the living trees, and the return of Spring and fertility. These patterns -- this dance -- cannot be completed alone, and so, Half Waif welcomes others to join her, a collective of bleeding color. "We are so much stronger for the colorful experiences we go through," she says. "That"s where we find our humanity and find each other." While the seclusion of grief feels infinite, Rose brought the songs to her trusted friend and longtime collaborator of the past decade, Zubin Hensler. The pair worked away from others for Mythopoetics, carefully crafting each note and flourish themselves but something else was needed for See You At The Maypole. To that end, Hensler and Rose welcomed a wealth of players and friends into the world of the record: Jason Burger and Zack Levine on drums and percussion; Josh Marre (Blue Ranger) on guitar; Hannah Epperson and Elena Moon Park on violin; Kristina Teuschler on clarinet; Willem de Koch on trombone; Rebecca El-Saleh on harp; and Spencer Zahn on upright bass. Andrew Sarlo (Big Thief, Bon Iver) lent his deft mixing skills to many of the tracks, including lead single "Figurine." "This wasn"t just my story, I wanted to say. It was every story of loss-the loss of a life, the loss of a dream, the loss of trust and hope and faith. A story of finding a way back again," Rose explains. "My own avenue back to the land of the living was through my relationships with people and with the natural world. It only seemed right that these songs would invite those people in to build the very heart of the sound."

Zwei Jahre nach seinem hochgelobten Cover-Album "Taped Heart Sounds" schlägt Jesper Munk ein neues Kapitel auf: Mit wohlgereiften Eigenkompositionen kehrt er jetzt zur Freude aller treuen Wegbegleiter:innen endlich auch wieder als Komponist und Texter zurück. Sein neues Album klingt melancholisch und swingend. Moderner Neo-Soul, vom Jazz geküsst, dazu Chanson, R"n"B, bluesy Crooner-Balladen und zarter Indie-Pop bis hin zum Slow Wave, sind die Eckpfeiler, die "Yesterdaze" wohl am besten beschreiben.

Der isländische Komponist Snorri Hallgrímsson veröffentlicht «Longer Shadows, Softer Stones», sein Debüt
bei der Deutschen Grammophon. Die EP erscheint als 180g Vinyl und enthält sechs von ihm geschriebene
und produzierte Stücke. Der Multiinstrumentalist Hallgrímsson, der bereits mit gekonnten Neuinterpretationen von Werken Saties, Schumanns und Boulangers beeindruckte, übernimmt den Gesang und spielt
Klavier sowie elektronische Elemente. Unterstützt wird er von Streichern des Reykjavík Orchestra unter
der Leitung von Viktor Orri Árnason. »Snorri Hallgrímsson gelingt es, mit seinem tiefen Verständnis von
Raum und Stille ein Statement zu setzen«- Higher Plain Music

Mötley Crüe werden ihre neue EP „Cancelled“ veröffentlichen!
Die EP markiert die erste neue Musik der Band seit 2019 und ihr Debüt bei Label Big Machine Rock. Die
Platte enthält den aktuellen Top 5 Rock Radio Hit „Dogs of War“, ihre neue Single, eine Coverversion von
„Fight For Your Right“ von den Beastie Boys und den Titeltrack „Cancelled“.
Mötley Crüe sagten: „It was really great getting in the studio and working on some tracks together. What
started out as a couple demo ideas turned into this EP produced by Bob Rock. We look forward to getting
back into the studio again soon and writing more new music, as well.”
Mötley Crüe melden sich mit ”Dogs of War” zurück, ihrer ersten Single seit 2015!
Seit über 40 Jahren sind Vince Neil (voc), Nikki Sixx (bass), Tommy Lee (drums) und Mick Mars (guitar) als Band aktiv und on the road mit bahnbrechenden Show Highlights wie Tommy Lee‘s Achterbahn
Schlagzeugperformance oder Nikki Sixx’s Auftritte mit seinem flammenwerfenden Bass.
Mötley Crüe hat über 5 Milliarden Streams auf digitalen Plattformen erreicht und hat über 8 Millionen
Follower in den sozialen Medien. Sie haben weltweit über 100 Millionen Alben verkauft, 7 Platin- und
Multi-Platin-Alben in den USA und 3 GRAMMY®-Nominierungen erhalten. Auch ihre Biografie „The Dirt
– Confessions of the Worlds Most Notorious Rock Band” wurde 2001 ein New York Times und weltweiter
Bestseller und erschien als Biopic 2019 auf Netflix.

Christmas Interpretations ist das erste Weihnachtsalbum und insgesamt das zweite Studioalbum der amerikanischen R&B-Gruppe Boyz II Men. Es wurde am 5. Oktober 1993 von Motown veröffentlicht. Einige der
Titel sind Eigenkompositionen, die Boyz II Men zusammen mit ihrem Labelkollegen und langjährigen Freund Brian McKnight geschrieben haben; andere sind traditionelle Weihnachtslieder. Die Neuauflage des
legendären Albums ist als Vinyl ab dem 04. Oktober 2024 überall erhältlich.

Good Neighbours release their self-titled debut EP on 4th October. The EP includes their huge debut hit single ‘Home’ which has had over 300 million streams globally alongside follow-up feel-good singles Keep It Up, Daisies and Bloom. Since playing their debut headline show in November 2023, the band consisting of Scott Verrill and Oli Fox have come together to create an indie-euphoric dreamscape of sound and vision, racing through the London gig circuit and beyond with likes of Reading & Leeds Festival, Latitude, Boardmasters, and All Points East. Available as a Limited edition CD edition includes cover of Taylor Swift’s Wildest Dreams recorded for BBC Radio 1. The Limited edition Blue Vinyl includes mash up cover of MGMT’s Time To Pretend with Lorde’s Perfect Places recorded for BBC Radio 1 earlier in 2024 (doesn't include Taylor cover)

Remastered for the first time since its release in 1960, Paul Anka’s Sings His Big 15 is the definitive collection of the legendary crooner’s biggest hits. In the original sleeve notes, a prominent newspaper record reviewer confidently declared, "When the current era of Rock 'n' Roll fades and our musical tastes return to normal, only two of today's recording idols will continue on the glory road. Of these two, the surest bet for consistent and long-lasting stardom is young Paul Anka." This assertion has proven prophetic, as Paul Anka continues to thrive in a successful career, surpassing 50 years since those words were first penned.

Hellstain Productions are proud to present you with "Et Alter Av Forakt» - the second release by the Norwegian Black Metal entity ENE, following the debut «Lang Kald Natt» from 2021. The new album is a natural next step musically, while still focusing on primitive and atmospheric black metal.

«Et Alter Av Forakt» shines with a far more refined production, but holds the same cold and desperate feelings. Lyrically, the tracks describe the souls of a lost world, where our purpose and existence is fragile and perhaps equally lost.

Earlier this year we were excited to announce the return of one of our most beloved bands of recent years: New Street Adventure. To mark the 10th Anniversary of their debut album ‘No Hard Feelings’, on 4 October we are releasing a special, limited edition olive green colour vinyl reissue. The release will coincide with an extensive UK tour.

‘About eighteen months ago, someone asked if I had a spare vinyl copy of ‘No Hard Feelings’. I checked the shelves, and found my own copy and no more. I checked Discogs and saw that it was changing hands for far more than an 8-year-old album should be. Released in the pre-vinyl-revival years, its limited original pressing means that demand is now out-stripping supply – a measure of just how good this record is. With that in mind Nick Corbin and I hatched a plot for a 10th Anniversary reissue, and here it is!

I loved New Street Adventure. They were smart, looked great on stage, and in Nick was one of the best front-men and songwriters I have ever worked with. With their own ecosystem of self promoted gigs, they created their own audience, and for a while it looked like a major label deal was in the offing. Eddie Piller had wanted to sign them from the first time he met Nick, and when the big deal didn’t happen, he was still there for the band as they became an Acid Jazz act in 2013.

There were endless back-and-forths on how the album should sound (and some despair that it wasn’t quite sounding as good as it should have). Then Mitch Ayling came on board to produce the final mix. He brought out the songs, lifted the playing, delivering the shiny finished recording that took its place as one of the finest moments in the Acid Jazz catalogue. Nick’s songs now sparkled. As his love of soul shone through, his politically and socially aware lyrics showed a rare, wry observational gaze that was turned on 21st Century life. From the warnings against populist hatred of ‘On Our Front Doorstep’, to the hopeless ennui of ‘Foot In The Door’, and the day-to-day pursuits of being in your twenties in a big city. Through it all shines a passion – sometimes coming out as anger – that drives the music. It is of course encapsulated in ‘The Big A.C.’, written about the night that Nick’s dad took him to the 6Ts Allnighter at the 100 Club, which brought him into the world of Northern Soul. It’s a classic that nails the feeling of excitement as well as anything written.

The album was released late in 2014 and for those who want a vinyl copy – even the CDs cost a fair penny now – we have prepared this special 10th Anniversary Edition on transparent olive-green coloured vinyl. The inner sleeve is illustrated with never-before seen photos from the archive, both candid and by early band supporter Dean Chalkley, and has sleeve notes by Nick and myself. Nick is taking New Street back on tour this Autumn, and it you would be foolish (once more) to miss either the tour or the record.’

"OneDa's story is so clearly mirrored in her music: a sprightly flow preaching a message of empowerment, enveloped in a dark, raucous soundscape…interlacing vibrant, punchy lyrics with that classic drum & bass sound has given OneDa a new lease of life." – DJ MAG

“OneDa is solidifying her position as one of the UK’s most thrilling hip-hop artists. With poignant lyrics and charisma that is off the charts, she dives deep into the complexities of life, love, and liberation.” – DIVA

Manchester rapper and poet OneDa is set to soar with the release of her debut album, 'Formula OneDa', on October 4th via Heavenly Recordings. Featuring the singles 'Major Pay' and 'Set It Off.'

On the ethos behind the album, OneDa says:

“In early 2023, while listening to my mixtape demos, the line ‘had to step away, get the levels up fast, Formula OneDa never come last' from my song ‘Off My Light’ stood out. We decided to name my album 'Formula Oneda'. Coincidentally, I discovered that the F1 Academy had just started, aligning perfectly with my album’s vision. For the first time in over 30 years, Formula 1 has created a platform to inspire and support young girls and women. Previously indifferent to Formula 1, I am now excited by the progress these women are making in the male-dominated racing circuit. While becoming a racing driver was never my goal, the F1 Academy metaphor fits my journey from a backmarker to a leader. This year, I plan to support these inspiring women as they drive with Pussy Power to take pole position in motorsports.”

Having supported Kneecap and Baxter Dury, and with standout performances at The Great Escape, OneDa is establishing herself as one of the UK’s most dynamic hip-hop artists. Her music transcends genres, blending hip-hop, drum and bass, afro-trap, and afrobeats, reflecting her Nigerian heritage and Manchester roots. Known for her dexterous wordplay and poetic verses, OneDa's voice is a unique force in the evolving drum and bass scene. Her boundless linguistic talent and poetic verses set her apart. Named by The Face as a key MC in the drum ‘n’ bass renaissance, OneDa is dedicated to empowering others.
Her live performance credits include headlining with Angélique Kidjo at Aviva Studios' launch in Manchester and leading performances at Manchester Pride 2023. She continues to gain acclaim from BBC Radio 6, DJ Mag, The Face, NTS, Wonderland, UKF, and The Line of Best Fit.

Beyond her music, OneDa is dedicated to community initiatives, leading hip-hop therapy for Manchester youth and championing projects like Herchester, which amplifies marginalized voices in music. Her vision extends beyond chart success; she aims to establish a hip-hop therapy school for all ages, showcasing music's potential for positive change. Her drive and authenticity inspire others to embrace their true selves.

Citing 'empowerment' as her greatest inspiration, OneDa channels her struggle with acceptance of her queerness into her music, promoting a message of self-love and freedom: “When you truly love yourself, that overpowers anyone else’s opinion.” Although she only began producing music two years ago, OneDa’s debut LP showcases her mastery across multiple genres. Collaborations with artists like Sam Binga, Songer, Devilman, and Mr. Scruff highlight her versatility. Her standout verse on Vibe Chemistry’s 'Ballin’', with over 35 million streams, further cemented her reputation. Her first fully produced track, 'Rude Girl Flex', earned her a spot on the BBC 6 Music playlist and an appearance at the BBC 6 Music Festival.

Blending a mix of street intellect into pop music, Naughty by Nature delivered raw-edge but accessible East Coast rap and created some of the biggest and most contagious hits of the 90s. Naughty By Nature's brand new greatest hits compilation The Naughtiest, which has not been produced physically in over 20 years, contains the groups best known songs including "O.P.P" which hit #1 on the Billboard Rap Charts & #6 on the Hot 100, "Uptown Anthem" "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" from their self-titled album, along with "Feel Me Flow" & "Craziest" from Poverty's Paradise. And of course, select tracks from 19 Naughty III including "Hip Hop Hooray" which hit #1 in several countries and has become a defining anthem for hip hop music.

Hailing from the southern edge of Finland, BATTLE BEAST were founded in 2008 and soon established themselves with their trademark of pure crunching riffs, high screams, blistering solos and strong choruses. “I thirst to go further as a human being and the music on this album represents a part of the ongoing spiritual journey - that's what I tend to I call it - which is my road onward. Music-wise the songs have been expanded to a wider area as an effort to call out emotions close to those I myself had during the times of birth of these songs,” commented guitarist & vocalist Anton Kabanen about »Unholy Savior«. “Like always, I wrote songs about the series "Berserk", as well, and the reason behind writing songs about that particular series is that I can strongly relate to that, especially to certain characters and to their way of thinking and feeling,” Anton adds.

METAL HAMMER - 8/10 review “Mangled post-Bathory riffs and Marzia’s blasphemous bark collide with the darkly serene shimmer of wilfully corrupted shoegaze and nobody escapes with their San(ci)ity intact. This is a profoundly heavy work, yet laced with elegant moments of restraint…A dark star is born.”

Debut full length for one woman band Marthe on Southern Lord.

True Valkyrian metal inspired heavy riffing in a dark atmosphere of feasting ravens over a thunderous battleground.

The war cry belongs to a distorted horde of crust punk and black metal venture.

The dust settles over the power of Bathory, the melancholy of Tiamat and the stench of Amebix.

Antifascist. Feminist. Misanthropic.

Includes cover of Siouxsie and the Banshees ‘Sin In my Heart’

Centricity Music recording artist Jordan Feliz quickly became a household name when his first radio single “The River,” the title track from his critically-acclaimed debut, became a smash hit. Spending an unprecedented 12 weeks at No. 1, the chart-topping single was named ASCAP’s “Christian Music Song of the Year” and garnered Feliz his first RIAA Platinum® certification. Thanks to his charismatic vocals and signature blend of soulful pop, each of his seven subsequent radio singles has landed in the Top 10 with “Witness,” “Glorify” and “Jesus Is Coming Back” notching three more No. 1’s for the singer. In addition, the California- native has been nominated for five Dove Awards, taking home the trophy for 2016’s “New Artist of the Year,” and has amassed nearly 500 million lifetime streams. Along with his heartwarming children’s hardcover book, Beloved, and his headline tours, Feliz has also shared stages around the country with some of the biggest names in Christian music, including TobyMac, Michael W. Smith, For KING & COUNTRY, Matthew West and Crowder.

"In July of 2023, Neil Young released the OFFICIAL RELEASE SERIES VOLUME 5, a stunning collection comprised of four classic albums that begins with the exciting renaissance that came with the release of FREEDOM in 1989, and continues on the unequaled exploration of collections RAGGED GLORY (1990), WELD (1991) and ARC (1991). In many ways, it is a musical travelogue of how Young saw the future and opened up creative worlds for the use of sound and originality which had not been used before.

Now, each of these titles from ORS 5 will become available once again as stand-alone albums on both
vinyl and CD. When these four albums were released in the box set last July, it was the first time they had
been remastered for vinyl."

"In July of 2023, Neil Young released the OFFICIAL RELEASE SERIES VOLUME 5, a stunning collection comprised of four classic albums that begins with the exciting renaissance that came with the release of FREEDOM in 1989, and continues on the unequaled exploration of collections RAGGED GLORY (1990), WELD (1991) and ARC (1991). In many ways, it is a musical travelogue of how Young saw the future and opened up creative worlds for the use of sound and originality which had not been used before.

Now, each of these titles from ORS 5 will become available once again as stand-alone albums on both
vinyl and CD. When these four albums were released in the box set last July, it was the first time they had
been remastered for vinyl."

"In July of 2023, Neil Young released the OFFICIAL RELEASE SERIES VOLUME 5, a stunning collection comprised of four classic albums that begins with the exciting renaissance that came with the release of FREEDOM in 1989, and continues on the unequaled exploration of collections RAGGED GLORY (1990), WELD (1991) and ARC (1991). In many ways, it is a musical travelogue of how Young saw the future and opened up creative worlds for the use of sound and originality which had not been used before.

Now, each of these titles from ORS 5 will become available once again as stand-alone albums on both
vinyl and CD. When these four albums were released in the box set last July, it was the first time they had
been remastered for vinyl."

A1 - Desire
Opening the EP in quietly epic fashion, Desire begins with a delightful beat pattern with adistinctive cymbal hit set over warm bass tones and whale song samples. A smooth, thoughtful bass melody is introduced which joyfully intersects with gorgeous piano keys while swirling strings and atmospheric vibes layer and recede like tides of the ocean, creating a truly unique journey of a track that will linger anywhere it may be heard.

A2 - Voidscaping
Instantly setting the scene with crisp, striking breaks, Voidscaping is an atmospheric treatfor the senses with serene throwback pads reminiscent of the halcyon days of Good Looking. Bringing the piece up to date for the Spatial era is the typically intricate blending of reflection and intrigue ASC conjures with his sampling and reverb work, effortlessly thickening the soundscape with memories old and new.

AA1 - Let Go
Opening with the vibrant sounds of twilight nature and metallic bongos, ASC sparinglydeploys a glorious choral vocal before the breaks take off with an energetic pattern drivenby constant, playful hi hats. As the track develops, questions are asked of the listener bythe curious atmosphere, gradually unraveling with strings, synths and trademark vocalusage, offering a new perspective with each listen.

AA2 - Meltdown
A darkly, anxious undertone floods the mix as Meltdown grips the listener from the first barwith skillfully sequenced minimal breaks, hi hats that whoosh in and out like evening crickets you can't quite track, and intense ambient padwork. A longing female vocal occasionally yearns over the various melodies which enter at will, discreetly developing the mood with purpose, unfurling a stream of aural consciousness from this incredible producer.
Words by Chris Hayes (Spatial / Red Mist)

Sergej Rachmaninoff war ein russischer Komponist, Pianist und Dirigent, der für seine gefühlvolle und virtuose Musik bekannt ist. Zu seinen berühmtesten Werken gehören das 2. Klavierkonzert sowie die ergreifend schöne Rhapsodie über ein Thema von Paganini. Trotz persönlicher und politischer Umwälzungen, einschließlich der Emigration nach der Russischen Revolution, behielt Rachmaninoffs Musik ihren ursprünglichen Charakter.
Rachmaninoffs Kunst verkörpert den Höhepunkt der Spätromantik, indem sie technische Brillanz mit tiefer emotionaler Tiefe verbindet. Künstler:innen wie Hélène Grimaud, Nikolai Lugansky, Leif Ove Andsnes und André Previn, die auf dieser Doppel-LP zu hören sind, gehören zu den herausragenden Künstlern für dieses Repertoire.

This 25th anniversary commemorative reissue of The Dining Rooms' debut album "Subterranean Modern Volume Uno" is an essential release of an album that has become a true classic of instrumental cinematic hip hop through the years, the very first step in a constant evolution of a unique music style conceived by Stefano Ghittoni and Cesare Malfatti. Thanks to this double LP release various songs of the original full album appear on vinyl for the very first time. This reissue also includes a 30x30cm insert and the bonus track "Education of a Scoundrel" featuring Sean Martin on vocals.
















[n] 14: Education of a Scoundrel (Bonus Track) [feat. Sean Martin]

The 180g vinyl is available in two colors: Classic Black and a Limited Burgundy Edition, with the outer cover hand-colored and numbered (100 copies) by Moo Latte himself.

Mellomaniac, the seventh full-length album by Moo Latte, is different. These 28 compositions, written and recorded in 2021/22, were initially created for Moo's personal use, serving as a life soundtrack during many weeks and months spent away from home while touring with the band. Most of the tracks were recorded in hotel rooms and even backstage areas, fully embracing the lo-fi mindset and philsophy. Comparing to his previous works, this one holds a special significance and it's the most personal of them all.

What's Mellomaniac? The wordplay combines "melomania"—defined as an excessive and abnormal attraction to music—with the "mello" vibe that reflects both Moo Latte's personality and the nature of the music itself. The album leans toward a mellow sound, designed more for an intimate, individual listening experience where each spin of the record leads to new discoveries.

Why is this album different? Each of these pieces was created without any predetermined goal, which is why the tracklist is so eclectic—much like Moo Latte's palette of inspirations. These influences stretch back to when he was just four years old, singing in front of others for the first time or listening to his sister practice the violin. These early memories and instincts are blended with more deliberate musical choices, refined over two decades of music education. Each song is dedicated to a person, place, or situation that shaped him both as a musician and as an individual, reflecting the journey he has been on so far.

After six previous albums rooted in beat-making culture, this is the first one that is 95% drumless and free from sampling of any kind. Although the stories in these songs are told without words, Moo Latte incorporates his voice alongside a wide array of instruments, using it more expressively than ever before. The album's sonic quality is both raw and lush. The grit comes from the way it was recorded, using gear and microphones that, while not top-tier, were simply what was available. Everything was mixed in Moo Latte's bedroom and mastered on analog tape, resulting in a personal, intimate, and dynamic listening experience.

The 180g vinyl is available in two colors: Classic Black and a Limited Burgundy Edition, with the outer cover hand-colored and numbered (100 copies) by Moo Latte himself.

Mellomaniac, the seventh full-length album by Moo Latte, is different. These 28 compositions, written and recorded in 2021/22, were initially created for Moo's personal use, serving as a life soundtrack during many weeks and months spent away from home while touring with the band. Most of the tracks were recorded in hotel rooms and even backstage areas, fully embracing the lo-fi mindset and philsophy. Comparing to his previous works, this one holds a special significance and it's the most personal of them all.

What's Mellomaniac? The wordplay combines "melomania"—defined as an excessive and abnormal attraction to music—with the "mello" vibe that reflects both Moo Latte's personality and the nature of the music itself. The album leans toward a mellow sound, designed more for an intimate, individual listening experience where each spin of the record leads to new discoveries.

Why is this album different? Each of these pieces was created without any predetermined goal, which is why the tracklist is so eclectic—much like Moo Latte's palette of inspirations. These influences stretch back to when he was just four years old, singing in front of others for the first time or listening to his sister practice the violin. These early memories and instincts are blended with more deliberate musical choices, refined over two decades of music education. Each song is dedicated to a person, place, or situation that shaped him both as a musician and as an individual, reflecting the journey he has been on so far.

After six previous albums rooted in beat-making culture, this is the first one that is 95% drumless and free from sampling of any kind. Although the stories in these songs are told without words, Moo Latte incorporates his voice alongside a wide array of instruments, using it more expressively than ever before. The album's sonic quality is both raw and lush. The grit comes from the way it was recorded, using gear and microphones that, while not top-tier, were simply what was available. Everything was mixed in Moo Latte's bedroom and mastered on analog tape, resulting in a personal, intimate, and dynamic listening experience.

The archeological excavations into the cult Interactive Test label continues with a 4 track EP originally released by the label's Don, Franco Falsini, in 1991. Generously brought back to the bins, 3 decades later and still highly applicable to any tasteful dancefloor, a timeless expression of early italo-house.

The year 1996 saw the release of Arab Strap’s first single, “The First Big Weekend,” and debut album The Week Never Starts Round Here. Into an underground rock milieu preoccupied at the time with slo-core, math rock, and all things Pet Sounds, the duo of Malcolm Middleton and Aidan Moffat couldn’t have sounded more alien.

In many ways, The Week Never Starts Round Here bears all the marks of a debut: it’s raw, unguarded, and crammed with ideas. It also firmly establishes the particular set-up that would define Arab Strap’s sound over the course of eleven years, with Middleton handling the music while Moffat provides the vocals and lyrics. Even this division of labor—more common to rap music than to the shoegazers and increasingly ubiquitous “collectives” of indie rock—seemed to defy expectations.

The sound of Arab Strap is a distinct brand of existential miserablism. Middleton’s cleverly arranged foundation of nocturnal guitars and rudimentary drum machines provides a canvas for Moffat to relay, in a thick Scottish dialect, his many sloshed, candid confessions. Long before artists like Mike Skinner chronicled the picaresque days of lads getting pissed and getting laid, Arab Strap’s vivid tales of lovers, lager and shame were being broadcast on college stations everywhere.

The Week Never Starts Round Here is an album full of drugged-up kisses and dried up egos; it chronicles the conquests and knockbacks of weekends that last forever, and it does so unapologetically, poetically, and profanely. Indie rock would never be the same.

‘Feels’ is Animal Collective’s sixth studio album, originally released in 2008. The album features all four band members - Avey Tare, Deakin, Geologist and Panda Bear.
‘Sung Tongs’ is the band's fifth studio album. Originally released in 2005, the album features Avey Tare and Panda Bear.
Both albums available on 140g black double vinyl in poly inner sleeves and gatefold jackets with matte UV finish, plus digital download card.

Parallel zum digitalen Release veröffentlicht die Schweizer Künstlerin LEILA ihre zweite EP "Generation" zusammen mit der ersten "Burnout" EP (2023) als Doppel-EP erstmals auf Vinyl. Auf inhaltlicher Ebene gehen "Burnout" und "Generation" sowieso Hand in Hand, kreist Leila lyrisch doch auf beiden Projekten um die grossen Themen, die ihre Altersgruppe im Jetzt beschäftigen. Es geht um Einflusslosigkeit und Lethargie, um schnelles Erwachsenwerden und zähes inneres Ausbrennen, um Leistungs-, Entscheidungs- und Performance-Druck, um die verzweifelte Suche nach dem eigenen Platz in einer wirren Welt.

LEILAs zweite, millionfach gestreamte Single "Gun To My Head" ging im gesamten deutschsprachigen Raum viral und führte zu einem Signing beim Berliner Indielabel Grönland Records. Dort erschien die "Burnout" EP mit allen sieben bisherigen Singles, die LEILA prompt auf die "Amazon Music - Newcomer To Watch 2024" Liste beförderte. Nach dem Miley Cyrus-Cover "Mother's Daughter" und Supportgigs mit Kaffkiez begann der Zyklus der neuen "Generation" EP.

LEILA ist eine DIY-Allround-Künstlerin, deren Dramaturgie vom Spiel mit Kontrasten lebt, von erfrischender Ungeplantheit, Brüchen und antizyklischer Roughness, von spitzen Blues-Cords im pixeligen Bedroom-Pop-Gewand, dem Clash zwischen kraftvoller Klarheit und verwaschener Fluidität. Ihre englischsprachigen Texte performt sie mit einem subtil trotzigen Akzent, der manchmal an Tove Lo, Fever Ray oder Dolores O'Riordan erinnert. Die aus Bern stammende Mehrsprachlerin ist binnen weniger Monate ohne grosse Starposen zum Sprachrohr einer bikulturellen, diversen, gefühlsbewussten Generation junger Menschen geworden. Ihre Songs verbinden Pop-Appeal mit radikaler Naivität und einer eigensinnigen Ästhetik der Unordnung. Zwischen zarten Gitarrenballaden, sehnsuchtsvollen Electronica-Flächen und wütenden Garage-House-Passagen entfaltet LEILA ihre künstlerische Perfektion meist in den Momenten absoluter Nahbarkeit. LEILA ist bis heute bekennender Ultra des Nuller- und Zehnerjahre-Pop (Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus) und sich keineswegs zu cool, diese Obsession auch zum Ausdruck zu bringen. Sie hat durchaus emotional reagiert, als ihr Paris Hilton auf TikTok zu folgen begann oder Billie Eilish sie kürzlich zu ihren engen Instagram-Freund*innen hinzufügte.

ZEKE ist eine Punkrock- und Hardcore-Institution, die 1992 in Seattle gegründet, immer noch aktiv ist. Sie machen das, was sie am besten können: lauten, schnellen und schweren Punkrock mit einem Hauch von Blues. In Anlehnung an Motörhead brachten ZEKE aber ein gewisses Punkrock- und Hardcore-Element in das Genre, das viele Bands nach ihnen aufgegriffen haben.
RPM Online schrieb, „Zeke sind wirklich, wie keine andere Band auf der Welt“ und „It's not fast, its fucking hypersonic hardcore“, während Maximum Volume empfiehlt „... they are the kings of the underground.“ Vive le Rock aus Großbritannien freut sich, dass „das Quartett dem Brexit den Stinkefinger zeigen wird“ und auch das Ox Fanzine aus Deutschland bestätigt: „Sie sind in Topform, so wie wir sie 1996 bei „Super Sound Racing“ gefeiert haben.“ Mit den Originalmitgliedern Blind Marky Felchtone (Gesang und Gitarre) und Donny Paycheck (Schlagzeug) sowie Jason Freeman (Bass) und Jeff Hiatt (Gitarre) ist „Snake Eyes“ so kompromisslos wie eh und je, mit einem furiosen Wirbelwind-Rhythmus als Fundament und eine Flutwelle schneller Gitarren. Feltchtones messerscharfe Stimme ist sogar noch giftiger als vor zwei Jahrzehnten. Beim Titeltrack ‚Snake Eyes‘ verlangsamt die Band das Punk-Tempo etwas zugunsten einer hochoktanigen Rock-Affäre, die an Hellacopters erinnert aber trotz allem zu schnell bleibt. Auf der B- Seite gibt es pure Intensität mit 'The Knife' und man kann sich vorstellen, wie ZEKE einen durch die Nacht fahren und tun, was auch immer sie im Hintergrund tun. Wenn es vorbei ist, fühlt man sich benommen und verwirrt. Wie einer dieser Masochisten, die den Schmerz lieben, will man sich diesem erneut hingeben.
Die Titel sind nicht auf den Streaming-Plattformen verfügbar.

Dies ist das ultimative Burnout-Biker-Psycho-Meisterwerk. Circuit Rider ist ein 40-minütiges Rezept für den Nervenzusammenbruch. Es wurde direkt von den Bändern neu gepresst, um die Zigarettenverbrennungen, Harley-Abgase und Kokain-Kater des Originals perfekt wiederherzustellen. Circuit Rider wurde von den Acid Archives in die Liste der Top Ten LPs aufgenommen, die am wahrscheinlichsten im Besitz eines Serienmörders sind, und ging auf derselben Reise verloren wie Kenneth Higney, Nicodemus & Matchez, YaHowWa, Boa, Heitkotter, Dave Lamb & Gye Whiz, Raven, Fraction und - klar, warum nicht? - The Doors' L.A. Woman.

Few bands are as focused on potential challenges, on what is yet to come, as The Ex. Which is pretty remarkable for a band celebrating 45 years of existence, a turbulent journey filled with an impressive series of highlights. However, nostalgia has never been this band's forte, as they like no other succeed in reinventing themselves, finding new alliances and fascinating challenges along the way. Stay out of that comfort zone for long enough and it just might disappear. The pandemic was a standstill for many, including The Ex. Or perhaps it was more a kind of recharging, as the band is back on national and international stages with new music, ready to return to the studio. So, in 45 years they did more than 2000 concerts in 45 countries. It was time for a new 45rpm 7" single. From the brand-new set they are playing full-on this year, they picked two blinking tracks: `Great!' and 'The Evidence'. Urgent, willful, adventurous, open hearted and joyfully obstinate. As such, The Ex remains true to that one, indestructible adage: forward in all directions!

On 4 October 2024 Universal Music Recordings and Decca Records are making Jamaican/British jazz saxophonist Joe Harriott’s album ‘Movement’ available again for the first time since it was released in 1964. Long sought after by collectors and connoisseurs, original copies now sell for upwards of £1,000.

This new edition was mastered at Abbey Road using high definition 24bit/192kHz audio files, copied directly from the original stereo analogue master tapes (previously only the mono version has been on vinyl). Images of those tapes are included in the package alongside new sleeve notes written by noted author, compiler and documentary maker Tony Higgins, who also acts as Executive Producer for Decca’s ‘British Jazz Explosion’ series.

Recorded in 1963, ‘Movement’ was released as part of the Lansdowne Series, overseen by the influential Denis Preston, one of the UK’s first independent record producers, and engineered by Adrian Kerridge. Of the nine tracks, seven are Harriott originals, whilst the other two were written by another pioneer of British Jazz, Michael Garrick. Playing alongside Joe were bassist Coleridge Goode (b. 1914 Jamaica, d. 2015 London), drummer Bobby Orr (b. Scotland 1928, d. 2020), pianist Pat Smythe (b. Scotland 1923, d. 1983), and trumpet/flugelhorn player Ellsworth ‘Shake’ Keane (b. St. Vincent 1927, d. 1997).

Born in Jamaica in 1928, Joseph Arthurlin Harriott was a pupil at the Alpha Boys School (alma mater to Harold McNair, Dizzy Reece, and a myriad of Ska greats). He arrived in Britain in the early ’50s, initially touring with the Ozzie Da Costa Band, followed by a brief spell with the Ronnie Scott Big Band, and sessions backing the likes of George Chisholm, and Lita Roza.

By the mid ’50s Joe was a big enough draw to release records under his own name, and whilst these early recordings conform to the then popular bop style, the following decade would see him release albums whose titles chart his development; ‘Free Form’ in 1960, and ‘Abstract’ in 1963.

‘Movement’ is a testament to Joe Harriott’s visionary approach to jazz. It blends structure with freedom, tradition with innovation, and individual expression with collective creativity. His development of free-form jazz represents a significant contribution to the genre, paralleling yet distinct from the work of Ornette Coleman and other American free jazz artists. It is an essential listen, not only for fans of British jazz, but jazz fans in general.

It is perhaps best summed up by the epitaph that now adorns Joe’s gravestone; “Parker? There’s them over here can play a few aces too.”

Originally released on KLIK Records, in 1975, Dread Locks Dread became one of the new Front Line label’s first key releases when reissued in 1978.

One of reggae’s best and most recognizable ‘toasters’, Big Youth broke new ground as a DJ in the early ’70s with a flowing, chant-like cadence that was equal parts melodic and invigorating, applying his infectious vocal approach to heavy social and political lyrics.

A huge favourite of the punk and new wave artists at the time of release, Big Youth was embraced by The Clash, via Don Letts, and PiL, amongst others. John Lydon was part of Richard Branson’s A&R envoy to Jamaica, helping sign credible artists to his new Front Line reggae label.

Featuring the legendary Skin, Flesh & Bones band, formed around Lloyd Parks (bass), drummer Sly Dunbar (before he started working with Robbie Shakespeare), Ansel Collins on keyboards, and trombonist Vin Gordon. The album was produced by Tony Robinson and Errol Thompson and mixed at the famous Joe Gibb’s studio.

Dread Locks Dread skanks from punchy, rhythm-heavy reggae to the deepest, dubbiest roots. The hypnotic Some Like It Dread reworks Dennis Brown’s “Some Like It Hot”, where the DJ’s toast is entwined with a bluesy harmonica (the dub version re-titled (Black Man Message). Also features a fiery version of Burning Spear’s “Marcus Garvey” (Marcus Garvey Dread), a tasty take on the John Holt classic “Keep on Moving” – Moving On and a scintillating dub of the Techniques’ rocksteady masterpiece You Don’t Care.

Not your typical DJ album by any means, the music equals the toasts and vice versa – an essential release for a dub fan or a Big Youth supporter.

Re-mastered at Abbey Road Studios, London.

Out of print for over 20 years!

Dawn Richard and Spencer Zahn share a common collaborative ethos, a genuine sense of musical curiosity, and a cosmopolitan eagerness to escape the conventions of genre. That shared vision first brought them together on 2022’s Pigments icy and warm, stripped-down and grand, familiar and otherworldly and now it has reunited them for Quiet in a World Full of Noise. By turns intimate, soul-baring, spectral, and startling, Quiet in a World Full of Noise blends atmospheric and orchestral soundscapes with mellifluous soul, jazz, and journalistic vocalizing driving it all home with stark, confessional lyricism. The new album finds Richard at her most raw and exposed. This year, Richard’s musician father experienced mini strokes while being diagnosed with cancer; and last year, her cousin Cisco was fatally shot seven times in New Orleans. Richard channels the emotional impact of these traumatic experiences of loss into her lyrics and vocal performances, which are left bare and human here, raw and unprocessed across the album. Quiet expands the definitions of what constitutes progressive, avant-garde R&B by rewriting them altogether. On paper, Richard and Zahn’s audacious, impressionistic musical collaborations feel like a surprising match. Richard, a New Orleans–reared visionary, has had an improbable journey from late 2000s reality television and mainstream pop with girl group Danity Kane to become one of the most prolific, experimental, and visible indie R&B singer-songwriters of the last decade and a half, with seven solo albums under her belt. Zahn is an East Coast–raised multi-instrumentalist and composer working at the intersections of jazz, Americana, classical, and ambient pop. His growing solo discography includes People of the Dawn, Sunday Painter, Pale Horizon, and Statues I & II, as well as the duo’s first release, Pigments. “Pigments was one of the best projects I’ve ever made,” Richard says, “and the furthest I’ve ever been pushed as an artist.” The album was a critical hit, hailed as Best New Music by Pitchfork and receiving praise from Stereogum as Album of the Week, NPR Music, Bandcamp Daily, The Fader, Bitter Southerner, and Edition, among many other publications. The making of its follow-up, Quiet in a World Full of Noise, began in 2023 in upstate New York. Fresh from a break-up, Zahn sat at his piano and poured himself into writing and recording instrumental compositions. “I wrote all these stream-of-consciousness pieces on piano, and they were eerie, spacious piano tracks,” he said. He used a piano that had been unconventionally tuned to the room rather than to standard pitch. These oddly-tuned, eerie instrumental recordings were never intended to be an album. Six months later, he listened to the recordings again and sent them to Richard who immediately recognized their potential and said, “Oh, this is the next album.” Richard went into the studio the next day and wrote and recorded melodies and lyrics to Zahn’s piano recordings. Zahn brought in gifted musicians like Bryan Senti on strings (violin, viola, and violoncello da spalla) and CJ Camerieri on brass (French horn, flugelhorn, and trumpet). In some cases, like on the track “Life in Numbers,” Zahn used only the original first-take piano recording and scratch vocal, resulting in an intimate close-up of both Richard and Zahn.

Cindy is to release a new six song EP called Swan Lake on 4th October via Tough Love. The title isn’t a nod to the folktale or ballet in any real way, but to the fact that it all has ended up in the collective imagination as an object, vaguely recognizable, a little suggestive, and mostly blank. Karina Gill, Cindy’s songwriter, likes to make use of that kind of resonance to connect sound and experience. The six songs on this EP continue the stripped-down habits of previous Cindy releases, while adding a few departures and left-turns. Cindy likes to work at the essentials and the elements here say exactly what’s needed. In other ways, these songs present a soft filigree that’s unusual for their recordings. Oli Lipton (Now, Violent Change) on guitar and Will Smith (Now) on bass play counterpoint melodies to Gill’s structures. Staizsh Rodrigues (Children Maybe Later, Almond Joy, Peace Frog) sings vocal harmonies that both offset and deepen Gill’s voice and delivery. There are playful drums by Mike Ramos (Tony Jay, Sad Eyed Beatniks) and coolly elaborate guitar lines from Stanley Martinez (Famous Mammals, Violent Change, Non Plus Temps). Gill’s songs strike this balance too: almost nonchalant reporting tied up in unexpected knots. A ride in an elevator connects up with questions about peace and/or the nature of things; the title track wonders about associative thinking and associative feeling; The Bell is an account of one of those times when everything makes sense but you can’t explain it; and there’s the scene of a party viewed with admiration for how friends can love each other. As Gill herself says: "People have told me that they can’t quite identify my influences. Me neither. The foundational layers of music of the past and my past have been metabolized like breakfast and turned into more me, sorry to say. But I experience the music of people I’m connected with and it impacts me in the moment. There’s the music I’m around – April Magazine, Sad Eyed Beatniks, Violent Change, Katsy Pline, collaborating with Mike on Flowertown – that I can feel a direct line from. Then there’s music that is being made far away but feels close, like Lewsberg, specifically, for this EP. " CINDY – UK Tour Dates: Oct 31st WOE is 6 @ Walthamstow Trades Hall, London w/ Cuneiform Tabs & Bobby Would. Nov 1st Coventry, UK Just Dropped In Records, 2 Halifax, UK The Grayston Unity, 4 York, UK The Fulford Arms, 5 Gateshead, UK The Central Bar, 6 Glasgow, UK The Glad Café, 7 Manchester, UK Rat & Pigeon, 8 Cambridge, UK NCI Centre.

The second studio album from The Groundhogs, now slimmed to the classic three piece line up of Tony TS McPhee on guitar, Pete Cruikshank on bass and Ken Pestelnik on drums. The beginning of their domination as the hardest working band on the circuit, a testament to their creativity as they re-tooled the blues into a neo-psyche groove. Breaking from their traditional influences, the first stepping stone for the power trio who would blossom with ‘Thank Christ For the Bomb’, ‘Split’ and ‘Who Will Save The World?’. Inspired by a Yardbirds’ freak out, hearing authentic Indian drumming and the magic that existed between this legendary trio, ‘Blues Obituary’ is a juggernaut of riffs. According to Tony in Zig Zag’s John Tobler’s sleeve notes to the 1987 re-issue of ‘Blues Obituary’ it was the BBC’s John Peel producer John Walters that forced the band’s hand. “He decided he hated the blues,” McPhee told Tobler, “We figured it was time to get away from it.” “A deep excursion into musical depths further down than Canned Heat ever dared go.” The re-issue also includes a mono-friendly single cut of ‘BDD’ plus its original B-side ‘Gasoline’, an aching solo Tony TS McPhee track

Bones Shake are a scuzzy, fuzz enthused garage rock trio formed in Manchester in 2011. They play everything to the extreme; violent bottle-neck blues riffs, drums kicked, pounded and exploited and squeals of reverb drenched vocals which when combined, will help save your soul. With a relentless energy, they’ve never taken their foot off the gas. In July 2022 they released Bleed to critical acclaim, itself the follow up to 2019’s debut LP Sermons. Purge sees the trilogy complete. Through tirelessly playing across the UK and Europe, their cult following makes them one of the best not so kept secrets in the underground scene. Wherever they go they fill out venues and have now played the infamous Raut Oak festival twice. With a string of previous releases under their belt, they have gone from strength to strength and attracted attention worldwide. Imagine a desert dive bar, the only bar in a hundred miles, the soundtrack as the shots fly is Purge. Talking about the LP, Bones say that “we needed to purge ourselves of these songs so we stuck two fingers up, lodged them at the back of the larynx and spewed out a new album.” Opener ‘Banshee’ wastes no time in providing that proverbial kick to the face these guys are infamous for. With a gnarly vocal and guitar interplay you’re hooked from the first note; the intensity rises with every rotation and if this one doesn’t leave you breathless you are not listening loud enough. ‘One Kiss’ is a filthy little blues number that taunts and teases, while ‘Pretty Little Things’ takes you on a journey through their sound bringing out all the bumps and grinds you could possibly muster. ‘The Creeper’ is a bit different to their usual, adding a sense of intrigue and unease that draws you in deep. Lead single ‘Let Go’ is an adrenaline fuelled expedition through all the best parts of their sound, with a few surprises thrown in for good measure. ‘Passive Intervention’ changes track a little, keeping you aurally attentive while title track ‘Purge’ is the experience that can’t be surmised, get the volume up high and release. With its rolling, thunder-esq. drums, closer ‘Stench’ rounds things off in the best way; leaving you wanting more. Purge is without doubt their strongest and most visceral release to date, dare you miss out on this experience

‘What makes Sex Swing so powerful is that they transcend the limitations of rock music. Their sound is so full of possibilities, violence, sexuality, sacrifice, even religion. If there was a future to look forward to for heavy guitar music, this is it’ The Quietus The locals call it Sop Ruak – eighty thousand square miles of mountains and mystery and unholy medicine. “It really is an endless seam of activity,” Sex Swing frontman Dan Chandler explains of Golden Triangle – both the title of their new album and the region between Myanmar, Thailand and Laos that inspired it. To know this contradictory corner of the world is to understand fully why the cult-beloved noise-rock artisans turned to it when writing their hotly-anticipated third full-length. The real-life Golden Triangle is a groundswell of both natural wonder and drug production, and who combines beauty and narcotic brutality better than Sex Swing? For a decade now, this
collective of revered UK underground musicians, comprising members of Earth, Mugstar, The Keep and Jaaw, have been pulling audiences into drug- like slipstreams with their alchemy of pummelling rhythms, towering guitars, and unrelenting saxophone through which glimmers of light occasionally pierce through. No wonder their Golden Triangle is an album telling distortion-shrouded tales from one of the most storied, enigmatic places on the planet, with enough invention within to fill eighty thousand miles and more.
Where does this violent, hypnotic aural travelogue take you within the Sop Ruak? The seven tracks that make up The Golden Triangle see the band – completed by bassist Jason Stoll, drummer Stuart Bell, guitarist Jodie Cox, synthesist/guitarist Oli Knowles and saxophonist Colin Webster – adventure first to ‘The Confluence of the Ruak and Mekong Rivers,’ full of shimmering orchestration and feather-light ambience. Then come stops in ‘Myawaddy’, named after a small town embroiled in bloodshed on the border of Myanmar
and Thailand, and ‘Boten, Route 13’ – sparked by stories of a seemingly endless stretch of road from Laos into China. Before long, listeners are plunged into ‘Hpakant’, one of the album’s most invigorating and singular moments, lyrically inspired by a jade mine in Myanmar, where the spoils of forced labour are exchanged for prostitution and methanphetamine. The result is a mesmerising slow-burn of sax, snaking rhythms and sinister spoken word courtesy of the Scottish-born Bruce McClure, who “took the theme and turned it into a sci-fi story of exploitation and vice,” explains the frontman. It’s a track that, like the rest of Golden Triangle, underlines the evolution Sex Swing have undertaken since forming in 2014. From the raw and primitive sounds of the self-titled debut full-length, followed up by the coruscatingType II in 2020. Sex Swing’s third effort retains those early primitive elements and adds layers of structure and complexity. Golden Triangle initial formation was that of programmed beats and bedroom recordings shared electronically in the height of the pandemic. Those ideas were then completed during intensive writing sessions at a secluded farm in Oxfordshire.
Album credits consist of recording by Stanley Gravett at Holy Mountain Studios in Hackney, mixing by Wayne Adams at Bear Bites Horse, mastering from James Plotkin, and the continued aesthetic collaboration with artist Alex Bunn. Golden Triangle bristles with a rawness familiar to fans of the British sonic punishers, but adds new elements indicative of a group never resting on their laurels or sitting in one place. Why would they, after all? There’s an entire world of mountains and mystery and unholy medicine out there to be explored. The Golden Triangle, it seems, is just the beginning.

‘What makes Sex Swing so powerful is that they transcend the limitations of rock music. Their sound is so full of possibilities, violence, sexuality, sacrifice, even religion. If there was a future to look forward to for heavy guitar music, this is it’ The Quietus The locals call it Sop Ruak – eighty thousand square miles of mountains and mystery and unholy medicine. “It really is an endless seam of activity,” Sex Swing frontman Dan Chandler explains of Golden Triangle – both the title of their new album and the region between Myanmar, Thailand and Laos that inspired it. To know this contradictory corner of the world is to understand fully why the cult-beloved noise-rock artisans turned to it when writing their hotly-anticipated third full-length. The real-life Golden Triangle is a groundswell of both natural wonder and drug production, and who combines beauty and narcotic brutality better than Sex Swing? For a decade now, this
collective of revered UK underground musicians, comprising members of Earth, Mugstar, The Keep and Jaaw, have been pulling audiences into drug- like slipstreams with their alchemy of pummelling rhythms, towering guitars, and unrelenting saxophone through which glimmers of light occasionally pierce through. No wonder their Golden Triangle is an album telling distortion-shrouded tales from one of the most storied, enigmatic places on the planet, with enough invention within to fill eighty thousand miles and more.
Where does this violent, hypnotic aural travelogue take you within the Sop Ruak? The seven tracks that make up The Golden Triangle see the band – completed by bassist Jason Stoll, drummer Stuart Bell, guitarist Jodie Cox, synthesist/guitarist Oli Knowles and saxophonist Colin Webster – adventure first to ‘The Confluence of the Ruak and Mekong Rivers,’ full of shimmering orchestration and feather-light ambience. Then come stops in ‘Myawaddy’, named after a small town embroiled in bloodshed on the border of Myanmar
and Thailand, and ‘Boten, Route 13’ – sparked by stories of a seemingly endless stretch of road from Laos into China. Before long, listeners are plunged into ‘Hpakant’, one of the album’s most invigorating and singular moments, lyrically inspired by a jade mine in Myanmar, where the spoils of forced labour are exchanged for prostitution and methanphetamine. The result is a mesmerising slow-burn of sax, snaking rhythms and sinister spoken word courtesy of the Scottish-born Bruce McClure, who “took the theme and turned it into a sci-fi story of exploitation and vice,” explains the frontman. It’s a track that, like the rest of Golden Triangle, underlines the evolution Sex Swing have undertaken since forming in 2014. From the raw and primitive sounds of the self-titled debut full-length, followed up by the coruscatingType II in 2020. Sex Swing’s third effort retains those early primitive elements and adds layers of structure and complexity. Golden Triangle initial formation was that of programmed beats and bedroom recordings shared electronically in the height of the pandemic. Those ideas were then completed during intensive writing sessions at a secluded farm in Oxfordshire.
Album credits consist of recording by Stanley Gravett at Holy Mountain Studios in Hackney, mixing by Wayne Adams at Bear Bites Horse, mastering from James Plotkin, and the continued aesthetic collaboration with artist Alex Bunn. Golden Triangle bristles with a rawness familiar to fans of the British sonic punishers, but adds new elements indicative of a group never resting on their laurels or sitting in one place. Why would they, after all? There’s an entire world of mountains and mystery and unholy medicine out there to be explored. The Golden Triangle, it seems, is just the beginning.