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Das dänische Hardrock-Quartett BLACK OAK COUNTY veröffentlicht sein drittes Album, das sie zu neuen musikalischen Horizonten führt, mit einer
breiten Mischung aus donnernden Breakdowns, eingängigeren Refrains als je zuvor, einer massiven Wand aus stampfenden Gitarrenriffs und einer
gefühlvollen Klavierballade. „III“ wurde gemeinsam mit dem dänischen Metal-Schwergewicht Nicklas Sonne (Defecto, Aries Descendant, dänische
Eurovisions-Vorentscheidungen) geschrieben und produziert, was sich als fruchtbare kreative Beziehung zwischen den beiden Parteien erwies. Das
Album markiert eine Rückkehr zur alten Form für die Band, die auf den Singles „Back For Blood“ und „It's On You“ von 2022 wieder mit
Gitarrist/Sänger Niels Beier zusammenkommt, der von dem ehemaligen Grammy-Nominierten Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Asinhell) produziert und
zusammen mit Soren Andersen (Glenn Hughes, Mike Tramp) geschrieben wurde. Jetzt, wo sowohl Beier als auch Sänger/Bassist René Kristensen in
der Band singen, haben sich für die Rocker aus Esbjerg neue musikalische Türen geöffnet. Black Oak County haben tief in ihrem musikalischen
Ideenfundus gegraben, um eine breitere Palette von Songs als je zuvor zu entwickeln und dabei brandneue Ideen mit älterem Material aus den
Anfangstagen ihrer Karriere zu verbinden. „III“ ist ein energiegeladenes Album mit der bekannten Mischung aus hochintensiven, tief gestimmten
Riffs, die eine Hommage an ihre Metal- und Hardrock-Helden darstellen, gemischt mit modernen Mixing-Techniken, Synthesizern und einer frischen
Interpretation des vertrauten Sounds der Band

Das vierte Soloalbum von Lost Dog Street Band-Frontmann Benjamin Tod, Shooting Star, ist eine Hommage an mehrere Jahrzehnte Country-Musik
durch Tods hochgeschätztes und ehrliches Songwriting.

Das vierte Soloalbum von Lost Dog Street Band-Frontmann Benjamin Tod, Shooting Star, ist eine Hommage an mehrere Jahrzehnte Country-Musik
durch Tods hochgeschätztes und ehrliches Songwriting.

15 years onwards from the original release in October 2009, "This Is …" by Gizelle Smith & The Mighty Mocambos remains a classic in its genre. Upfront, raw and melodic, this super sister funk album has not aged at all. Now, in 2024, it is time for a proper re-release with unreleased bonus tracks, rare remixes and a limited edition double vinyl album. Welcome to the deluxe version of "This Is …" by Gizelle Smith & The Mighty Mocambos.

Read here what the original release sheet said about the album:

"Strong album – packs a serious punch" Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show, BBC 6 Music

"A breath of fresh air" Keb Darge

"Really amazing stuff, full of killers" Nick / Record Kicks

"Definitely recommended" Peter Wermelinger, Funky & Groovy Music Records Lexicon

"What a fantastic album – this is proper funk" Tobias Kirmayer, Tramp Records

Ever since their first collaboration on the "Mocambo Funk Forty Fives" compilation, things have gained momentum for Gizelle Smith, the "Golden Girl of Funk", and the much respected Hamburg-based label and live band The Mighty Mocambos. Their first single "Working Woman" became an overnight smash and a prime-time club favourite of funk & soul DJs from all over the world. Initially released on the Finnish private press label Old Capital, producer legend and Grammy nominee Kenny Dope (Masters at Work, Bucketheads) picked up and remixed the song for his own label Kay Dee Records. Gizelle Smith & Mocambo now step up with a full-length album of bonafide sister funk. In the days of digital recording and Pro Tools editing, they show true exception to modern techniques and create their highly regarded, unique and raw soul sound, by making use of simple dynamic microphones and reel-to-reel tape machines. In a genre which is often littered with overused clichés of the past, the charismatic Gizelle Smith adds a lot of her own flavour rather than slavishly copying icons of bygone decades. The result is a refreshing alternative to post-millenium plastic pop without being a mere retro rip-off. From the heavy and determined "Gonna Get You" to vulnerable, gospel-tinged laments such as "Coffee High", "This Is Gizelle Smith & The Mighty Mocambos" is just as deeply rooted in the music from the golden era of soul as it is a modern masterpiece in its own right. Blazing horns, soulful guitars, driving drums and basslines combined with Gizelle's gripping and powerful voice all weave together to create a long player that is varied and coherent at the same time.

Top-Livealbum des ehemaligen The Stranglers-Frontmanns Hugh Cornwell, das auf den UK-Touren nach seinem 10. Soloalbum "Moments Of Madness" (2022) aufgenommen wurde. Als Hofdichter der Punk-Ära zeichnete er für die denkwürdigsten Songs der Stranglers verantwortlich, samt des Überhits "Golden Brown", dessen vielfältige Textdeutungen eine Meisterklasse des Songwritings sind. Das Doppelalbum enthält Livesongs aus allen Epochen, darunter Stranglers-Klassiker wie "Skin Deep", "Always The Sun" & "Strange Little Girl", die 2CD kommt mit 4 weiteren Bonustracks, darunter "Nice'n'Sleazy" & "(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)".

Top-Livealbum des ehemaligen The Stranglers-Frontmanns Hugh Cornwell, das auf den UK-Touren nach seinem 10. Soloalbum "Moments Of Madness" (2022) aufgenommen wurde. Als Hofdichter der Punk-Ära zeichnete er für die denkwürdigsten Songs der Stranglers verantwortlich, samt des Überhits "Golden Brown", dessen vielfältige Textdeutungen eine Meisterklasse des Songwritings sind. Das Doppelalbum enthält Livesongs aus allen Epochen, darunter Stranglers-Klassiker wie "Skin Deep", "Always The Sun" & "Strange Little Girl", die 2CD kommt mit 4 weiteren Bonustracks, darunter "Nice'n'Sleazy" & "(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)".

Memorial Waterslides" ist das Debütalbum von MEMORIALS, dem Duo bestehend aus Verity Susman und Matthew Simms (zuvor bei Electrelane und Wire). Es handelt sich um ein surrealistisches Pop-Album, das sowohl zeitlos als auch zeitgemäß ist und eine seltene Mischung aus klassischem Songwriting und Avantgarde-Attitüde aufweist. MEMORIALS kreieren einen Panorama-Pop, der auf Vertrautes und Fremdes zurückgreift, aber bekannte Pfade aber auch neue Wege beschreitet. Mit ihrem verspielten und experimentellen Stil, kombiniert mit einer Liebe zu Melodien, stehen sie in einer Reihe mit Broadcast, Portishead, Arthur Russell, The Velvet Underground, Yo La Tengo und Tortoise. Das Album ist voll von Bildern, die eine verlorene Zukunft, eine verschleierte Gegenwart und eine tagträumerische Vergangenheit heraufbeschwören, wobei jeder Song eine Rolle bei der Schaffung einer wirbelnden Breitwandatmosphäre spielt und den Hörer mit auf die Reise nimmt. Der Sound des Albums, das die beiden komplett selbst produziert haben, wurde von den Experimenten mit Tonbändern inspiriert, mit denen sie zunächst auf der Bühne herumspielten, als sie begannen, ihre vielschichtigen Aufnahmen für Live-Auftritte als Duo zu entwickeln. Nach ihren gefeierten 2023-Soundtracks "Women Against The Bomb" und "Tramps!", einer Europatournee mit Stereolab (sie wurden als "Stereolabs böser Zwilling" bezeichnet) und einem neuen Musikauftrag des Centre Pompidou in Paris kamen Verity und Matthew auf MEMORIALS in umgekehrter Richtung an, indem sie ihren Soundtrack-Alltagsjobs entflohen, um kosmische Reisen durch den Gartenschuppen in psychedelischen Rock, abgefahrenen Folk und wilde analoge Elektronik zu unternehmen. "Exciting and unpredictable" The Guardian. "Everything you'd expect from a duo adept in the strange and esoteric, while also in thrall to pop music's melodic bent." The Quietus. (Limitiertes) Pink farbenes Vinyl mit DLC sowie Digisleeve-CD!

Having been recently credited for being the Hailey's Comet of the edits world, The Hole In The Wall Gang return after many calls over nearly two decades to bring you two outstanding dancefloor heaters on this limited 7 " release.

In April 2023, there was released the first part of the Fluxus edition called Stolen Symphony. The year has come and gone and there is the second part of the Fluxus edition called Keep Together. At the centre of both parts of this edition was a broken piano, acquired by the Opening Performance Orchestra for the purpose of making live and studio recordings. During this time other new works for this broken piano were written by diverse Fluxus and non-Fluxus composers. In the spring of 2022, the Opening Performance Orchestra and broken piano participated in an event hosted by Mieko Shiomi. This was a new version of her early work Spatial Poem, documentation of which was presented at the 2022 Aichi Triennale in Tokyo. At present, broken piano lies in the open air in Prague and is subject to gradual decay.

These both parts of this edition contain 73 new and old pieces, live and studio recordings, finished pieces and scores to be performed, solos and pieces for ensemble, using classical and special instruments from 33 Fluxus artists, which have been played by 10 soloists and 4 ensembles. There are new essays and articles from 15 writers on the theme Fluxus, original photos and other documentation in the booklets.

Having established himself as a guitar slinging matinee idol fronting Welsh riot starters Trampolene and riding shotgun in Peter Doherty’s band the Puta Madres, Jack Jones releases his debut solo album ‘Jack Jones’. For this album Jack Jones has put away his guitar and embraced a fresh and highly contemporary sound in which to couch his hard-hitting state of the nation poems of existential fear and loathing. His lyrics tackle many of today’s burning issues: mental health, drug addiction, mortality, and the tortuous demands of technology. There’s also joy and hope in there. With some of his catchiest tunes so far, it’s a record that’ll both open up this natural-born star to untapped audiences, and reveal hidden depths to those already ‘on the team’. Much like the first Specials album at the turn of the 1980s, you can imagine ‘Jack Jones’ being useful to youngsters in 2024 trying to navigate the problems of today – swap birth control and street violence for mindless hedonism and mental-health struggles, and you have an equally bold and connective roadmap to the pitfalls of contemporary young-adult living. Jack Jones has enjoyed Top 10 success with TRAMPOLENE on the Independent Album Charts with three Top 10 Albums, hit the road as special guest to Liam Gallagher at the personal request of the iconic frontman, supported The Libertines on an Arena Tour as ‘Tour Poet’ and had the honour of being the first act to headline Swansea Arena. Headline tour dates are: November 2nd Glasgow The Poetry Club SWG3, 3rd Liverpool Jacaranda, 6th North Shields Three Tanners Bank, 7th Manchester YES Basement, 8th Cambridge The Six Six Bar, 9th Shrewsbury Albert & Co Frankville, 13th Bristol The Exchange, 14th London Old Blue Last, 15th Swansea Bunkhouse, 16th Cardiff The Moon

Signed to Island Records, his Iggy Pop/Jim Morrison side was cultivated, the weirdness dialled down, leathers were worn and a rock'n'roll microphone stand was utilised. The lead track "World Shut Your Mouth" gave Cope his first solo UK Top 20 hit, a big, brash slice of garage rock, it was a post-punk equivalent to David Bowie returning with Let's Dance; simple, straightforward. Backed by what Cope called his 'two-car garage band', the album reached No 11 in the UK chart, his highest placing to date whether solo or in The Teardrop Explodes, it also entered the US Billboard Hot 200. It's not all straight-ahead stomp, the eight minute closer "A Crack In The Clouds" harks back to the Teardrop Explodes' Wilder, and Kate St. John's oboe on the title track evokes his Mercury albums. Released in March 1987, Saint Julian was seen as a storming return to form for Julian Cope - This re-issue faithfully replicates the original 1987 Mercury Records UK release and is pressed onto high quality 180g vinyl.

Cher's FOREVER mit 21 neu gemasterten Songs ihrer großen Hits wie „Believe“, „If I Could Turn Back Time“, „The Shoop Shoop Song“, „Strong Enough“ die von Cher persönlich kuratiert wurden.

Florian Sievers tut es erneut. Und zwar: Nicht das was wir erwarten. Nach dem zweiten Paradies-Album "Transit" vor zwei Jahren - viel rastloser und glitschiger als der Zenpop des Debüts "Goldene Zukunft" - wäre es jetzt zum Beispiel... das dritte Album. Doch während das im Labor weiter köchelt (Release 2025 Fragezeichen), führt Das Paradies mit "sammlung 2 | soft floor" seine nonchalante EP-Reihe zwischen seinen Alben fort. Dies wird die erste Veröffentlichung von Das Paradies auf dem von Florian Sievers mitgegründeten Label Krokant. Dort erscheint "sammlung 2 | soft floor" zusammen mit der "sammlung 1 | pause an der kurve in vektoria" frisch gepresst auf einer 12" Vinyl.

Fresh underground talent straight out of Liverpool from certified herbalist Sticky Dub. The MC/Producer cooks up his own special blend of Broken Beat, UKG, Dub and Hip Hop, as styles collide to unique effect. His Northern roots man, rudebwoy energy is processed through an electronic, inner city engine, resulting in some of the most exciting club ready cuts we've heard this side of the Mersey. Melodic dub baselines rub with skipping dancefloor beats, all laced with Sticky's bouncing Scouse drawl, and lyrical insight, on his quest to understand nature and rhythm. And like Sticky says, if you want to keep the spiritual equilibrium of the world in check, then 'never give weapons to a man who can't dance"....

Schwarz, Grau und Silber dreigeteiltes Farb-Vinyl. Trotz der großen Aufmerksamkeit, die ihrem Durchbruchsalbum "Tramp" zuteil wurde, kehrte Sharon Van Etten ins Studio zurück, bereit und gewillt, eine neue Richtung einzuschlagen, tiefer zu gehen und ehrlicher und vulgärer denn je zu schreiben. Das Ergebnis dieser Bemühungen war "Are We There", ein selbstproduziertes Album von außergewöhnlicher Intimität, erhabener Genialität und immenser Kraft. "Are We There" wird dieses Jahr zehn Jahre alt und erweist sich erneut als eine ihrer kraftvollsten und zeitlosesten Sammlungen. Von den ersten Akkorden des ersten Songs "Afraid of Nothing' an ist klar, dass wir Zeugen eines neuen Bewusstseins sind. Van Etten in voller Fahrt schreibt, produziert und performt von einem Ort, der fast mythisch erscheint, wäre er nicht so greifbar und real. Stets direkt und selbst vor den persönlich schmerzhaftesten Erzählungen nicht zurückschreckend, handeln viele der Songs von scheinbar unmöglichen Entscheidungen, Vorfreude und dann Auflösung. Sie singt von der Natur des Begehrens, der Erinnerung, des Verlorenseins, der Leere, von Versprechen und Loyalität, von Angst und Veränderung, von Heilung und dem wahren Selbst, von Gewalt und Zuflucht, vom Warten, von Stille. Die Künstlerin, die mit einer solchen Stimme spricht, fordert uns auf zuzugreifen und tiefer zu gehen. Auf diese Weise bleiben die Fragen des Lebens lebendig, so nah und beständig wie der Atem. Inmitten all dieser wahrhaft brutalen Ehrlichkeit findet Van Etten Momente der Leichtigkeit. "Every Time the Sun Comes Up" hebt das Album am Ende an, vervollständigt die Welt, in die sie uns einlässt, und stellt uns sanft auf das ein, was folgen mag. Seitdem ist es zu einem unauslöschlichen Bestandteil von Van Ettens Live-Shows geworden. Es ist schon genug, seine Musik zu leben, ohne auch noch die Rolle des Produzenten zu übernehmen, aber Van Etten wusste, dass es an der Zeit war, ein Album zu machen, das ganz nach ihren eigenen Bedingungen entstand. Gleichzeitig erkannte Van Etten, dass dies nicht bedeutete, dass sie es alleine machen musste, und sie stellte eine geliebte, jetzt gefeierte Gemeinschaft zusammen, um ihre Vision zum Leben zu erwecken. Für die Aufnahmen fand Van Etten in dem erfahrenen Musikproduzenten Stewart Lerman einen verwandten Geist. Lermans Studioexpertise gab Van Etten die Freiheit, "Are We There" so zu machen, wie sie es sich vorstellte. Van Etten nutzte auch die individuellen Talente ihrer Band, bestehend aus Heather Woods Broderick, Doug Keith und Zeke Hutchins, und holte ihre Freunde Dave Hartley und Adam Granduciel von The War on Drugs, Jonathan Meiberg (Shearwater), Jana Hunter (Lower Dens), Peter Broderick, Mackenzie Scott (Torres), Stuart Bogie, Jacob C. Morris und Mickey Freeze hinzu. Der unvergleichliche Richard Swift arbeitete mit Van Etten am Endmix. Man könnte den Strom abschalten, alle Instrumente entfernen, und Sharons Stimme und Worte würden bleiben. Sie sind heute noch so kraftvoll wie vor zehn Jahren und sie werden sicher noch viele Jahre überdauern.

"2024 marks the 40th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen's 'Born In The U.S.A.' Although it would become his biggest selling album with seven top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars says ""any of those songs could be played with acoustic guitar alone and still be great."" Taking this idea as its premise, 'Dead Man's Town: A Tribute to Born in the U.S.A' strips the album's twelve indelible originals to the core, with contributions from Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires, Low, Nicole Atkins, Justin Townes Earle, Blitzen Trapper, Joe Pug, Trampled by Turtles, and more. Rolling Stone premiered Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires' Dave Cobb-produced cover of ""Born I n The U.S.A,"" saying these artists are ""reimagining 'Born in the U.S.A. with a reduced approach more influenced by that of the acoustic, ""Nebraska.""

Isbell says of his cover, """"Born In The U.S.A."" is one of my favorites because so many people have seemingly misunderstood the lyrical content and the song's overall tone. When you listen to the demo, the dark, minor key arrangement makes it clear that this is not strictly a song of celebration. We wanted to stay true to that version."" Amanda Shires adds, ""I love that the song paints a picture of struggle in the face of the American dream, and the irony in the chorus is delivered with such force that it nearly transcends irony altogether."""

One can hardly imagine the genre-busting, culture-crossing musical magic of Outkast, Prince, Erykah Badu, Rick James, The Roots, or even the early Red Hot Chili Peppers without the influence of R&B pioneer Betty Davis. Her style of raw and revelatory punk-funk defies any notions that women can’t be visionaries in the worlds of rock and pop. In recent years, rappers from Ice Cube to Talib Kweli to Ludacris have rhymed over her intensely strong but sensual music.



There is one testimonial about Betty Davis that is universal: she was a woman ahead of her time. In our contemporary moment, this may not be as self-evident as it was thirty years ago – we live in an age that’s been profoundly changed by flamboyant flaunting of female sexuality: from Parlet to Madonna, Lil Kim to Kelis. Yet, back in 1973 when Betty Davis first showed up in her silver go-go boots, dazzling smile and towering Afro, who could you possibly have compared her to? Marva Whitney had the voice but not the independence. Labelle wouldn’t get sexy with their “Lady Marmalade” for another year while Millie Jackson wasn’t Feelin’ Bitchy until 1977. Even Tina Turner, the most obvious predecessor to Betty’s fierce style wasn’t completely out of Ike’s shadow until later in the decade.



Ms. Davis’s unique story, still sadly mostly unknown, is unlike any other in popular music. Betty wrote the song “Uptown” for the Chambers Brothers before marrying Miles Davis in the late ’60s, influencing him with psychedelic rock, and introducing him to Jimi Hendrix — personally inspiring the classic album Bitches Brew.



But her songwriting ability was way ahead of its time as well. Betty not only wrote every song she ever recorded and produced every album after her first, but the young woman penned the tunes that got The Commodores signed to Motown. The Detroit label soon came calling, pitching a Motown songwriting deal, which Betty turned down. Motown wanted to own everything. Heading to the UK, Marc Bolan of T. Rex urged the creative dynamo to start writing for herself. A common thread throughout Betty’s career would be her unbending Do-It-Yourself ethic, which made her quickly turn down anyone who didn’t fit with the vision. She would eventually say no to Eric Clapton as her album producer, seeing him as too banal.



Her 1974 sophomore album They Say I’m Different features a worthy-of-framing futuristic cover challenging David Bowie’s science fiction funk with real rocking soul-fire, kicked off with the savagely sexual “Shoo-B-Doop and Cop Him” (later sampled by Ice Cube). Her follow up is full of classic cuts like “Don’t Call Her No Tramp” and the hilarious, hard, deep funk of “He Was A Big Freak.”

Following their four-song demo from 2022, FUERA DE SEKTOR are back with their debut LP. Sharing members with BARRERA and ALGARA, the Barcelona-based band have carved their own sound, mixing the amphetamine edge of 80’s punk with the angular post punk sensibility. The extremely isolated guitar work takes centre stage, navigating a sea of mid-tempo riffs, and backed by an extremely solid rhythm section to perfectly seal the recording. Think the pop side of LOS ILEGALES or LOS TRAIDORES, the sexuality of DESECHABLES, and the uniqueness of LA’s X. FUERA DE SEKTOR lyrics look at the world from an existentialist angle with a dark and poetic approach to complement their music perfectly. Full of desire, lust, loss and confusion, each song unravels as a very modern anxious tale. It's an album that stands on its own in the current DIY landscape

YOUTH return with the debut album from Hazina Francia aka Tadleeh, chaining reticulated, sidewinding rhythms under gloaming scapes and pealing solo guitar licks.

Last spotted marshalling a mix for the now-defunct FACT series, Tadleeh’s previous productions landed on Haunter and more recently Nkisi’s label, Initiation, spanning reverberant downbeats and possessed cloud rap, a sound she further develops on this impressive full length debut. The 10 parts of ‘Lone’ sketch out a brooding worldview that takes the album format as an ideal canvas to fully portray her style of urbane ennui and gloom, bittersweet and depressive, but with a levity afforded by spatialised architecture.

With a clear sense of sorrow and a pull toward electronic music’s no-person’s-lands, she adapts animist techniques to tell a story “about loneliness and hidden places” in an attempt to work thru existential questions; “Am I still who I was before? Do I have the same energy and ambitions? Is this all still really me?” The results resonate with the sort of imaginative nostalgia navigated by fellow South European artists such as Christos Chondropoulos and Heith, and share a hauntological quality with Flora Yin-Wong’s works as much as Aïsha Devi’s summoning of ancient energies.

The wraithlike tumult of her intro gives way to reverberant dark ambient on ‘Blue (feat CTM)’, and spirit-gnawing, surprised tribalism in ‘Seekers’, whilst she pushes into screwed club murk on ‘Roads’ and the hot coal trampler ‘Barefoot’, before unleashing her darkest energies in the bombast of ‘Equality’, and channelling Loren Connors’ electric guitar nocturnes in ‘Homesick’, staking out grumbling downbeats shades away from Heith & Kareem Lotfy’s Ghost Lemurs in ‘Victim, perpetrator.’

If the Chateau Marmont could sing. This would be it. Loren Kramar's voice vibrates with the shameless hum of a room after a celebrity exits Ecstatic aspiration. Doubt. Proximity. Desire. The album "Glovemaker" is about the skins we craft to be seen by the world, and Loren reminds us that we are all in drag. All exposed. No matter what gloves we slip on. "I'm a slut for all my dreams", Loren Kramar sings with Patti Smith brashness, "I'm a whore for them, I've got more of them". Loren's lyrics move like tinsel, shimmering bravely, then just as quickly, curling, fragile under the spotlight. Loren has always been obsessed with fame. Not with famous people, but with the electricity that perverts attention - the crushing desire to be truly seen. And all of Loren, and this obsession, is in this album. He grew up in the Valley, forced to hide his Barbies from his father, so the closet was a gorgeous Spanish ranch house on a gilded cul-de-sac crawling with celebrities. Naturally this gay boy wanted to be a child star so his mother secretly shuttled him to tap and jazz and figure skating lessons. "I've got hands and feet to put in the concrete", Loren croons, in "Hollywood Blvd", a song which clangs with brawny bravado. But "Gay Angels" reminds us that Loren's infatuation with stardom is inextricably linked with his queerness and his own desire to live outside of fear. To be famous is to be out. To be known. To be himself. "Glovemaker has become a kind of code for art making itself. A glove as a covering or mask that follows the contours of the life beneath it. As a song and a symbol, this is an album about studying and tracing a life - and then sharing what's there," Loren says. And his desire to share truth feels urgent. To listen to Loren is to understand there is no choice; the songs must tear through the air right now. This very second. "I see myself tearing and splitting and becoming a trampoline", he belts in "No Man," breaking our hearts right alongside his. Part poet, part theatrical diva, Loren loops together the tragedy of breathing on this planet, because like Eartha Kitt or Cat Stevens, Loren is at his core - an incredible story teller. This whole album is a shrine, a mantle atop a blazing fire of life, spread with the memorabilia of Loren; all of the pain and lust dazzling on unabashed view. This is a songwriter's album. Loren's lyrics are all his, and you feel it with every bright, Maraschino-cherry-like word that falls from his lips. "Like a lover, You scream and I shatter, I hit like a hammer" Loren sings. And we get to feel what Loren feels We live in his brain, riding his genre bending emotions, on a wave of modern pop. And the songs lift, they are anthems of belief, "Hollywood Blvd", "I'm a Slut", "Euphemism", "Gay Angels", are all odes to triumphing over the corroding powers of fear and doubt. And on this ride, Loren's voice is the guard rail, ever eager to stretch and transform, belting, talk-singing, multiplying, keeping us safe. "Glovemaker" slaps and soars. The album is an ecstatic overture to love and loneliness, to dreams and promises, to everything Los Angeles dangles. Buckle up. Loren knows how to craft space, how to move us through darkened bars, strobing arenas, beige carpeted bungalows and yellow lit highways. "How do you like LA?" Loren asks. I hope you love it.

Red Vinyl

If the Chateau Marmont could sing. This would be it. Loren Kramar's voice vibrates with the shameless hum of a room after a celebrity exits Ecstatic aspiration. Doubt. Proximity. Desire. The album "Glovemaker" is about the skins we craft to be seen by the world, and Loren reminds us that we are all in drag. All exposed. No matter what gloves we slip on. "I'm a slut for all my dreams", Loren Kramar sings with Patti Smith brashness, "I'm a whore for them, I've got more of them". Loren's lyrics move like tinsel, shimmering bravely, then just as quickly, curling, fragile under the spotlight. Loren has always been obsessed with fame. Not with famous people, but with the electricity that perverts attention - the crushing desire to be truly seen. And all of Loren, and this obsession, is in this album. He grew up in the Valley, forced to hide his Barbies from his father, so the closet was a gorgeous Spanish ranch house on a gilded cul-de-sac crawling with celebrities. Naturally this gay boy wanted to be a child star so his mother secretly shuttled him to tap and jazz and figure skating lessons. "I've got hands and feet to put in the concrete", Loren croons, in "Hollywood Blvd", a song which clangs with brawny bravado. But "Gay Angels" reminds us that Loren's infatuation with stardom is inextricably linked with his queerness and his own desire to live outside of fear. To be famous is to be out. To be known. To be himself. "Glovemaker has become a kind of code for art making itself. A glove as a covering or mask that follows the contours of the life beneath it. As a song and a symbol, this is an album about studying and tracing a life - and then sharing what's there," Loren says. And his desire to share truth feels urgent. To listen to Loren is to understand there is no choice; the songs must tear through the air right now. This very second. "I see myself tearing and splitting and becoming a trampoline", he belts in "No Man," breaking our hearts right alongside his. Part poet, part theatrical diva, Loren loops together the tragedy of breathing on this planet, because like Eartha Kitt or Cat Stevens, Loren is at his core - an incredible story teller. This whole album is a shrine, a mantle atop a blazing fire of life, spread with the memorabilia of Loren; all of the pain and lust dazzling on unabashed view. This is a songwriter's album. Loren's lyrics are all his, and you feel it with every bright, Maraschino-cherry-like word that falls from his lips. "Like a lover, You scream and I shatter, I hit like a hammer" Loren sings. And we get to feel what Loren feels We live in his brain, riding his genre bending emotions, on a wave of modern pop. And the songs lift, they are anthems of belief, "Hollywood Blvd", "I'm a Slut", "Euphemism", "Gay Angels", are all odes to triumphing over the corroding powers of fear and doubt. And on this ride, Loren's voice is the guard rail, ever eager to stretch and transform, belting, talk-singing, multiplying, keeping us safe. "Glovemaker" slaps and soars. The album is an ecstatic overture to love and loneliness, to dreams and promises, to everything Los Angeles dangles. Buckle up. Loren knows how to craft space, how to move us through darkened bars, strobing arenas, beige carpeted bungalows and yellow lit highways. "How do you like LA?" Loren asks. I hope you love it.

Black Tusk kennen sich schon lange. Gitarrist Andrew Fidler und Schlagzeuger James May sind beide in den Sümpfen von Savannah, Georgia, aufgewachsen, wo sie seit 19 Jahren gemeinsam auf die Pauke hauen.
Obwohl sie oft in einem Atemzug mit Baroness und Kylesa genannt werden, sind Black Tusk ein ganz anderes Kaliber. Diese Sumpfmonster haben sich nie weit von ihren Wurzeln im Metal, Sludge und Punk entfernt, obwohl sie auf ihrem letzten Album nach dem Tod von Bassist Jonathan Athon darum kämpfen mussten, weiter zu bestehen.
The Way Forward ist das Ergebnis des gewonnenen Kampfes. Das Album stürmt mit neuer Besetzung (zu der auch die ehemaligen Mitstreiter Chris "Scary" Adams und Bassist Derek Lynch gehören) direkt nach vorne. Gemeinsam bahnt sich die Band einen Weg in die Zukunft, indem sie sich auf das verlassen, was Black Tusk am besten kann. Die Leadsingle "Brushfire" kommt mit einem fiesen, hässlichen, mit den Füßen stampfenden Riff daher. Der raue und ruppige Gesang lässt die Boxen durch "Dance on Your Grave" trampeln, während "Breath of Life" mit erhobener Faust lostrommelt, als ob ein Gewitter rollt und kracht.

Black Tusk kennen sich schon lange. Gitarrist Andrew Fidler und Schlagzeuger James May sind beide in den Sümpfen von Savannah, Georgia, aufgewachsen, wo sie seit 19 Jahren gemeinsam auf die Pauke hauen.
Obwohl sie oft in einem Atemzug mit Baroness und Kylesa genannt werden, sind Black Tusk ein ganz anderes Kaliber. Diese Sumpfmonster haben sich nie weit von ihren Wurzeln im Metal, Sludge und Punk entfernt, obwohl sie auf ihrem letzten Album nach dem Tod von Bassist Jonathan Athon darum kämpfen mussten, weiter zu bestehen.
The Way Forward ist das Ergebnis des gewonnenen Kampfes. Das Album stürmt mit neuer Besetzung (zu der auch die ehemaligen Mitstreiter Chris "Scary" Adams und Bassist Derek Lynch gehören) direkt nach vorne. Gemeinsam bahnt sich die Band einen Weg in die Zukunft, indem sie sich auf das verlassen, was Black Tusk am besten kann. Die Leadsingle "Brushfire" kommt mit einem fiesen, hässlichen, mit den Füßen stampfenden Riff daher. Der raue und ruppige Gesang lässt die Boxen durch "Dance on Your Grave" trampeln, während "Breath of Life" mit erhobener Faust lostrommelt, als ob ein Gewitter rollt und kracht.

On their eponymous debut, Super American Eagle deliver manna for heavy rock fans craving ergine detours into noise, psych and sludgy dank, herbal grooves. A union delivered via chance, Brent DeBoer of The Dandy Warhols, Dave Mudie from the Courtney Barnett band and Bob Harrow of Immigrant Union, played an impromptu Immigrant Union NYC show as a three-piece. That night the chemistry was undeniable and so Super American Eagle soon took flight. Known for the individual talents they bring to other’s bands, the trio take control of the destination, reveling in the creative liberty that beats at the heart of the project. From a lightening moment of musical connection Super American Eagle have built a thrilling, fuzz-filtered debut of urgent and essential psych and super heavy rock vibes.

Diane Birch emerges as a formidable American singer-songwriter and pianist, boasting a repertoire of critically lauded releases spanning a rich decade-long career. With an eclectic array of musical influences stemming from a globe-trotting childhood - ranging from her humble beginnings as a preacher's daughter in Zimbabwe and South Africa to her transformative years as a gothic teen immersed in the vibrant cultural underbelly of Portland, Oregon. Her discovery while living in London via Myspace led to a record deal in New York, where she then spent the next few years.

Diane's journey is as diverse as her sound. Her profound experiences have culminated in a unique musical blend, characterized by her stint performing soulful covers and original pieces in the swanky lounges of the Beverly Hills elite. Receiving widespread attention with her debut album "Bible Belt" and her follow-up projects "Speak A Little Louder" and "Nous", these works not only cemented her position in the international music scene but also earned her accolades and respect from esteemed peers including Prince, Daryl Hall, Mark Ronson, Dave Stewart, Questlove, Elvis Costello, Bryan Ferry and Stevie Wonder.

Returning with her latest work, "Flying On Abraham", Diane presents a meticulously crafted collection of original compositions. This album is a heartfelt homage to her vast and varied musical roots, weaving together the rich tapestry of 70s AM radio, soul, jazz, classic rock, 80s/90s pop and R&B. Despite the eclectic mix, Diane's sound remains distinctly her own - her voice a blend of raw emotion and refined grace, echoing the legacy of iconic artists like Carole King, Carly Simon and Rickie Lee Jones, yet standing out with an authenticity and individuality that is unmistakably Diane Birch. Produced by renowned English musician Paul Stacey, known for his work with Noel Gallagher and the Black Crowes, "Flying On Abraham" was recorded in the UK, backed by an impressive lineup of musicians. This album is not just a collection of songs but a narrative of her artistic journey, offering a window into the soul of a woman who has traversed continents and musical genres to create something truly extraordinary.

With "Flying On Abraham", Diane Birch reaffirms her status as a musical virtuoso, continuing to enchant audiences worldwide with her evocative lyrics. It represents Diane's enduring vision of "making American music with an English sensibility."

The fresh-faced folk pop band Stornoway seem promising: They play with guileless vigor, have a light-stepping chemistry as a unit, harmonize well. Their lead singer Brian Briggs has a lovely, pure high tenor, the kind of voice that effortlessly conveys simple longing. And yet, on their second album, Tales from Terra Firma, they continue to be almost crushingly dull, making well-appointed and cheerfully empty music that successfully communicates next to nothing.

Their Achilles Heel is a simple and unfortunate one, the same on Tales as it was on 2010's Beachcombers Windowsill. Stornoway are clearly in love with Celtic and British folk, and yet they can't write a memorable melody to save their lives. Try to sing along to the verse melody of "Zorbing", their most well-known tune, and pay attention to what your face muscles are doing; most likely furrowing with the effort of recall. Each of Tales' painstakingly arranged nine songs sinks underneath the weight of this insurmountable problem, which is a shame.

If you're making folk-pop, an inability to write a catchy melody is a difficult deficiency to overcome. Stornoway try valiantly with their complex arrangements, which quickly grow exhausting. “You Take Me as I Am” is cluttered with horn charts and pointlessly banging piano. “(A Belated) Invite to Eternity” builds to a full Explosions in the Sky crescendo, with glimmering tremolo guitar and a “Tonight, Tonight”-style sweeping string section, but having built zero momentum and generated zero heat until that point, their planned fireworks display fizzles.

“Farewell Appalachia” follows the same pattern, with celesta, finger-picked acoustic and electric guitar all tracing an emptily pretty circle with nothing in the center. The melody of "The Great Procrastinator" is almost cleanly written enough to be memorable-- and then the ersatz Dixieland jazz interlude crashes in. Stornoway are deft players, and the transitions are tightly managed, but this is praise on the same order as praising the brushwork in a hotel-room painting.

Briggs’ lyrics are filled with uncomplicated images of the good old British countryside, but his lyrics trample over all these dew-covered fields with wordy, awkward phrasing: "And in the gathering dew, I was lucid as a floodlight,” goes a line from “(A Belated) Invitation to Eternity”. “There's a hunger in the air/ A lemon swollen in the trees" he bleats on “Knock Me on the Head”. On “The Great Procrastinator”, he sings that he is “a scientist with far too many metaphors and far too little data to conclude in time.” They don’t read particularly well, and they don’t sound much more natural when sung.

Tales From Terra Firma is a peculiar record-- carefree music that feels leaden; tuneful-sounding songs that offer no tunes to hold onto. They seem an odd fit for 4AD, a label mostly home to singular voices. They may be a mercenary signing, an attempt to ride the coattails of Mumford and Sons' success. But Mumford and Sons, as head-smack simple and pandering as they are, have a pretty crucial ingredient in their arsenal: they write anthems. In that regard, they have Stornoway pretty thoroughly beat.

Bogota's ATAQUE ZERO return just over two years after their debut with their second 12" EP 'Ciudades'. They are an international band with members from Venezuela, Colombia and France who formed around the Rat Trap scene which gave the world MURO, TRAMPA and ALAMBRADA among others, all of whom share members with ATAQUE ZERO. They've stepped things up on all fronts for Ciudades and bring you five new anthems that have built on all the promises their debut EP made. The songs are passionate, angry and maybe even channelling a bit of STIFF LITTLE FINGERS as well as PELIGRO SOCIAL and LEATHERFACE this time too. Everything here is the right balance of taste and power and we can't wait to see what they come up with next.

Bella Brown & the Jealous Lovers Unveil "Soul Clap" LP: A Fusion of Retro Soul/Funk and Modern Grooves

Los Angeles-based retro soul/funk sensation Bella Brown & the Jealous Lovers are set to ignite the music scene with their highly anticipated LP, "Soul Clap." Born from the creative genius of Grammy Award-winning vocalist/songwriter Carol Hatchett, Bella Brown emerges as a diva with a fiery stage presence, drawing inspiration from the likes of Tina Turner and Sharon Jones, and channeling the empowered female leads of 70s Blaxploitation films. Led by producer/bassist/songwriter Daniel Pearson, The Jealous Lovers assemble an impressive ensemble of A-list musicians, boasting pedigrees that include names like Mick Jagger, Elton John, Whitney Houston, Prince, and Stevie Wonder. This musical collective is on a relentless quest to redefine the boundaries of music, infusing soul and funk with elements of jazz, rock, and Afro-Caribbean influences.

The essence of "Soul Clap" is derived from the cultural phenomena it is named after—a shared and improvised rhythm-making by a collective. The LP, spanning 40 minutes of pure musical bliss, invites the audience to immerse themselves in the groove and discover their individual truths in the music.

The title track, "Soul Clap," and the infectious "Living Proof" serve as funky dance bangers, echoing the spirit of Bohannan and The Tramps. These tracks, punctuated with jazzy improvisations and soulful horn arrangements, are simple yet joyful expressions of shared humanity and self-love.

"Coming For You" is Bella's audacious response to the soul/funk classic Apache, boldly announcing her and The Jealous Lovers' arrival on the modern soul landscape. "I Found You" takes a northern soul love song approach, reminiscent of Gloria Jones with a touch of modern influence, giving it a distinct Amy Winehouse feel.

Bella Brown seamlessly weaves social commentary into her art. "Bang Bang Bang," an uptempo, funky Motown groove, cleverly uses Curtis Mayfield's sense of sarcasm to reflect on American gun culture. "Lady Time" takes a driving afrobeat groove, employing brassy horns and reggae-like echoes to address the issue of homelessness.

However, the album is not without its lighthearted moments. "Fast As Lightning" celebrates a cleaner future by imagining Jimi Hendrix joining Ike and Tina Turner's band to create a classic Chuck Berry car song. "There Is Love" blends horns, strings, and vocals reminiscent of The Stylistics over a Chi-Lites style rhythm section, to create a lush message of support to those among us that may find the world a bit overwhelming at moments. Finally, "What Will You Leave Behind," is a revamped version of the group's sold-out vinyl 45 release. This track serves as a powerful call to action for a better future, delivered over a straight-up Motown groove with a funky Sly Stone finish.

Bella Brown & the Jealous Lovers have crafted an album that transcends genres, embracing the roots of soul and funk while pushing musical boundaries.

"Soul Clap" is a celebration of individual truths, shared experiences, and the timeless power of music.

Rated 5/5 in UK Music Republic Magazine

Desmond Dekker recorded some of his best known songs together with his backing group the Aces. Their single “007 (Shanty Town)” made him Jamaican music’s first outernational superstar, reaching the 14th place in the UK charts. The Leslie Kong produced Double Dekker was first issued in 1973 and consists of the best material Desmond recorded during his early years. In 1969 he scored a number one hit with the legendary song “Israelites”. You’ll hear how the Ska music from the mid-60s developed to the Rocksteady sound. This was “Ska” or “Blue Beat”—(or its new name for the slower tempo “Rock Steady”), and the lyrics come from the Calypso-Mento method of telling about current events in music. He was really at his prime from 1969 to 1971, and recorded classics such as “It Mek” (1969) and “You Can Get It If You Really Want” (1970), which you’ll both find on this record. Even before Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff Jamaica already had their own international superstar, Desmond Dekker was his name.

Double Dekker is available as a limited edition of 750 individually numbered copies on orange coloured vinyl.

Analogue Productions (Atlantic 75 Series) Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Atlantic Records! 180-gram 45 RPM double LP Mastered by Bernie Grundman from the original analog tape Contains Otis Redding's posthumous hit "Sittin' On the Dock Of the Bay" Appeared on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, rated 161/500! Pressed at Quality Record Pressings Gatefold old-style "tip-on" jacket by Stoughton Printing Hybrid Mono SACD Mastered directly from the original master tape by Bernie Grundman The guts of the story are this: While on tour with the Bar-Kays in August 1967, Otis Redding's popularity was rising, and he was inundated with fans at his hotel in downtown San Francisco. Looking for a retreat, he accepted rock concert impresario Bill Graham's offer to stay at his houseboat at Waldo Point in Sausalito, California. Inspired, Redding started writing the lines, "Sittin' in the morning sun, I'll be sittin' when the evening comes" and the first verse of a song, under the abbreviated title "Dock of the Bay." He had completed his famed performance at the Monterey Pop Festival just weeks earlier. While touring in support of the albums King & Queen (a collaboration with female vocalist Carla Thomas) and Live in Europe, he continued to scribble lines of the song on napkins and hotel paper. In November of that year, he joined producer and esteemed soul guitarist Steve Cropper at the Stax recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee, to record the song. Cropper remembers: "Otis was one of those the kind of guy who had 100 ideas. ... He had been in San Francisco doing The Fillmore. And the story that I got he was renting boathouse or stayed at a boathouse or something and that's where he got the idea of the ships coming in the bay there. And that's about all he had: 'I watch the ships come in and I watch them roll away again.' I just took that... and I finished the lyrics. If you listen to the songs I collaborated with Otis, most of the lyrics are about him. ... Otis didn't really write about himself but I did. Songs like 'Mr. Pitiful,' 'Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)'; they were about Otis and Otis' life. 'Dock of the Bay' was exactly that: 'I left my home in Georgia, headed for the Frisco Bay' was all about him going out to San Francisco to perform." Redding and Cropper completed the song in Memphis on Dec 7, 1967 with tragedy, unknowingly, looming. Just two days later Redding lost his life on a routine commute to a performance when the small plane he was in crashed. The other victims of the disaster were four members of the Bar-Kays — guitarist Jimmy King, tenor saxophonist Phalon Jones, organist Ronnie Caldwell, and drummer Carl Cunningham; their valet, Matthew Kelly and pilot Fraser. Cropper and bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn completed the music and melancholic lyrics of "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay' which was taken from the sessions — Redding's final recorded work. Cropper added the distinct sound of seagulls and waves crashing to the background. This is what Redding had wanted to hear on the track according to Cropper who remembered Redding recalling the sounds he heard when he wrote the song on the houseboat. One of the most influential soul singers of the 1960s, Redding exemplified to many listeners the power of Southern "deep soul" — hoarse, gritty vocals, brassy arrangements, and an emotional way with both party tunes and aching ballads. At the time of his tragic death he was 26. ‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay’ was released just a month following Redding’s death and became his only ever single to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1968. The album, which shared the song's title, became his largest-selling to date, peaking at No. 4 on the pop albums chart. "Dock of the Bay" was popular in countries across the world and became Redding's most successful record, selling more than 4 million copies worldwide. The song went on to win two Grammy Awards: Best R&B Song and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. With the album, Redding confirmed himself as a talent lost far too soon. All the hallmarks of a top-notch Analogue Productions reissue are here for you to savor: Mastered directly from the original master tape by Bernie Grundman and cut at 45 RPM. Pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressings, and housed in tip-on old style gatefold double pocket jackets with film lamination by Stoughton Printing.

Batov Records' Middle Eastern Grooves 45s series welcomes the latest addition to its eclectic roster - a two-track EP from Eje Eje, the psych and funk inspired project from Şatellites band leader and producer, Itamar Kluger. Featuring the tracks "That Rainy Down" and "Coral Sex," the EP showcases Eje Eje's unique blend of Middle Eastern melodies, soulful grooves, and psychedelic sounds.

On the A-side "That Rainy Down," The electro baglama player takes the lead, building and building as if, “he is pushing himself to his limit”, says Itamar, “seeking catharsis as he walks to the edge of the cliff with confidence”, whilst the a baladi rhythm plays like an immense march of drummers. On the B-side we find the funkier "Coral Sex", which according to Itamar tells a story of a drunk tramp bothering the refined and self-important occupants of an exclusive hotel lobby. Reflecting this friction, the track juxtaposes a silky and sophisticated R&B sound, with loosely, pr even drunkenly, played take on rebetiko, a traditional Greek music associated with the poorest of city dwellers, played on a long-necked Greek lute known as a bouzouki.

As each track develops, new layers are revealed, inviting the listener to delve deeper. The effect is intentional. As Itamar says, "there is this kind of music that hooks you in a different way every time you hear it, different places in the songs lighting up in different colors, like slowly revealed layers. In our (Eje Eje) case, it is just such a hazed blend. It could make a very specific atmosphere, color a very specific movie scene that is lost in time or yet to be directed, or a very specific moment with your headphones on a long bus to the desert."

Itamar Kluger is best known for his work with the Şatellites, a six-piece band whose blend of Turkish folk and psych with funk and disco won them champions and listeners across the globe, from KEXP in Seattle to BBC Radio 6 Music, and FIP in France.

Eje Eje’s first 45 promises to be at least as quirky and original, if not more so, since the project is even more unshackled from traditional concepts of a band.

Re-release All the greatest Jazz Legends in a 3LP boxset. From Nina Simone to Louis Armstrong, from Miles Davis to Billie Holidai, they are all there!

Im achten Bandjahr sind sich LETO aus Hamburg mit ihrem dritten Studioalbum "LEben und TOt" der eigentlichen Bedeutung ihres Bandnamens bewusst. Nach den beiden Alben "Vor die Hunde" (VÖ 08/18), "Wider" (VÖ 10/20) und drei digitalen Singleveröffentlichungen in 2022 ("Meins/Deins u.a.) dehnen Leto die Genrevielfalt, die ihnen von einschlägigen Magazinen seit dem Debütalbum zugesprochen wird, erneut. Auf dem sicheren Post-Punk-Trampelpfad, den Bands wie Turbostaat, Love A oder Pascow über Jahre in die Musiklandschaft stapften, lässt es sich nach wie vor gemütlich gehen. Allerdings reißen Leto auf "Leben und tot" so stark wie noch nie aus und schreien sich in Emo-/Post-Hardcore-Manier die Seele aus dem Leib und drehen Gitarreneffekte wieder auf Anschlag. Textlich sind Leto auf "Leben und tot" klarer als zuvor und diskutieren und punktieren in Themenfeldern wie struktureller Ungleichheit oder Klimakrise - den Zeigefinger richten Leto dabei vornehmlich auf sich selbst. "Leben und tot" ist laut und verlangt ab. Insgesamt wurden für das Album über 30 Songs geschrieben, wovon 11 Lieder ausgewählt wurden. Das Album wurde von Kristian Kühl im Toolhouse (Rotenburg a.d. Fulda) aufgenommen und in Hamburg gemischt. Hauke Albrecht hat das Mastering der Platte übernommen. Julius Dettmer hat das Artwork erstellt.

Take the 101 north out of Los Angeles, and you'll pass by Agoura Hills, where the core duo of the band Dub Thompson grew up. Whatever you see in that town won't readily prepare you for the music they wrote while there, but you're free to look."Most everyone who's in a group who's our age lives on the Internet," says guitarist Matt Pulos. "The kinds of things that have shaped our band aren't anchored to any one time or place."Pulos and his bandmate, drummer Evan Laffer, are currently both 19 years old, and are putting that line of thought to the test; their musical influences travel from the Midwestern malaise of Big Black and Pere Ubu, to Kraut pioneers Can and Kraftwerk, while bowing to the British belligerence of The Fall and This Heat.Recording the album while living with Foxygen's Jonathan Rado at his rented house in Bloomington, the band had its first taste of a heavy Indiana summer, and all the humidity and insect life that buzzes along with it. "We woke up every day, ate hard-boiled eggs and stood on a porch," says Pulos of the experience.Their first collection of songs slyly unties the shoes of genre and convention, shapeshifts mischievously, and tramples on the promises delivered on the name itself.There are only eight songs on this rangy debut.Intense blasts of hook-filled noise rock ("Hayward!"), rocksteady marionette stomp ("No Time"), hypnotic bouts of doomy poetics ("Epicondyles"), outlandishly sexy groove rock ("Dograces"), and a number of other bite-sized forays into parts unknown are made manifest across 9 Songs. The vibes are strong here. Pulos sings and plays like he's working out long-standing grudges, pulling the most sinewy tones from an acoustic guitar and ripping huge chunks of demon flesh out of his electric. Laffer matches him step for step on the drums, an exacting presence behind the kit who pushes even the band's more placid moments into bouts of tension. Together they succeed in animating their musical ideas to startling, almost unnatural life. Reverb units, keyboards, samples and processing gluing everything together, saturated in the August heat and worn in until they sound second nature, it's like somehow you've been listening to these songs forever.

In den letzten zehn Jahren haben CARNATION das Revival des Death Metal der alten Schule angeführt. Sie haben seelenerschütternde Riffs und trampelnde Blastbeats mit einigen der bedrohlichsten Growls der neuen Welle zurückgebracht. Während die belgische Band die altehrwürdigen Traditionen des Genres immer hochgehalten hat, klingt sie auch nie veraltet, sondern dringt mit "Cursed Mortality" in tiefere, dunklere und experimentellere Gewässer vor. Der Titeltrack watet in bedrohlichen Synthie-Klängen und sogar cleanen Vocals. Dieses Album ist nicht einfach ein Revival - Es ist ein mutiger Schritt in die Zukunft. Für Fans von (frühen) ENTOMBED, BLOODBATH, GATECREEPER, SKELETAL REMAINS, GRAVE.

In den letzten zehn Jahren haben CARNATION das Revival des Death Metal der alten Schule angeführt. Sie haben seelenerschütternde Riffs und trampelnde Blastbeats mit einigen der bedrohlichsten Growls der neuen Welle zurückgebracht. Während die belgische Band die altehrwürdigen Traditionen des Genres immer hochgehalten hat, klingt sie auch nie veraltet, sondern dringt mit "Cursed Mortality" in tiefere, dunklere und experimentellere Gewässer vor. Der Titeltrack watet in bedrohlichen Synthie-Klängen und sogar cleanen Vocals. Dieses Album ist nicht einfach ein Revival - Es ist ein mutiger Schritt in die Zukunft. Für Fans von (frühen) ENTOMBED, BLOODBATH, GATECREEPER, SKELETAL REMAINS, GRAVE.