Jessie J´s sechstes Studioalbum ”Don’tTease Me With A Good Time” - ihr erstes seit fast acht Jahren
- ist ein kühnes Kaleidoskop der Emotionen, das die rohen Höhen und Tiefen des letzten Jahrzehnts
einfängt. Das Album, das in den letzten fünf Jahren in Los Angeles aufgenommen wurde, ist emotional,
ungefiltert und kompromisslos, es ist Musik, die ihr Herz auf der Zunge trägt und danach verlangt, in voller
Lautstärke gefühlt zu werden. In Zusammenarbeit mit einer eingeschworenen Gruppe von Kollaborateuren
arbeitet Jessie J mit Ryan Tedder (One Republic, Beyoncé, Adele), Jesse Boykins III, Los Hendrix (SZA,
Brent Faiyaz), Marty Maro (JohnLegend, Anitta) und anderen zusammen, um ein Werk zu schaffen, das
mühelos Sold-Skool-Alt-R&B, Upfront-Pop und zeitgenössischen R&B miteinander verbindet. Das 16-
Track-Album enthält herausragende Singles wie ”BelieveIn Magic”, das zutiefst persönliche ”NoSecrets”
und die euphorische Hymne ”Living My Best Life”, die den breiten Sound und die Thematik des Albums
andeuten. Das Album endet mit der Power-Ballade ’AwardGoes To’, mit der Jessie J Anfang des Jahres
bei den BAFTA Television Awards eine atemberaubende Live-Performance ablieferte
Suche:upfront
A stunning re-envisaging of Sade ‘Cherish The Day’ in a upfront reggae style from singer Sailor Jane. It is produced by the great Michael Goldwasser. A side mixed by the maestro mixer Gregory Morris, the B side features a magnificent dub piece from Jallanzo The Dub Wizard.
The release comes on a criss 7inch housed in a beautiful picture sleeve designed by Madein876 Productions / Streets of Jamaica & formatted by Classic Blends.
Sailor Jane is out of Florida but has spent a lot of time in Jamaica honing her skills as a singer and musician. This track is taken from her album of Sade covers which is certainly worth checking out called No Ordinary Dub.
- Tired
- We Were Punk First
- Moving Day
- The Punchline
- Bad Indian
- The Art Of Savagery
- Rage
- Dreamcatcher
- World Up My Ass
- This Is Not A Political Song
- Doom Indian
- No One Owns Anything And Death Is Real
Crystal Clear Vinyl, limited to 1000 copies. Who were the first punks? Do The Damned have more of a shout than The Sex Pistols? The Stooges or Ramones? Gregg Deal, the acclaimed visual and performance artist behind his new project Dead Pioneers, is making a claim that Indigenous Americans were the first real punks. Deal suggests that the overarching theme of the album is "an introduction to the band itself". Created with a DIY disposition and the "love of a scene that saves lives", they reel off a roll call of marginalised groups and protected characteristics: "Indigenous rights, Black rights, Brown rights, Asian rights, Gay rights, Trans rights, Workers rights and beyond_". This is central to their identity and focus, saying that "with a North American Indigenous person as the vocalist, being unapologetically upfront on the social, political and cultural side of things doesn't seem necessary, but paramount to the overall tone of the band." This self-titled debut, coming in at a lithe 22 minutes with only one of the twelve tracks exceeding three minutes, is almost over before it begins, but covers a huge amount of ground in that time. Blistering opener 'Tired' sets out their stall; as with the whole album, it is passionate, but never preaching. Capitalised 'Political Music' can be hard to land without coming across as hectoring or earnest, but Deal's literary, humorous lyrics effortlessly cut through complex issues of marginalisation and colonialism.
Big one from Milanese maestro Inner Lakes. Hell-bent on making 2025 his year, the Kalahari debutant maintains form and momentum with the latest in a flurry of vital releases.
A meticulously-crafted 4-tracker imbued with menace and urgent, late nite throb, it’s precisely the spiralling, nocturnal kinda style that has become his hallmark. Streetwise, upfront and packing a sizeable amount of f*ck-off NRG.
Expect noirish, night-stalking rave suspense and hardware-fuelled, high-velocity torque. Best heard in the company of shadow-dwelling spectres, or perhaps, at the event horizon of a black hole.
DJ tools reveal greater depth and nuance upon closer inspection, and disembodied vocals lure inquisitive ears deep into the dream state. Finely measured throughout, it’s a masterful balance between functionality and full-blown dancefloor immersion, all courtesy of a fella at the top of his game.
Written and Produced by Inner Lakes.
Mastered and cut by Kassian Troyer at Dubplates & Mastering.
Distributed by One Eye Witness.
Artwork by S.O.N.S
Hilit Kolet and The Illustrious Blacks team up for the ‘Transatlantic Kiki’ EP. Dropping on Rekids late August, the package is remixed by Floorplan.
London-based artist Hilit Kolet returns to Rekids, collaborating with New York’s The Illustrous Blacks, the project formed by Manchildblack and Monstah Black, for the ‘Transatlantic Kiki’ EP, landing 29th August 2025 via Radio Slave’s Rekids. Legendary father-daughter duo Floorplan remix the single, with the release following up Kolet’s 2024 ‘Snap Talk’ EP, which won support from artists like Dam Swindle, Chloé Caillet, Bradley Zero, and more.
With lyrics that connect London and New York, ‘Transatlantic Kiki’ is a tough, funk-fueled roller true to Hilit Kolet’s signature production style, infused with an unmatchable personality via The Illustrous Blacks’ playful, vogue-like vocals. It’s hypnotic, bold, and irresistible, with the pair supplying a loopy ‘First Class’ mix that introduces vocal elements not featured in the original, amplifying the track’s qualities to hit even harder, and works the dancefloor into a sweat.
Robert and Lyric Hood, known together as Floorplan, remix Hilit Kolet & The Illustrous Blacks’ ‘Transatlantic Kiki’. Equally infectious as the original, they transform its rhythm into a drummy late-night cut. Stabs and vocal chops ride the groove, culminating in a proper lose-yourself-in-the-dance House cut that also comes with an instrumental version.
London’s Hilit Kolet came up through the former Soho Black Market Records shop, and has since become synonymous with the city’s House scene via releases on Defected, Snatch!, Domino, and Rekids, with a #1 debut on Music Week’s Upfront Club Chart and support from BBC Radio 1, Jamie Jones, HAAi, Skream, and more. NYC duo The Illustrious Blacks, comprising Manchildblack and Monstah Black, blend Afro-Electro, Funk, Disco, and House across releases on Soul Clap, Classic Music Company, and Defected, as well as collaborations with artists such as Osunlade, DJ Minx, Seven Davis Jr., and David Morales.
Metalurgic Funk Vol. 2 takes a short leap from Vol. 1, with all 4 cuts based around solid tonks of straight forward techno. Cutting 909-hat's, tunnel-visioning and simple but detailed slings of futuristic synths thread the whole record together. Pretention is left aside for upfrontness and most advanced interpretation of these looped bangers are left to happen in the listeners head while segueing into the core of techno.
With the 7th Grade of the Riddim Dub School series, Prince Istari enters
Junior High School. Prince Istari returns with his Riddim Dub School
series now on 12inch, pushing deeper into the intersection of dub, drum
and bass, and sound system culture. This 6-track EP, titled "lessons
into drum and bass wise", explores raw rhythms, analog feedbacks, and
heavy low-end pressure.
The EP starts with a Drum and Bass cut with a One Drop of the DUB ME
LOOPY tune from Riddim Dub School 5th Grade. INTIMACY COORDINATOR
follows with a heavy Disco Dub. The last track on Side A is LABOUR’S
DUB, with deep bass polished through spring reverb. The shakers come in
late and push the whole thing forward. Side B begins with GONE TOO SOON
from Riddim Dub School 4th Grade, in an alternative version. It’s
followed by the most upfront track on the release CONQUERING DUB – brass
fanfares and a deep disco rocker beat with minimalistic arrangement. NO
DUB INNA DI WRONG ends the 7th Grade with a roots way style. It suggests
that dub music doesn't belong to or support negative, corrupt, or unjust
actions or spaces. Dub music stays righteous, true, or positive, and
doesn’t associate with bad vibes or wrongdoing.
* Limited edition 12' vinyl pressed on transparent red wax, housed in a full colour sleeve inspired by classic Philly Blunt artwork.
* Fresh Blunts Vol. 1 brings that same energy to a new generation of DJs and selectors, with four dancefloor-focused cuts that pay tribute to the label's roots while pushing forward with modern production values.
* On the A-side, Bladerunner steps up with 'Chronic' and 'Straight Up' — his first solo release on the label in over a decade. With his deep ties to the scene (Dread, V, Souped Up, Kings of the Rollers), these tracks are a masterclass in classic jungle flavour with upfront punch.
* The flip introduces Chimpo & Sl8r to the Philly Blunt catalogue, blending grime, jungle, and Manchester's unmistakable underground sound. Having previously released on labels like Metalheadz, V Recordings, The North Quarter, and Hospital, their debut here shows just how wide the Philly Blunt family now reaches.
* Launching the brand-new Fresh Blunts vinyl series, Philly Blunt Records continues its legacy of heavyweight jungle and drum & bass. Originally founded in 1994 as a raw, party-focused sister label to V Recordings, Philly Blunt helped define the sound of mid-90s jungle with anthems like Leviticus' 'Burial', Dillinja's 'Sky', and Firefox's 'Buck Rogers'.
* Strictly limited run!
Seminal Afro-dub album "Dr. Afrodub" by Ghanaian Ekowmania aka Ekow Alabi Savage. The drummer, percussionist and singer who's played with Jimi Tenor & Kabukabu for more than 20 years explores the fields of classic Roots Reggae, Afro and Dub as well as uptempo modern African rhythms and ballads. This Jimi Tenor produced album is an expansion of Ekowmania's tribute song to Kwame Nkrumah (which is also released as 7" with different versions) and Tenor's electronic loops, which they developed into a full album in guitar player Lauri Kallio's country side studio in Kiikala, Finland. The album kicks off with a very heavy, club-ready and UK reggae-styled album mix of "Kwame Nkrumah", following up with 200% intensity on the voodooesque rhythm explosions of "Twerk Your Mind", then taking a 360 degree turn with the smoothness and laidback vibes of "Kiikala Reggae". Throughout its 9 cuts "Dr. Afrodub" always approach the balance of beautiful song writing and intensity in rhythm and melody, visiting the excellent and classically crafted 70's Roots tune "Dub Souljah", the upfront & tempo-fueled "Lagos Heavy" and ending with DJ Sotofett's mix of the albums ballad "Me Know".
CUT WITH EXCELLENCE BY TIMMION CUTTING LAB IN HELSINKI FINLAND.
- A1: Fujitronic (Flute Mix)
- A2: Money Palaver (Extra Warm Mix)
- A3: Jupiter Rising (Disco Dub)
- B1: Otto Part 1 (Synthethic Dub)
- B2: Artificial High (Rhythm Mix)
- B3: Artificial High (Vocal Mix)
- B4: Clave Song (Extra Dubbed Mix)
- B5: Anthem (Room Dub)
- C1: Musical Message (Disco Dub)
- C2: Otto Part 4 (909 Mix)
- C3: Message (Room Dub)
- C4: Tronic Rhythm (Flute Dub)
- D1: Ritm Dub (Piano Mix)
- D2: Kabu Anthem (Cosmic Dub)
"No Warranty Dubs" is made by a logic powerhouse combination, Jimi Tenor & Kabukabu meets DJ Sotofett, with most of what you can expect from all parts involved. You're served Afro Dub & Jazz in a bold and classic sonic execution. Through all 15 cuts the echoes are real and rhythms upfront, with proper extended Disco Dubs and versions of Afrobeat and Free Jazz contrasting body and soul. The album is tuneful and rugged, some cuts have vocals & synth swimming alone, while others glue the drummers groove to slick piano from beginning till end.
Followers of Jimi Tenor's life in music will be able to dive into his trademark song writing, signature flute breathing and indistinguishable style of saxophone playing, as well as his tender and electrifuingly psychedelic vocals known from early days of Puu/Sähkö and Warp releases. Kabukabu's heavyweight instrumental performance trancends regular studio recordings with joy and precision as a core element. Kabukabu's Ekow Alabi Savage aka Ekowmania (from last years "Dr.Afrodub" album) embeds deep rhythm knowledge throughout the entire musical landscape. Last in the chain is DJ Sotofett, producing and mixing his probably most classically crafted output to date. With silky gloves and clanking wrenches every element has been tweaked, re-mixed & dubbed excessively to justify a fully musical, psychedelic, warm and rhythmically rich experience.
"No Warranty Dubs" is as warm as the chords of "Money Palaver (Extra Warm Mix)", and as bombastic as opening track "Fujitronic (Flute Mix)". The album reaches it's most tender moments with the sweet "Musical Message (Disco Dub)" and dives straight into obscurity when guest drummer Ilmari Heikinheimo contributes to "Otto Part 4", a rare freejazz cut with TR-909 tickering from start til end. The simplicity of "Tronic Rhythms (Flute Dub)" is worthy a tear in an eye, while brittle souls can scatter to the thunderous horns and drenched rhythms of "Kabu Anthem (Cosmic Dub)".
Next up in the Mr Bongo Cuban Classics series is an outing by the mighty Juan Pablo Torres from 1978. Released on Cuba’s state-owned Areito imprint, Algo Nuevo showcases trombonist, bandleader, arranger and producer Juan Pablo Torres' unique scope of sound. A melting pot of an album that weaves together jazz-funk and traditional Afro-Cuban genres with tripped-out synth touches and dancefloor grooves.
The opener 'Pan Caliente' is a fiery celebration, combining a driving groove with Latin percussion, feverish horns and infectious “la-la-la” vocals. The wild, squelching cosmic synthlines give an otherworldly touch to proceedings that sit nicely on a modern dancefloor. 'Guajira 2001' is perhaps Juan's future-focussed take on the vibrant style of Cuban dance-led music called guajira. Blistering bongos, congas and claves moving together with trumpets, trombones and twanging acoustic guitars that you can’t help but bounce to.
Other highlights include, 'Cacao', a Cuban cosmic funk strutter that places the claves upfront, with a scatting vocal line and percussive climax reminiscent of George Kranz electronic disco anthem 'Din Daa Daa' from 1983. Elsewhere, 'Elvira' further showcases the psychedelic essence of many of the album’s tracks. A deep Latin workout where tasty percussive breaks and scorching keys blend with trippy vocals and rumbling synths.
A varied album encompassing a variety of Afro-Cuban genres and rhythms entwined with flashes of mind-bending cosmic influence. Algo Nuevo is a further jewel in Cuba’s musical crown of riches, with plenty of dancefloor treats and downtempo numbers held within
Already having made his presence known with releases, 'Iron Fist', 'Retaliation', and his collaborations with Aba Ariginal on 'Ariginal Militant Steppa' and the 'Ariginal Bubbla E.P.'; Mali takes things to another level and steps into 2025 with his debut album 'Ruff & Ready – Dub Opus 1'.
This Album is an amalgamation of heavy basslines, intricate and unique melodies, striking drum patterns; mixed down with wild phasers, intense delays and expansive reverbs. It contains a selection of tracks with varying moods and styles, with 'Spiritual Trance' and 'Judgement Hall' that are mystical and otherworldly in nature, to upfront steppers tracks like 'Nebula', 'Ruff & Ready', and the album exclusive mix 'Rebellion (Unamenable Mix); even 'Know Thyself (Blak Nile Sym- phony I)' pushing the boundaries of what typically fits into dub and reggae.
This debut album offering from Mali Blakamix is sure to please fans of his previous releases, let alone all dub aficionados and reggae & dub music lovers out there. Presented to the world in the authentic 'Blak Nile Style'; be sure to listen to music and feel the vibes of Ruff & Ready – Blak Nile Dub Opus 1.
Neon pink vinyl, limited to 500 copies. Who were the first punks? Do The Damned have more of a shout than The Sex Pistols? The Stooges or Ramones? Gregg Deal, the acclaimed visual and performance artist behind his new project Dead Pioneers, is making a claim that Indigenous Americans were the first real punks. Deal suggests that the overarching theme of the album is "an introduction to the band itself". Created with a DIY disposition and the "love of a scene that saves lives", they reel off a roll call of marginalised groups and protected characteristics: "Indigenous rights, Black rights, Brown rights, Asian rights, Gay rights, Trans rights, Workers rights and beyond_". This is central to their identity and focus, saying that "with a North American Indigenous person as the vocalist, being unapologetically upfront on the social, political and cultural side of things doesn't seem necessary, but paramount to the overall tone of the band." This self-titled debut, coming in at a lithe 22 minutes with only one of the twelve tracks exceeding three minutes, is almost over before it begins, but covers a huge amount of ground in that time. Blistering opener 'Tired' sets out their stall; as with the whole album, it is passionate, but never preaching. Capitalised 'Political Music' can be hard to land without coming across as hectoring or earnest, but Deal's literary, humorous lyrics effortlessly cut through complex issues of marginalisation and colonialism.
Large Combo is back with a couple of Shaolin flavoured meals. On Side A, the Suckside cats take Staten Island to the city of brotherly love with an anthem sampling jawn that’ll make you drop your jewellery and RUN for the exit yelling “Adrian!” The flip side sees Big Mac back in action after a long hiatus. With upfront beats, sirens, anthemic horns, wailing vocals and big raps, Big Mac methodically reconstructs a classic Wu banger.
Free jazz poetry by a spry, 85 year old Joe McPhee, adapting his renowned improvised practice to words - juxtaposed with Mats Gustafson’s sparing brass and electric gestures. It’s an utterly timeless and transfixing salvo, another shiny notch for Smalltown Supersound’s Le Jazz Non Series.
As a common ligature to the OG free jazz scene of ‘60s NYC, with formative binds to its European offshoots and the experimental avant garde, Joe McPhee is a true force of nature who has represented jazz at its freest over a remarkable lifetime. In duo with Swedish free jazz and noise standard bearer Mats Gustafson, he upends expectations with an astonishingly vivid and upfront example of his enduring contribution to freely improvised music. In 11 parts he variously reflects on everything from the neon sleaze and scuzz of NYC to contemporary US politicians and laugh out loud imitations of his previous sparring partners such as Peter Brötzmann, with a head-slapping immediacy that leaves you reeling, spellbound.
McPhee’s flow of rare, organic cadence, ranging from urgent to contemplative and dreamlike, is blessed with a unique turn-of-phrase that surely mirrors his decades of instrumental work. Gustafsson, meanwhile, dextrously takes up the mantle with a multi-instrumental spectrum of sounds, leaving McPhee unbound and able to float and sting on the mic. There’s obvious wisdom in his perceptively penetrative observations, as derived from a rich cultural life well spent, but also a playful naivety and levity in his ability to veer from almost melodic speech to explosive aggression and a knowing, bathetic wit. It’s perhaps hard to believe that McPhee only started incorporating and performing spoken word in his work in the past ten years, a half century since his declaration of “What Time Is It‽” announced his arrival on a legendary debut ‘Nation Time’ (1971), ushering in one of free jazz’s most singular characters in the process.
Oscillating between discordant reflections on life as a touring musician, set to Gustafsson’s skronk and culminating in a snort-worthy imitation of Peter Brötzmann’s gruff German accent, on ‘Short Pieces’ or the glowering growl and noise exhortations of ‘Guitar’, he evokes a more sweetly consonant calm in ‘When I Grow Up’ and eerie threat of ‘The Dreams Book’, and viscerality of ‘Disco Death’, where Gustafson’s tonal versatility comes into hugely mutable play, whilst McPhee’s extraordinary, unaffected voice is a constant. It’s perhaps McPhee’s balance of cool measuredness and wellspring of barbed energies that allows us, at least, to get the most out of this one; not stifling with mannered or manicured enunciation that can trigger certain icks; keeping close to the nature of spoken word in a way that avoids cliche and becomes inherently critical of it within his purposeful, non-hesitant clarity and unflinching approach.
Repress!
‘EP10’ stays true to committing Defected’s biggest digital releases to wax, delivering an upfront package of house heat previously unavailable on vinyl. Kicking off the EP with two huge cuts, Gorgon City’s captivating, club-ready remix of Selace ‘So Hooked On Your Lovin’ opens the A-Side, before Vintage Culture’s Defected debut and Beatport #1 ‘It Is What It Is’ follows. On the B-Side Defected deliver the original version of Marco Faraone & Greeko’s hip house heater ‘Armaghetton’, as well as Janson’s huge remix to close out the package.
2025 marks the vinyl release of Changes 2, the pioneering album by legendary vocalist, keys player and composer Mike Lindup.
A remarkably engaging body of work with wide ranging elements, Changes 2 plots a course through upfront soul, deep funk, jazz riffs and disco vibes, tied together with the melodic magic and engaging vocals for which Mike Lindup is widely known.
As an internationally renowned musician with decades of achievements and accolades, Mike Lindup's outstanding career has taken him on a unique journey. With the band Level 42, he consolidated a place in music history with some of the greatest hits of the era, gaining a dedicated fanbase that see the band still touring to this day. As a soloist, the first Changes album and a notable release on Naim records, as well as his work with UK/Brazilian outfit Da Lata, have all allowed further development of a burgeoning creativity, now ultimately culminating in Changes 2 - an enthralling representation of where Mike Lindup is today.
Changes 2 features various excellent guest artists that demonstrate the diverse nature of the album, including the stellar vocals of Omar and Tony Momrelle, bass magic from Yolanda Charles and even an appearance from the comedian and impressionist Jon Culshaw! The album has also inspired two funk- fuelled dance remixes from Dave Lee and the inimitable Louis Vega. All of these talented individuals enhance the project greatly, making valuable contributions to Mike Lindup's distinguished work.
Speaking about the album, Mike Lindup says: "Changes - so many since I began recording this album, and as the saying goes, the one thing you can be sure of in this life. During the four years of making this album I've been reflecting on the world as I see it, the actors and actions on this grand stage of life, love, death, prejudice, politics, separation, longing, hopes and dreams. Musically, many of the seeds of these songs took hold a while ago and wouldn't let go, but to be fulfilled they needed input and inspiration from my producers Toni and Mike, and the talents of the singers and musicians that are featured within. My wish is that some of these themes will resonate with you."
With Gilles Peterson, undoubtedly one of the UK's most influential DJ's and tastemakers describing Mike Lindup as "one of his all-time favourite vocalists" and high praise from many other leading music broadcasters and writers, Changes 2 destined to be enjoyed by a multitude of discerning music and vinyl lovers the world over.
Federsen inaugurates his new imprint Alt Dub this May with a split EP comprised of original cuts from himself and Hidden Sequence and a remix of each by the opposing artist.
Over the past decade and a half San Francisco based artist Federsen has been making his mark on the dub infused techno and house sound, delivering his vintage tape delay and analogue gear driven sound via the likes of Silent Season, Greyscale, Lempuyang and Ohm Series among others. Here though, Federsen opens a new chapter with the launch of his own imprint, Alt Dub, which kicks off here with music from himself and Federsen / Hidden Sequence - Positive Charge EP
Köln, Germany duo Hidden Sequence, whose music has found a home on the likes of Mosaic, Lempuyang and more.
Hidden Sequence’s ‘Switch’ leads the release and sees the duo smoothly blending an amalgamation of airy chord sequences, swelling pads, spiralling dub echoes and bumpy bass grooves with a shuffled, stripped back rhythm. Federsen’s ‘Polarity’ follows and dives into darker realms via expansive dub chords, intricately intertwined percussive reverberations, cascading bass flutters and crisp, minimalistic drums.
Opening the flip-side, Federsen interprets Hidden Sequence’s ‘Switch’, shifting the original’s ethereal aesthetic into a haze of billowing atmospherics, delayed percussion and vacillating low-end pulsations. The Hidden Sequence remix of ‘Polarity’ then rounds things out, upping the energy levels with a more upfront, robust rhythmic drive being intertwined with fragments of the original’s haunting textures and subtly unfurling feel.
Smoove is back with his infamous Multitrack Rework series with volume 8, kicking things off with a seven minute, stripped back bass and drums workout of ‘Engine Number 9’
The flip side has an extended version of ‘Got To Be Real’ with an open drum intro Smoove breaks down the incredible brass arrangements and showcases the stunning vocal harmonies.
The 12” also comes with a spacey dubbed out version of ‘Star Of A Story ‘ with upfront haunting backing vocals, super tight drums and dreamy fender Rhodes.
''One Foot in the Rave'' is a vibrant collection that showcases Jonny's signature style--a blend of melodic, melancholic acid jams, bleepy funk, and warm analog electronics. Whether for the stereo or the sound system, the LP moves from the upfront bounce of ''The Apocalypse is Now'' and ''Raymond Tuesday's Big Day Out'' to the shimmering reverb of ''Starry Night'' and the birdsong-infused ''Ringfort.'' Listeners will find themselves in familiar Automatic Tasty terrain, rich with psychedelic exploration. According to Jonny, ''What to say about this record? I don't really know and it hardly matters. I wrote them on different bits of gear; ye olde faithful Roland SH101, my MC202 (pencil and paper de rigeur), a battered x0xb0x 1.0 (thx Daniel!), a beloved Yamaha Cs-5, a similarly beloved Roland SH5, a truly hammered Juno106, a Roland JX3P, a Nord something or other, an MPC2500, my TR606, and a Vermona DRM1 MKII being sequenced via a bedraggled TR626. Also Jay's TR808 is on there (thx Jay!) and a TR8 being squashed through a Mutronics Mutator (wheee Damo!) and a Zoom H4n recorder. I edited them on a dilapidated laptop, with no headphones or monitors, steering by the tiny speakers on the computer and playing them in my car, twiddling the mix as I went. But these are frivolous and unimportant details. All that matters is that these songs were made out of love. Cheerio, Jonny. P.S.: This record is dedicated to Jay 'Winthorpe' Kelly.'' ''One Foot in the Rave'' will be available on vinyl and digital platforms starting October 14th.
“A huge thing for this record was to make it feel as close to our live show as possible,” says Tom Sharkett of W.H. Lung’s latest album. “We didn’t want it to sound live but we wanted to capture the excitement of the live performances.”
This is something that has become paramount to the group in recent years as they have undeniably blossomed into one of the most joyous and arresting live bands in the country. “The reason I’m in a band is to play live music,” says singer Joe Evans. “For me, music is live music. That’s what it’s for, to be played with people.”
The five-piece band, also featuring Chris Mulligan, Hannah Peace, and Alex Mercer-Main, decided to try something new on their third album after two incredibly successful collaborations with previous producer Matt Peel. In order to capture the energy, spirit and dynamism of their live shows, they relocated to Sheffield to work with Ross Orton (MIA, Arctic Monkeys, Working Men’s Club) who was able to harness this side of the band to remarkable effect. “Ross is the Sheffield Steve Albini,” says Evans. “He’s the king of not overthinking it and trusting the process of the art of recording songs. He was always there to stop us fucking around with cerebral stuff and get it down.” Sharkett echoes this too: “He was the exact producer we needed without us even realising. His productions and mixes are bombastic, lively and in your face and that’s exactly what we wanted.”
However, while this album is rooted in a sense of capturing a moment and a sparky liveness, that’s not to say it’s a raw or ragged record. It is still a meticulously composed, delicately layered and pristinely produced piece of work that, in true W.H. Lung style, runs the gauntlet from dance to pop to indie while still capturing that distinctly unique quality that is unquestionably their own. “It was a really big thing for me to realise what made us sound like us on this record,” says Sharkett. “I think the album sounds a lot more confident and self assured because of it. Some songs sound just so much like Lung and I’m really proud of that. I’m not sure we’ve done that as consistently across the other records.”
While the band have drilled deeper into finding their own singular identity, it’s not a record resting on its laurels. It’s a significant leap forward, expanding on their solid foundations while also breaking new ground. “The big difference with this record is its directness in every sense,” says Sharkett. “The songwriting is more upfront. Previously we’d focused a lot on vibe and production as opposed to just writing songs. The overall mission here was to revert to a classic songwriting structure and for the production to come afterwards.” And so what you have on this record are deeply considered and well-crafted songs, then recorded with blistering intensity in the moment, and then given a touch of experimentation afterwards. Then throw in Orton’s contributions to the band and it’s proven to be a real winning formula. “He brought a real dose of magic to the songs we’d written,” says Sharkett. “And brought an extra bit of wonk and quirkiness each time.”
The band’s ability to write more traditional and conventional songs is clearly a skill they’ve taken to with ease, at times there’s an almost Springsteen-like quality – but if he'd ever had an ecstasy period – to tracks such as ‘Thinner Wine’ and ‘Bloom and Fade’. While ‘How to Walk’ was constructed with one thing only in mind: that it would absolutely slay on stage. “I can’t wait to play this live,” says Evans. “We wanted a song to represent our live set, a new big one, and this is it.” Once again it leans towards the anthemic, with its driving, propulsive charge complete with incandescent synths and vocal melodies so irresistible you can already hear them being sung in unison by a crowd.
It’s an incredibly difficult feat to pull off a record that is more rooted in traditional songcraft while also capturing the power of a live performance, as well as pushing sonics into experimental new directions while working with a brand new collaborator. But here the band has managed to do just that. And the album’s closing song ‘I Will Set Fire To The House’ is a perfect example of such a thing. It’s a song that feels immaculately constructed but also very much alive and of the moment as its radiating synths engulf from the off, and Evans’ vocal is silky but powerful and in perfect symbiosis with Peace’s. It’s a song that captures the endless joys of music playing long into the night. “It may be a bit of a bloody bombastic way to end an album saying ‘and we’ll dance into the sunrise’,” says Evans. “But fuck it.”
MORE PRESS ON ‘VANITIES’ (MELO131)
"Vanities artily refines an exhilarating brand of up-front electro-dance" MOJO ⅘
'Idiosyncratic yet euphoric electronic pop on triumphant second LP' 9/10 Uncut
''One of the most effective alternative pop albums of the year'' 4/5 Record Collector
'Dance music for the modern age' - The Times (4*)
- A1: Gonna Get You
- A2: Working Woman
- A3: Coffee High
- A4: Everything Holds Blame
- A5: Snake Charmer
- A6: Free Vibes (Instrumental)
- B1: Love Alarm
- B2: Out Of Fashion
- B3: Nothing For Nothing
- B4: Magic Time Machine
- B5: The Time Is Right For Love
- B6: Hold Fast
- C1: Working Woman (Kenny Dope Mix)
- C2: The Time Is Right For Love (Swing-O Aka 45 Remix)
- C3: Coffee High (Bellevilloise)
- C4: Snake Charmer (Instrumental)
- C5: Free Vibes Part 2 (Vocal Version)
- D1: Burn This Disco Out
- D2: Magic Time Machine (Maida Vale)
- D3: June (Printemps De Bourges)
- D4: Hold Fast (Jr Blender Remix)
- D5: The Time Is Right For Love (Flute Version)
- D6: Working Part 2 (Instrumental)
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.
ANTON NEWCOMBE and DOT ALLISON just announcedthat they will be releasing an album together under the moniker All Seeing Dolls. ''Parallel' will be out in February 2025. Upfront they share the single 'That's Amazing Grace' (backed with "Siren's Echo iron Lung") and make available this 2-track 10" as a limited teaser. Anton Newcombe is the founder, the sole constant and the creative mastermind at the centre of one of music's most fascinating bands; Brian Jonestown Massacre. He's a frontman, songwriter, composer, studio owner, multi-instrumentalist, producer, engineer, father and force of nature. There have been 21 BJM albums over the last 30 years, each embarking on their own mind-expanding adventure and exploring the outer realms of rock'n'roll; psychedelic rock, country-blues, snarling rock'n'roll, blissed-out noise-pop and more. Newcombe has established himself as a once-in-a-lifetime talent, a revolutionary force in modern music and an underground hero. Dot Allison released her debut solo album Afterglow in 1999. Over the years she has strived to keep the listener on a journey - and herself too. She revolts against what she has done before, to evolve and not just occupy the same space. That journey has taken her from Afterglow's broad church (trip-hop, Tim Buckley-esque ballads, dance tracks, chilled psychedelia) to the sultry synth-pop of We Are Science (2002), the lush, baroque Exaltation Of Larks (2007) and the eclectic, rootsy drama of Room 7½ (2009). After a hiatus to raise her family she returned with the graceful acoustic folk record Heart-Shaped Scars (2021) and the haunting, barely there beauty of Consciousology (2023). The range of guest stars on Allison's records is equally broad: where else would you find a cast list that includes Kevin Shields, Hal David, Paul Weller, Pete Doherty and Darren Emerson. Likewise, Allison's own guest roles with the likes of Massive Attack, Scott Walker, Slam, Philip Shepard, The Babyshambles & Pete Doherty, underlining the huge respect her peers hold her in.
Coke Bottle Green vinyl. Who were the first punks? Do The Damned have more of a shout than The Sex Pistols? The Stooges or Ramones? Gregg Deal, the acclaimed visual and performance artist behind his new project Dead Pioneers, is making a claim that Indigenous Americans were the first real punks. Deal suggests that the overarching theme of the album is "an introduction to the band itself". Created with a DIY disposition and the "love of a scene that saves lives", they reel off a roll call of marginalised groups and protected characteristics: "Indigenous rights, Black rights, Brown rights, Asian rights, Gay rights, Trans rights, Workers rights and beyond_". This is central to their identity and focus, saying that "with a North American Indigenous person as the vocalist, being unapologetically upfront on the social, political and cultural side of things doesn't seem necessary, but paramount to the overall tone of the band." This self-titled debut, coming in at a lithe 22 minutes with only one of the twelve tracks exceeding three minutes, is almost over before it begins, but covers a huge amount of ground in that time. Blistering opener 'Tired' sets out their stall; as with the whole album, it is passionate, but never preaching. Capitalised 'Political Music' can be hard to land without coming across as hectoring or earnest, but Deal's literary, humorous lyrics effortlessly cut through complex issues of marginalisation and colonialism.
Pleasure Planet’s kaleidoscopic debut album has been a long time coming, but good things come to those who wait. Developed over years of late-night studio improvisations, ‘Pleasure Planet’ is an affectionate and colorful patchwork of the New York City-based trio’s knotted influences that’s suspended between the rave and the chill-out room, weaving glistening pads and chunky basslines into vocal earworms and warm, saturated rhythmic cycles. Bandmates Andrew Potter, Kim Ann Foxman and Brian Hersey enter into a lysergic dialog with their discrete personal musical histories, drawing inspiration from vintage EBM, ambient music and heady early ’90s West Coast rave sounds and launching these classic elements into a transcendent new sonic universe.
Celebrated DJ and producer Foxman was a lead singer of Hercules and Love Affair when she first ran into DC rave veteran Potter, and the two rapidly realized their musical interests overlapped. So when Potter was recording with his studiomate Hersey, a NYC underground club scene mainstay, and they needed to bring in a vocalist, the choice was simple. Working together was a refreshing, freeing experience for the three seasoned artists, and the more they experimented, the closer they became; Foxman ended up moving into the studio, and Pleasure Planet was manifested into existence. “We’re like family,” says Potter. “We’re always on the same page – we couldn’t make this music solo.”
For Foxman, the open-ended jam sessions provided her with a chance to try something new, a few steps from the dancefloor-forward DJ tracks she’s best known for producing. And as the trio pooled their adolescent rave memories, reflecting on them with more mature ears, they began to develop the signature sound that was first heard on the Throne Of Blood-released ‘Animals’ 12″. Pleasure Planet aren’t trying to re-capture the past, but suggest a poetic contemplation that layers their recollections and musical obsessions into a hypnotic sci-fi dream. Harnessing a self-described “Aladdin’s cave” of analog and digital gear that help galvanize the timeline, they bridge the gap between avant-pop and icy bleep techno, curving suggestive words through lattices of tightly-engineered electronics.
On ‘Endless’, Foxman’s voice is echoed into a glistening haze that hovers around ethereal pads and tense, electroid pulses. Slow-moving and evocative, it’s a track that capture the open endedness of post-rave euphoria, touching the afterparty but moving far beyond the material world. She’s more recognizable on ‘Alien’, the album’s most upfront track, singing in a glassy, upper-register coo over urgent bass bumps, taut guitars and florid electronic atmospheres. “Are you an alien, or are you an angel?” she asks, fractalizing the borders between genres. And the band’s sense of cosmic togetherness bubbles to the surface on ‘Saved by the Bells’, a meditative after-hours experiment that diminishes the pulsing beats for a moment to bring out a spectrum of interconnected, serpentine melodies.
Modular bleeps and echoing percussion anchor the swooning ‘Planet Love’, one of Pleasure Planet’s most recent compositions and one of the album’s most outwardly psychedelic cuts, while the urgent and anthemic ‘Go With Madness’ steps back towards the main stage, evaporating Foxman’s memorable calls into a thumping procession of analog drums and squelchy, acidic bass tweaks. But they save the best for last, tugging at the heartstrings with ‘Remember (In Dreams)’, a giddy spiral of blipping synth arpeggios and haunting, reverberated chorals. It’s the perfect way to conclude an album that cryptically gestures towards the vulnerability of friendship, celebrating the shared experiences that result in some of the most meaningful memories of all.
After performing together in the skiffle-oriented band Good Earth, singer-songwriter Ray Dorset and keyboardist Colin Earl formed Mungo Jerry, whose breakthrough single, “In The Summertime,” remains a stone-cold anthem of the early 1970s. With Paul King on banjo and jug, Mike Cole on string bass, Earl on ragtime piano and with Dorset’s humorous vocals upfront, “In The Summertime” was skiffle-tinged rock at its best. The reissue of this uncommon 12-inch also features Dorset’s “Mighty Man,” with King’s kazoo and harp, as well as a great cover of Woodie Guthrie’s “Dust Pneumonia Blues.” A must-have!
Sling shot debut from Harba with a batch of oddball UK techno cuts, all firmly stamped with his own style. No ‘doof doof’ business techno - strictly 140 heaters with a UK rudeness, marrying vocal chops that feel haunting and hallucinatory yet anthemic and hypey.
He covers ample ground over the four tracker - crispy percs, squiggly synths, raw textures, and dancefloor feels, all with an upfront swagger. 'Despair EP' is a wake up call for others to inject some identity into their sound. Early support from Ben UFO and Pangaea.
2024 Reissue
Alphacut Records reloads its third wave with an upfront jungle plate. Meticulously selected over the years since the last allover amen statement Fundamentals EP as of cat.nr. ACR 3001, these four new killer tunes take no prisoners as well.
Sumone (with his Planet Mu fame) and Dan Miles (formerly Skubi like on Modern Ruins) as the midwest cowboys meet the North Sea sailors Istari Lasterfahrer (running his Sozialistischer Plattenbau) and Ill_K (on Nord and re:st)to execute this smashing Darka Mentors EP!
"Wicked Man Sound" is one of the most sinister jungle sciences we came across lately. Choppage on point, layerslike spread, stabbing basses, dark percussion, oldskool pads - you name it. "Crash!" feels like a UK hardcore banger, but is refreshingly switching breakbeats instead of gabba kicks. "Echo Chamber" drops an irresistible rave stab into the dubber dungeons and "Kuro" celebrates a very samurai style of a halftime cut to round up this breaksfest menu with ease.
Alphacut operates on a non-profit level, most releases cover their costs, if even. Half of any returns will be donated to Webster's Amen Break Gesture campaign II raising funds for the original creator of The Winston's Amen Brother breakbeat: Richard Spencer. With the deepest respect for this milestone of a sample!
Malmö’s Mod Sens arrives on Programm LDN with an electric intersection of soundsystem styles and taut techno and electro. Pushing inventive, bassweight dance music through his Melt club night in the city he calls home, the wildly talented Swedish producer brings an international outlook to his subtly crafted workouts.
“These four tracks were all made at a time in Malmö when electro was completely dominating the underground scene,” says Mod Sens. “That had a strong influence on the creation of these tracks, but I was definitely more urgent to create my take on ‘UK’ Sounds.”
The sound on Misperceptions EP is introspective by design, cast in melancholic pads which balance the rugged impact of the crafty drums and upfront low-end. Mod Sens himself describes exploring the tension between wanting to run and feeling ‘stuck’, and that yearning sensation culminates in four elevated cuts that uphold Programm’s commitment to advancements in club music.
Visual director Blackwall and graphic designer Alfie Allen responded to the tangible mood of the EP, resulting in an accompanying visualiser and sleeve design which round out the emotion Mod Sens was reaching for while working on the music. As a complete package, it’s an audio-visual statement which leaves a lingering impression, as any art worth making
Nova Vida is a unique producer's album project injecting new life into classic songs, colouring them with the broad palette that are DJ / Producer Chris Bangs’ influences from his lifetime in music. 10 classic songs have been given the distinctive Nova Vida treatment, Ritmo Da Vida features unknown vocalists and musicians Chris has discovered and incorporated into the project from around the globe. Drawing on Bangs' influences such as Sergio Mendes and the sounds of Brazil, Samba, Bossa etc thru Classic British Pop, 70’s West Coast and beyond Nova Vida fuses all of the above with ten truly classic songs taking them into new musical arenas they haven't previously graced.
The first single “My Only” ft Klei came out in July 2023 on limited vinyl, got lots of club plays , specialist radio support and spent a month on the Jazz FM A List. The album already has serious upfront tastemaker support many who are digging Empty Faces (Vera Cruz) , the sublime instrumental Affirmation and the sultry samba vocal version of Stormy. Our favourite in the BDQ office is Each and every one, its fabulous, the whole album is just perfect for summer 2024. We here at BDQ are privileged to release this album on the label, as usual vinyl will be super limited.
The third major release from deadbeat Records – East London’s newest home for delinquent house, techno and breaks – sees I Love Acid heads Posthuman swagger out of the shadows with a wry smile, packing a full clip and one in the chamber.
DBR003 offers 4 peak cuts of early-hours madness. Pure and simple. And we are not talking fucking beautiful sunrises here. This is 4am, sanity wearing off, blurred vision, locked jaw, pumped fist, heart in your mouth kind of music. Where Extender drops in hard upfront with its jacked, high energy rave stabs,
Head Wrench’s relentless acid worm burrows a little deeper into your amygdala before splitting it wide open. On the flipside, Wobble Tool’s suitably drippy hook oozes over a brooding, proggy baseline, but only after Builder growls out the gate, an irresistible dancefloor-melting monster with an appetite for destruction
2025 Repress
Following the success of last years Babe Roots EP, Echocord revisits the package with reworks from Forest Drive West, Mike Schommer, Felix K, DB1 and Babe Roots themself.
London’s DB1 leads the package with his take on ‘Work Hard’, a mostly beatless interpretation fuelled by oscillating white noise, winding dub chords and snippets of the original’s dub reggae vocals. Hidden Hawai’s Felix K then ups the energy levels with a high-octane take on ‘Sufferation Time’, driven by upfront, shuffled and distorted drums and unfaltering, tension building dub swells.
The hotly tipped Forest Drive West steps up next to remix ‘Jah Nuh Dead’, a typically classy reimagining from the Livity Sound artist, stipping things back to ethereal pads, off-kilter percussion and sporadic echoes of the original composition. Former Deepchord member Mike Schommer’s take on ‘Bless Me’ follows, the pioneer of contemporary dub techno delivers a cinematic rework employing sweeping voices, glitched out electronics and resonant swells alongside the bouncy dub reggae groove of the original.
Lastly Babe Roots revisit one of their own compositions, ‘Sufferation Time’, delivering a more refined feel this time round with more impetus on drums and dark, hypnotic synths to contrast the original’s more vocal focused feel.
"At the time I'd have been fairly upfront about wanting to release tracks that were faster than most and in a style that wasn't straight electro. Some of these tracks fell into a weird middle ground for me, so they got put aside. It had been 20 years since I'd heard any of them and on listening back I reckoned that time had been kind to them so I started remastering them and uploading to Soundcloud alongside some classic 12" releases from my label Trama Industries.
For me, it was interesting to hear sounds and techniques emerging on some later tracks that would form the basis of my later projects like Legion Of Two and Of One. I'd kinda forgotten about that. Huge thanks to Eddie and Intrinsic Rhythm for suggesting a release and believing in the project"
In 2023, Irène Drésel, an electro artist between Vitalic and Solomun, became the first woman in history to win the César (French Cinéma Award) for " Best Original Score ". Her colourful techno music is as sensual as it is upfront inspired by a rich, magnetic, sonic and visual universe. After two consecutive EPs, "Rita" (2017) and "Icône" (2018), her debut album "Hyper Cristal" was released in Spring 2019. It was followed by a second album, "Kinky Dogma" in 2021, which Libération (French National Newspaper) describes as "an accomplished work of techno, ambitious but not pretentious, since it never loses sight of its author"s objective: to provoke irresistible joy in the listener". And now is the time for "Rose Fluo", her brand new album!
Repress!
Coming as the ninth edition of the series, ‘EP9’ stays true to committing Defected’s biggest digital releases to wax, delivering an upfront package of house heat previously unavailable on vinyl. Kicking off the A-Side with Riva Starr’s remix of Defected anthem ‘Hey Hey’ by Dennis Ferrer, a tribute to Giorgio Moroder’s pivotal sound and the Paradise Garage early house vibe and serious dancefloor weapon. Ferreck Dawn’s ‘By My Side’ follows, a refined house groover with melodic keys, a soft filtered vocal and undulating beat featuring Californian producer Anthony Valadez. The flip opens with John Summit’s ‘Deep End’, a captivating house cut from the rising star that achieved Beatport #1 weeks after its release. Closing out the EP is Defected regular OFFAIAH, a slick, dancefloor-ready cut with OFFAIAH’s signature grooving bassline and an irresistible melody.
The music of Atlanta trio Omni has always swung fast and hit hard. And Souvenir, their fourth album and second for Sub Pop, packs their biggest punch yet. Inactive during the majority of the pandemic-the longest downtime in their history-they approached this recording with lots of pent-up energy. Guitarist Frankie Broyles, singer/bassist Philip Frobos, and drummer Chris Yonker converted their creative fuel into sharp, driving songs that land immediately, sporting chopping riffs, staccato beats, and wiry melodies. Why does Souvenir sound so sharp? Because each track is a compact unit that stands on its own, reflecting the time and place in which it was created. That's why Omni called the album Souvenir: it's a collection of audio objects, a stash of musical miniatures. Think of it as a family photo album, a binder of rare playing cards, a shoebox holding precious gems. Take "Plastic Pyramid," the first song Omni wrote after coming out of lockdown. Filled with twists and turns, it's a journey unto itself, charged by clanging chords, spinning rhythm, and Frobos trading lines with Izzy Glaudini of Automatic, with whom Omni toured with last fall. (Glaudini sings on two other Souvenir tracks, the first guest vocalist the band has collaborated with). Or take opener "Exacto," a slicing web of intertwined guitar and bass. Its razor-fine notes and syncopated beats perfectly match pointillist Frobos lyrics such as "Exacto, de facto, concise, quite right"-a line that could well be an Omni mantra. The precision and clarity of Souvenir comes from some new Omni developments. For one, this is their first album with Yonker as their full-time drummer, and his forceful playing adds exclamation points to every pointed moment on Souvenir. In addition, the trio worked with Atlanta-based engineer Kristofer Sampson for the first time. Sampson pushed the band to a higher degree of power, with Frobos's vocals more upfront in his pulsing mix and the rest of the music leaping out of the speakers. You might notice that Frobos' singing is a bit more emotional and even nostalgic this time around. In crafting his vocals, he was inspired by the early college radio rock of formative favorites like REM, the Cure, and Big Audio Dynamite-the kind of bands whose melodies could have been top 40 hits in an alternative universe. The lyrics on Souvenir are also by turns funny, absurd, and even cryptic. A wry humor has always coursed through Omni's songs, and this time, it comes in shades of both dark and light. In "Granite Kiss," an "astronomical" love story concludes with the hope that "we can decay together," while in "PG," a romantic walk in the park includes a rose-colored mugging. Immediacy rushes throughout every moment of Souvenir, making it the band's most powerful album to date. Omni has truly crafted a musical keepsake-a set of songs that you'll want to keep close, an aural memento you'll cherish for the rest of time.
Dutch synth-wizard Nadia Struiwigh brings her eclectic live approach to Blueprint Records.á On the "Voxis Ohlun EP", Struiwigh reflects her profound command over synthesis and sequencing, crafting upfront techno with a vigorous, nostalgic feel.
Nadia Struiwigh, the Dutch artist rooted in Rotterdam and currently based in Berlin, has carved a unique niche in the electronic music scene.á Her genre-defying compositions, blending ambient, techno and electro, exhibit her signature ethereal and melodious production style, with a discography gracing acclaimed labels like Central Processing Unit, Nous'klaer, Dekmantel, Clone and InFinÒ.á Inspired by the Warp school of electronica, her live performances (ranging from immersive ambient to kinetic techno) are a testament to her technical prowess and emotional connection with her audience.á A versatile DJ and live act, she graces both concert halls and strobe-lit club sessions, curating sets that span from driving techno to deeper, emotive realms, earning her residencies at venues like Tresor.á Her versatile expertise extends beyond music; she collaborates with pioneering music brands such as Roland, Korg, Teenage Engineering, Arturia and others, embodying her reputation as a leading tech enthusiast within the industry.á Her contributions to esteemed platforms like Resident Advisor, Phantasy, Bleep, Slam Radio and Red Light Radio underscore her adaptability and prowess across a wide spectrum of electronic music, further solidifying her multifaceted presence in the field.
"Voxis Ohlun" invites you into a mesmerizing journey through the enchanting landscapes of the '90s, blending diverse musical influences seamlessly.á The focus here is on 4x4 dancefloor music, adorned with a tantalizing hint of breaks and pulsating rhythms, and a sprinkle of fairyland allure.á Crafted using only hardware, predominantly the beloved Korg Electribe MX, the sounds resonate with the essence of that era.á Each track unfolds like a chapter in a wondrous tale, interweaving nostalgia with a contemporary energy, ensuring an immersive experience.
Blue Cheer were the loudest, heaviest band of the 1960s. What they played and how they played it was labeled Heavy Metal partly from a reference by the Beat writer William F. Burroughs and partly from a lyric in Steppenwolf's Born To Be Wild (Heavy Metal Thunder). It described them perfectly and they ushered in a new age of searingly loud and upfront rock which would quickly establish itself as the outer-fringe of psychedelia. These three early demo tracks predate their debut album Vincebus Eruptum, and have more grind, guts, and grit than anything they've ever recorded! Pressed on white vinyl!
Repress!
Supermercado: a mosaic, tangible, colourful to the point of saturaton, anchored in a very real present.
Behind the metaphor that gives the new album its ttle, Corridor examines modernity, takes on this transitonal transiton by looking at where it went wrong: pushed around by big data, apathy induced by oversaturaton, the speeding up of cycles, efort stripped to its bare minimum, physical detachment.
Afer giving the art-rock and jangle-pop treatment to their frst two eforts Un Magicien en toi and Le Voyage Éternel, Corridor stcks to its signature sound: upfront, dissonant guitars upheld by minimal beats and syncopated bass lines, yet also marks a new directon. Supermercado leans on repeated strong melodies, slow progressions, bolstered by two distnct voices, yielding a more hypnotc, sharper, and strangely, poppier result. Corridor recorded this new record in the hallowed halls of Montreal's Breakglass Studios, with Emmanuel Ethier (Chocolat, Bernhari, Peter Peter) assuming producton dutes.








































