quête:va

Als Baby Woodrose 2016 eine Pause einlegte, änderte Frontmann und Songwriter Lorenzo Woodrose seinen Namen in seinen richtigen Namen Uffe Lorenzen. Er wechselte auch in seine Muttersprache Dänisch und veröffentlichte von 2017 bis 2021 drei Soloalben. Danach gründete er ein neues Power-Trio mit seinen alten Freunden Palle Demant am Bass und Jens Eyde am Schlagzeug. Die neue Band nannte sich Lydsyn und veröffentlichte 2022 ihr selbstbetiteltes Debütalbum. Jetzt schreiben wir das Jahr 2024 und die Band ist bereit, ihr zweites Album mit dem Titel ,Hojspændt" (was man mit Hochspannung übersetzen könnte) zu veröffentlichen, und das ist sicherlich ein passender Titel. Das Album wurde im berühmten Sweet Silence Studio in Kopenhagen von dem legendären Produzenten Flemming Rasmussen aufgenommen, der sich vor allem durch seine Arbeit an den Alben ,Ride The Lightning" und ,Master Of Puppets" von Metallica einen Namen gemacht hat.Lydsyn hat sich dem analogen Hörerlebnis verschrieben. Keine Backing Tracks, Auto-Tune oder Pro-Tools und ,all der Scheiß", wie die Band es ausdrücken würde. Abgesehen von ein paar Overdubs wurden die 10 Songs live im Studio aufgenommen und das merkt man auch an der dynamischen Performance. Die Songs auf ,Hojspændt" sind noch härter als die auf dem Debütalbum, und der Hardrock-Aspekt wurde aufgedreht, während die psychedelische Seite zurückgedreht wurde. Unter all dem Gepolter haben die Songs aber auch eine eingängige Seite, die sich schon nach wenigen Durchläufen im Gehirn festsetzt. Für Fans von Monster Magnet, QOTSA, Wolfmother ,Hojspændt" wird am 25. Oktober auf Vinyl und digitalen Plattformen veröffentlicht. ,Musik Er Nummer 1" wird als erste digitale Single am 6. September veröffentlicht, begleitet von einem Live-Video, das bei zwei ausverkauften Shows im Loppen in Kopenhagen im April dieses Jahres aufgenommen wurde.

"In Murmuration is the ninth album by the Von Hertzen Brothers, which will be released on October 25, 2024. The album is
a blend of progressive rock and melodic hooks, and features a variety of musical styles including stadium rock anthems,
art-rock, and power-pop. The album's themes include resilience, personal growth, and the global political landscape"

Mit seiner nunmehr 10. Platte für Exile On Mainstream (die 'Suiciety' Single und das Trialogos-Album "Stroh zu Gold" einfach mal mitgezählt) braucht Conny wohl weder eine Einführung, noch eine oberflächliche Bejubelung. "Troubadour" würde das auch nicht gerecht, denn selten hat man den in Deutschland und Italien lebenden Künstler so reduziert, deep und nahbar erlebt. Die Platte ist eine Hinwendung zu seinen Wurzeln als Solokünstler, der mit spärlicher Instrumentierung und bedingungsloser Ehrlichkeit ganze Kathedralen mit Emotionen füllen kann. Nach eher experimentellen Ausflügen auf "Wahn und Sinn", seinem vielbeachteten deutschsprachigen Album aus 2023 und dem eher opulent instrumentierten "Doom Folk" von 2019 ist "Troubadour" nun wieder ein reines Singer/Songwriter-Album geworden. Eine Gitarre, eine Stimme - mehr braucht es nicht. Conny beschreibt es selbst wie folgt: "Meine Idee war, ein Album zu machen, das den minimalistischen Ansatz von Raw Love Songs und Black Happy aufgreift, aber zugleich das widerspiegelt, was ich heute erlebe. Konzerte sind für mich immer das Herz meiner Musik, deshalb wollte ich Stücke schreiben, die ich jederzeit und überall spielen kann - in Clubs, auf Festivals oder unterwegs, unter den geringsten Anforderungen. Ich hatte eine Platte im Kopf, die Raum zum Atmen und Zuhören bietet, damit man die Details der erzählten Bilder erkennen kann." Für Fans von Townes Van Zandt, Leonard Cohen, Elliott Smith

On Still + Bright, her highly-anticipated follow up to, Wary + Strange, Amythyst Kiah shares a dozen songs that mark an evolution in her sound. Kiah says, “With this album, I’ve always been incredibly interested in stories and philosophy. Lots of the songs are inspired by the cosmos, space, meditation, and mindfulness. It’s a way to piece out what it means to be a human being in the modern world. It’s the general idea that we should all have the freedom to decide what path we want to choose.” Still + Bright is produced by Butch Walker (Fall Out Boy, Green Day, Weezer) and features special guests including SG Goodman, Avi Kaplan, and Billy Strings. All of the songs were brought to life by Kiah and co-writers, including Sean McConnell, Avi Kaplan, Sadler Vaden, and Tim Armstrong, among others. Still + Bright is set for release on October 25, 2024. “Years in the making, Still + Bright explores what it means to be a human being in the modern world. Songwriting is my way to marry big, overarching philosophical ideas and questions into a musical, more organized arrangement. Inspired by the cosmos, space, meditation, and mindfulness – this record directly challenges religious and political dogma, stating that we should all have the freedom to decide what path we want to choose.” Recently Kiah featured in Salon talking about her love of country and bluegrass music and was included in a New York Times T Magazine spotlight and documentary: The Next Generation of Black Folk Singers. Her episode of PBS’ The Express Way with Dulé Hill aired nationally on April 30, Kiah is featured in Episode 2: “Appalachia”. She recently appeared on a panel at the Television Critics Association Press Conference which was attended by over 200 television critics around the globe. This June she will be on the road opening for Iron & Wine.

"In a musical life that spans close to three decades, Chuck Ragan has consistently worn his heart on his sleeve, and carved out a musical niche in the process. First with post-hardcore trailblazers Hot Water Music and subsequently on his own, he's built a large and singularly powerful body of work whose honesty, immediacy and warmth have won the loyalty of a fiercely devoted international fan base that's supported him through his various musical incarnations.
Available on CD and 1LP with insert on 3 Colour - Yellow, Green & Blue Smush Vinyl."

"Critically acclaimed and the most-watched Netflix series during the week of 12th February 2024, One Day – adapted from the David Nicholls book – follows the lives and relationship of Emma and Dexter over the course of 20 years, presented through the lens of their annual encounters on the 15th of July.
The series has been a hit globally (number one in 80 countries) with a standout soundtrack, including The Cranberries ‘Dreams’, Joan Armatrading ‘Love And Affection’, Crowded House ‘Weather With You’, Soul II Soul ‘Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)’, Cameo ‘Candy’, Nick Drake ‘Northern Sky’.
This 2LP release curates twenty songs from across the twenty year period of the series’ soundtrack, as well as including two tracks from the score to close each disc in the set."

Englabörn & Variations ist ein berührendes posthumes Zeugnis der eindringlichen Tonsprache des Komponisten. Auf dem Doppelalbum hat sich Jóhannsson selbst mit seinem ersten Solo-Album aus dem Jahr
2002 auseinandergesetzt und diesem neue Variationen hinzugefügt. So enthält es eine Klavierversion des
Titeltracks von DG-Kollege Vikingur Ólafsson und ergreifende Chorstücke. Aber auch andere international
bekannte Musiker, die Jóhannsson bewunderte, haben ihre Interpretationen hinzugefügt: u.a. Ryuichi
Sakamoto, Ambient-Duo A Winged Victory for a Sullen, Komponist und Produzent Paul Corley. ”Seine
Musik ist herausragend in ihrer intensiven Klangfülle und lyrischen Dichte. Und sie ist für meine Ohren
sehr isländisch”, so Sakamoto.
Jóhann Jóhannsson hat in seinen Werken einen ganz eigenen Kosmos an Klängen erschaffen, Musik
voll melodischer Eleganz und tiefer Melancholie. Sein faszinierend dichtes und soghaftes Debutalbum
“Englabörn” legte den musikalischen Grundstein für zahlreiche weitere Projekte. Sein erstes Album hat
auch nach vielen Jahren nichts an Kraft und Tiefe verloren und Jóhannsson wollte das Alte neben dem
Neuen erklingen lassen.
Das Album ist seit langer Zeit nun wieder auf Vinyl erhältlich.

Seit vielen Jahren verschönert uns die Rock Christmas mit stimmungsvollen Weihnachtstiteln aus Rock,
Pop und auch Jazz die Feiertage. Zeit für ein Update dieser erfolgreichen Serie. Neben Klassikern, wie
Band Aid ”Do They Know It’s Christmas”, Justin Bieber & Mariah Carey ”All I Want For Christmas”
oder auch Elvis Presley ”Silent Night” befinden sich auf der neuen Ausgabe auch neuere Aufnahmen, wie
z.B. Sarah Connor ”Ring Out The Bells” und Katy Perry ”Cozy Little Christmas” oder Sam Smith ”Have
Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”. Erhältlich ist diese beliebte Compilation erstmals auch auf Vinyl (4-fach
& farbig) und wurde außerdem auf eine 3-fach CD erweitert. Das volle Weihnachtsprogramm!

Repescagem by Quartabê, released 25 October 2024, includes the following tracks: "A Onda Do Mar Me Leva ", "Eu Cheguei Lá ", "Beira Do Mar" and more.

Jubiläums Werkschau des Münchener Indie Labels Echokammer. Wie kein anderes Label repräsentiert Albert Pöschls Echokammer den Sound of Munich Underground. Am Außenposten von Popmusik ist Echokammer ein Labor, in dem Schablonen renoviert oder weiterentwickelt werden. Disko wird (in Kenntnis des Sound of Munich selbstverständlich) neu zusammengebaut, von Punk werden die weiterhin verblüffend beliebten Klischees abgeschraubt, Electro wird mit scheinbar unpassenden Elementen versetzt usw. Das alles klingt nach einer sehr ernsten Angelegenheit. Tatsächlich aber könnte man auch einen langen Essay "Über die Komik in der Musik am Beispiel von Echokammer-Platten" schreiben. Wobei die Komik immer karl-valentinesk bizarr-grotesk ist und nie comedy-witzig. In etwa vergleichbar mit der Taktik, Autoritäten nicht mit Gebrüll, sondern mit Verarschung anzurempeln.

Recorded in Memphis, 1960-62 by Home of the Blues Record Company – sixteen tracks of vintage rocking Memphis blues that went unissued at the label’s demise and were lost in a warehouse, ultimately rediscovered and released by Acoustic Archives.

All now remastered to perfection by Oz Fritz and a team of A&R experts working with the original masters, including ones made by Sam Phillips Recording Studios in Memphis.

Featuring the superb arrangements of trumpeter Willie Mitchell, accompanying some of the best singers of the day, with guitar by Sammy Lawhorn, bass by Lewi Steinberg and drums by AI Jackson Jr. Recorded in glorious mono by Scotty Moore at Sam Phillips Recording Service.

Each artist bio had been thoroughly researched under the guidance of Acoustic Archives producer Marc Ryan with the assistance of Dr. Dave Evans, head musicologist at Memphis State U. The story provided in the 12-page booklet includes how these cuts eventually surfaced from the early 1960s and features the photos and commentary on the recording artists, with how the original owners of the Home of The Blues Record Shop, once at 107 Beale Street, worked at the recordings.

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***Limited amount of part 31 of the Herdersmat series available now. This vinyl was previously available only by purchasing the full MORDH005. Generic black sleeve.

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Limited amount of part 17 of the Herdersmat series available now. This vinyl was previously available only by purchasing the full MORDH003. Generic black sleeve.

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Mord.
Morderstwo.
Rotterdam.
Herdersmat.

Limited amount of part 33 of the Herdersmat series available now. This vinyl was previously available only by purchasing the full MORDH005. Generic black sleeve.

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Mord.
Morderstwo.
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Limited amount of part 18 of the Herdersmat series available now. This vinyl was previously available only by purchasing the full MORDH003. Generic black sleeve.

The debut recording from the duo of multi-award-winning Scottish author David Keenan and Bruce Russell, the guitarist from the greatest underground rock band of the late 20th century, New Zealand’s The Dead C, was recorded live in Christchurch, NZ, as part of the WORD festival in August 2023. A series of live improvised settings that pair readings from Keenan’s monolithic and critically-acclaimed modernist masterpiece, Monument Maker (White Rabbit 2021), with guitar and electronics from Russell, the music takes off on the kind of post-VU fantasy of punk-primitive free music posited by Russell in projects like A Handful of Dust while expanding on Russell’s no-technique blues w/scalpel sharp riffs and aformal blats of pure electricity that match the religious eroto-mania of the text. Keenan reads w/shamanistic intensity and with a sonorous, incantatory rhythm, while Russell conjures the very ghost of the book straight out of the air. Think the early Patti Smith/Lenny Kaye spoken word/guitar jams informed by religious painting, Bach cantatas, Pierre Reverdy, Goya, Charles Olson, Arthur Doyle and Rudolph Grey. Features full colour photography by musician and artist Heather Leigh taken in-situ during the writing of Monument Maker in France in 2018. Bruce Russell is a practitioner in sound, who for forty years has been a member of The Dead C and A Handful of Dust. He mixes rock, electro-acoustics, noise and improvisation in equal measures. Also directed two of New Zealand’s vanguard independent labels, Xpressway and Corpus Hermeticum. His solo guitar practice reconfigures the blues as a form of improvisational auto-destruction. He is also a writer and his next book is titled ‘Rock’n’roll: my part in its downfall’. David Keenan is the author of six novels; This is Memorial Device (Faber & Faber) which won the London Magazine Prize for Debut Fiction and was shortlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize; For the Good Times (Faber & Faber), which won the Gordon Burn Prize and was shortlisted for the Encore Award for Second Novels; Xstabeth (White Rabbit), which was shortlisted for the Dublin Literary Prize; The Towers The Fields The Transmitters (White Rabbit); Monument Maker (White Rabbit), which was a Rough Trade Book of the Year; and Industry of Magic & Light (White Rabbit). Edna O’Brien has said of him “I sometimes think David Keenan dreams aloud. His prose has the effortless, enigmatic, unsettling quality of dreams… reading him feels like being cut open to the accompanying sound of ecstatic music.”

For fans of Michael Kiwunaka, Jon Batiste, Leon Bridges, Gregory Porter, and Mg.Kee. Full tour in the works for 2025 in North America and Europe. Collaborated with a wide range of artists including Jack White, Dwele, Slum Village, Black Milk, Foreign Exchange, 14KT, and Daru Jones. Former musical director for tours for Black Milk and Slum Village, throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Japan. “From the Throne Room” is Abernathy’s fourth official LP, following the trilogy of “Monologue,” “Dialogue,” and “Epilogue,” released between 2016 and 2019. Aaron Abernathy has been firmly established in the modern soul scene for almost two decades, and he continues to elevate his craft as a songwriter and performer. His latest LP “From the Throne Room” once again demonstrates a rare ability to seamlessly shift between lyrical themes and musical styles, and it is his most inspired and uplifting album to date.
The turmoil caused by the pandemic was especially hard on touring musicians, and as a veteran musical director and bandleader who has regularly traversed the globe, Abernathy was certainly affected. Instead of wallowing in grief and darkness, he tapped into his gifts as a songwriter and lyricist to manifest light and optimism in his own life. As expressed on the opening track “New Relationship,” this “new way of seeing” kicked open some new creative doors for him as a musician and producer, with a wide variety of influences. The four-to-the-floor push of “A Reason to Smile” brings to mind 80’s post-disco boogie, “Show Off” shows off a modern rock edge, and the booming, driving energy in tunes like “Hope Song” and “Joy” is reminiscent of the electric 60’s soul of Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding. With its catchy hooks, powerful lead vocals, and slick self-produced arrangements, “From the Throne Room” proves that Aaron Abernathy remains one of the most talented singer/songwriters of his generation in contemporary soul music.

A RADICAL HORIZON is comprised of a series of duets between cellist Lori Goldston and pianist Stefan Christoff, recorded on a late Fall afternoon in Brooklyn, NY. A conversation between friends, these improvised excursions reflect a willingness to be open to the spirits in the space and between the notes; a spirit of communion that, as Stefan writes, "guides and dances with our dialogue together".

Stefan Christoff is a Canadian musician, community organizer, and journalist based in Montreal, Quebec. He has collaborated with artists such as Sam Shalabi and Adriana Camacho, performs with his brother Jordan as a duo in Anarchist Mountains, and has released music on labels such as Moon Villain, Shimmering Moods, and Aural Canyon.

A lifelong community activist, he helped establish the Musicians For Palestine project and has engaged in street-level solidarity work in Lebanon and The Philippines as well as closer to home in Montreal. This is his second appearance on Beacon Sound after 'In Sofia', an album of piano improvisations recorded in Bulgaria, was released on the label in 2023.

Classically trained and rigorously de-trained, possessor of a restless, semi-feral spirit, Lori Goldston is a cellist, composer, improvisor, producer, writer and teacher from Seattle. Her voice as a cellist, amplified or acoustic, is full, textured, committed and original. A relentless inquirer, her work drifts freely across borders that separate genre, discipline, time and geography.

Current and former collaborators and/or bosses include Earth, Nirvana, Mirah, Jessika Kenney, Ilan Volkov, Eyvind Kang, Stuart Dempster, David Byrne, Terry Riley, Jherek Bischoff, Malcom Goldstein, Steve Von Till, Lonnie Holley, Cat Power, Ellen Fullman, Maya Dunietz, Mik Quantius, Embryo, O Paon, Tara Jane O’Neil, Natacha Atlas, Broken Water, Ed Pias, Christian Rizzo and Sophie Laly, Threnody Ensemble, Cynthia Hopkins, 33 Fainting Spells, Vanessa Renwick, Mark Mitchell, Lynn Shelton, and many more.

Her work has been commissioned by and/or performed at the Kennedy Center, Sydney Festival, Cineteca Nacional de México, Tectonics Festival, Frye Art Museum, Time Based Art Festival (TBA), WNYC, The New Foundation, Paris Fashion Week, Northwest Film Forum, On the Boards, Seattle International Film Festival, Seattle Jewish Film Festival, Bumbershoot, Crossing Border Festival, Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, Joe’s Pub, the Stone, University of Chicago, and venues large and small throughout North America, Mexico, Australia, and Europe.

Somehow, 15 years has passed since I worked on A Colour For Autumn.

This recording was, in many ways, a critical one for me. In some respects, it rounded out a period of work that was focused on a particular marriage of thematics and harmony. Like For Varying Degrees Of Winter, it dwelled on old world impressions of the seasons, something that, in the southern hemisphere, isn’t intrinsically part of our way of approaching place. I think it was this incongruity with my own lived experience that kick started the interest in making these recordings.

The intention had originally been to take Vivaldi head-on , as the holder of the Four Seasons terrain (I jest of course), but shortly after completing this album, it became resoundingly clear that even in the old world, seasonality was a thing that was known ‘then’, and unknowable ‘now’.

Climate change, as a lived experience and not merely as a ‘possibility’, suddenly came into focus with reports flooding in about the climatic dynamics since the turn of the century and events like the Black Saturday fires here in Australia. It felt like, and continues to feel like, seasonality as some predictable measure of our world is relegated to the ‘before’ times. This record is not about these climatic shifts however, more a recognition of how we have used patterns and predictability to guide us over the centuries and perhaps a realisation that the way forward is not the path we have known historically.

Listening back to the record with fresh ears, a process made completely delightful by Stephan Mathieu who has carefully remastered it, I am struck by how minimal some of the structures were. There are moments that strike me as uncharacteristically patient and even generous, allowing one element to hold without interference. I’m grateful to still feel a deep connection to this edition and to the people and places that helped shape it.

I hope you find some sense of your place here. It’s offered with that intention and invitation.

Bobbi Lu is the moniker of Lucy Ryan, born and raised in Oxfordshire in the UK, now living in Bruges after following love a few years ago. As a DIY bedroom producer, she’s released a handful of singles and is now ready with a debut album – ‘Arrow, Four’ – that will be out on 25 October. Drawing inspiration from acts like Radiohead, FKA Twigs, Jockstrap and Saya Grey, Bobbi Lu intertwines piano melodies with deep crunchy bass, electronica and samples, coming together in a dystopian and mysterious sound. As Ryan started gigging, she quickly attracted attention and went from supporting acts like The Haunted Youth and Sylvie Kreusch to playing her own headline shows and amazing festivals like The Great Escape (UK).

‘Arrow, Four’ is a collection of ten songs, written over the course of a few years, the process of each one completely different. “I guess the individual tracks have their own story, but in my head each story is just a symptom of a bigger theme, mostly inspired by the book Future Shock by Alvin Toffler. In it he talks about people’s ability to adapt having essentially a limit, and with growth accelerating could we be overloaded and experience a 'future shock'. And maybe that’s already happening, most notably in the form of mental health struggles.” “It made me think of how progression creates new challenges, an arrow going one way is pulled back by another in the opposite direction. I feel like it’s a topic more relevant than ever, especially with AI most recently. I think I use this topic to fuel my lyrics mainly as a way of forgiving myself and others, in those moments where we struggle and make mistakes, that we're all just doing our best in trying to keep up with a rapidly changing environment.” This is also reflected in the artwork by Maarten Derous. “It ties everything together. He came to me after listening to it and said something that came out for him was fragility, which at the time I completely did not think of. But he nailed it. It’s like, yes do it, be fragile and take it easy, it’s a pretty good answer to stuff being pulled in all directions.”

Limited LEMON Vinyl Edition

Flame is Slow collects together three acclaimed seven-inch EPs (originally released on the Noisebox label in 1996 and 1997) by the mysterious, mercurial Navigator. The post-Loveless UK underground of the early 1990s was a vibrant place, despite what music biographies may tell you. What might now be lumped together as “post-rock” was in fact a varied and forward-thinking group of artists creating inquisitive music in the wake of the grunge goldrush. Contemporaries such as Hood, Flying Saucer Attack, Movietone and – of course – Mogwai and Arab Strap are rightfully seen as timeless nearly thirty years on but they’re really just the tip of the iceberg. Navigator might get mentioned less but their story is every bit as intriguing as any of their peers. Navigator formed in Norwich in 1994. Their music was consistently introspective and melancholic, but their brief existence of five years saw them move rapidly from traditional song structures towards noise, found sound, free improvisation, electronics, primitive instrument building and – ultimately - silence. They were an enigma back then and they remain so now. They released four seven inches before a solitary album Nostalgie (1997, Swarf Finger Records). Each release felt different to the last but always intimate and peculiar. Their use of sound and space is nothing short of magical. Rough and unsettling textures rub against each other, selected and mixed instinctively. Another band’s discarded mistake becomes a key element in their hands. The band received much acclaim and some genuine commercial success when single When the Wires Fall ended up in the indie charts. They shared stages with Low, David Thomas, Aerial M, Stars Of The Lid and Labradford and toured with Mogwai and Arab Strap culminating in the now-notorious, equipment-levelling performance at The Garage in London. The original version of the group played live for the last time in 1999 before quietly disappearing. It was perhaps inevitable that a band so committed to exploring and refining their sound should end by removing themselves from it entirely. Aside from a brief (and excellent) reformation in 2006 and a CDR compilation of those early seven inches, Navigator have been quiet for over 20 years until now. Flame is Slow assembles the blue, red and green Noisebox EPs into one cohesive album-length collection, remastered with care and reassembled by the band. It rightfully places Navigator where they belong – as one of the most curious, adventurous, and beautiful groups this island has ever produced. “Whenever I think of bands that more people should’ve heard than did, I always think about Navigator. It’s great that the music they made is going to be available again as it is truly special and deserves to be heard by more people” – Stuart Braithwaite

‘I Got What You Need’ is the statement from a troubadour coming into town to inform and entertain the people. Bearing songs of soul searching, of spiritual uplift, of tunes to groove to. Equipped with a powerful voice and stinging guitar the troubadour lays down his marker and backs up the statement. Two Times UK Blues Award winner Mississippi MacDonald has it all to play that troubadour as he presents his third album on APM Records. The gravelly Gospel tones on If I Could Only Hear My Mother Pray Again, and the imploring emotion on Your Dreams have MacDonald stretching out vocally. The former song in turn also showcasing another tour de force from regular backing vocalist Lucy Randall. Two self-penned instrumentals pay tribute; 3.35AM, to one of MacDonald’s prime influences Freddie King, and Soul City One to the in-house studio sound of Stax / MacDonald continues to be an excellent interpreter of southern soul and two more songs from the stable of Memphis studio and publishing house Ecko in Hard Luck and Trouble and the title track prove this. So too the band’s take on the R&B classic We’re Gonna Make It which in MacDonald’s hands really swings. Sinking is an epic ballad in which to lose yourself completely. The album is rich in variety, vibe and soulful energy. It’s MacDonald’s Blues and a whole lot more. MacDonald is a guest artist with the ‘Take Me To The River All Stars’, performing on stage at Red Rooster, filmed in session with Eric Gales and Jools Holland, and is filmed again at Royal Studios in Memphis on October 1st. MacDonald and band will perform at the UK Blues Challenge on October 8th, MacDonald is special guest of Visit Mississippi in Liverpool on October 18th when they unveil the first ever Blues Trail marker outside The Cavern. MacDonald will perform with Clarksdale veteran Super Chikan. International PR agent Blind Raccoon has been engaged to promote the new album. Last album ‘Heavy State Loving Blues’ was no. 1 on Roots Music Radio Contemporary Blues, no.1 on the IBBA chart for albums of the year 2023, and top 50 on the US Apple iTunes Blues chart, plus plays and a session on BBC Radio 2 Blues Show (Cerys Mathews). Live shows running up to end of March 2025. A singer/ songwriter from London who speaks quietly but makes music with real gravitas. A rising star since winning Traditional Blues Artist Of The Year and Acoustic Act of the Year at the 2024 UK Blues Awards. MacDonald has released two previous albums on APM Records. ‘Heavy State Loving Blues’ in 2023, and ‘Do Right Say Right’ in 2021- selected as a top 10 Blues album of the year in MOJO.

Upper Space is the new album from beloved Hip Hop DJ/Producer/turntablist, Rude One. Upper Space was sparked when Rude suffered a serious burn out from his day job in NYC's ultra high-end interior design world. Moonwalking out of that life, and away from a $250k income, he retreated to a small apartment in downtown Cincinnati where he attended every Cincinnati Reds home game for a full baseball season. The remainder of his time was spent utilizing hallucinogens, running long distances, talking to his cats, writing short stories, and making beats that would ultimately pave the foundation for this project. Upper Space is comprised of 9 songs featuring Rude's hand-crafted production specifically tailored for a select list of collaborators such as Valee, Stove God Cooks, Jeremiah Jae, Roc Marciano, RXKNephew, YNOT DUSABLE and more. Upper Space is the official follow-up to Rude’s 2016 LP, ONEderful, which featured Your Old Droog, Westside Gunn, Roc Marciano, and Conway The Machine ahead of their stints as leaders of a stylistic shift in Hip Hop. Upper Space will be out via Closed Sessions on October 18th, 2024.

Vanishing Twin furthers their exploration of decidedly experimental territories with Afternoon X. Crafted with a playful balance of humour and rigour, with each member embracing the role of the multi-instrumentalist and process, over outcome. Following a series of line-up changes, Vanishing Twin is now the tightly honed collective of singer and multi-instrumentalist Cathy Lucas, drummer Valentina Magaletti (Holy Tongue, Tomaga, Moin) and bassist Susumu Mukai (Zongamin). Harnessing the diverse touchstones of its members; Lucas’ left-field song-craft, Magaletti’s singular approaches to experimental percussion, and Mukai’s long history in the production of electronic music, the band has refined a hypnotic sound at the juncture of minimalism, kosmische, post-punk, and dream-laden, psychedelic pop. These eight fluttering abstractions, culled, collaged, and built upon from a vast constellation of instruments, samples, and unclaimed sources. Lucas employs her voice as an instrument and a generator of raw sound, weaving surreal imagery and uncanny juxtapositions amongst the dance and propellant drive. From infectious grooves of the album’s title track and the constrained minimalism of “Subito”, to the ambitious heights of pieces like ‘The Down Below’ and Lazy Garden, which unfurl a psychedelic avant-gardism on the scope and scale of David Axelrod and Scott Walker. Vanishing Twin embark upon a new multifaceted journey that collectively culminates as the bands most forward-thinking and groundbreaking release to date

NOW Music is proud to present the newest addition to the ‘Yearbook’ series: NOW – Yearbook 1981. NOW – Yearbook 1981; a celebration of the eclectic and creative brilliance of the year in pop. 4 CDs of 85 tracks that defined the charts in 1981. Available on a 4CD special edition which is housed in ‘hard-back book’ packaging, including a 28-page booklet with a summary of the year, a track-by-track guide, a quiz, and original singles artwork, and as a standard 4-CD package. A limited edition 3LP set pressed in translucent red vinyl, limited to 3,000 units and a 4CD set

Onsloow burst onto the Norwegian indie scene in 2022 with their self-titled debut album. They quickly transitioned from obscurity to performing concerts nationwide, garnering rave reviews, playing at festivals, and receiving increasing radio play with each new single. As is the case for many passionate amateurs with families and day jobs, this couldn’t last indefinitely. Vocalist Johanne Rimul became busy with her master’s degree and growing family, Mathias Nylenna returned to his regular job at national radio, and drummer Morten Samdal and bassist Lasse Berg pursued their own musical projects. But Onsloow wasn’t finished. They soon returned to their practice space in Trondheim, working tirelessly on new songs for over two years. The result is their second album, aptly named Full Speed Anywhere Else.

With Rimul’s commitments making further band activity impossible, Onsloow had to search for someone who could continue the band's signature sound—distinctive, melodic vocals atop jangly pop guitars and driving drums. Fortunately, Helene Brunæs, frontwoman of the emo/pop-punk sensation Lille Venn, jumped on board without hesitation. Despite her busy schedule with regular releases, a US tour, and gigs alongside pop stars like Sigrid, she found time to join Onsloow's ambitious plans. Her warm, airy vocals perfectly match Onsloow's universe of catchy power pop, quirky indie rock, and energetic pop-punk. The new album even features hints of country and Americana. Over several sessions with producer Marius Ergo, the album took shape, with the band focusing more on details and arrangements than ever before. The goal was to elevate their music beyond their self-titled debut album.

Full Speed Anywhere Else’s ten meticulously crafted tracks form a cohesive unit, allowing the band to explore various directions, moods, and expressions without losing their essence: straightforward, catchy power pop that sticks, with plenty of nuances for those who appreciate the finer points.

Vanille fraise, iconic title of the French sextet L'Impératrice, is released on vinyl for the first time for Record Day ! Born from a radio edit for a DJ set in 2015, the title is an immediate and dazzling success, with more than 60M streams. The music video was released a year later, showing a game of tennis on a sunny day and reached 10M views in 2021. Vanille fraise, top title of the Parisian group, is now available on vinyl. This release follows their second album Tako Tsubo in March 2021.

GǼG, the production unit of Tokyo's leading club sound Monkey Timers and Okayama-based maverick producer Keita Sano, is proud to present this heavyweight, alternative, and leftfield release on the "Sound of Vast."

Over a powerful and mysterious bassline, the hypnotic A1 'Jack' builds up with sharp synth stabs, dark pads, and ACID voices taken from Ron Hardy's open reel soundtrack series Jackmaster Hater.
AA1 is followed by the obscure percussion track 'Yamato.' It is a reinterpretation of the drumming of legendary drummer Curt Cress from the German jazz-rock scene of the 80s in the context of dance music.
AA2, 'Central' takes the funky bassline of The S.O.S. Band's 1982 album 'High Hopes' and infuses it with roaring feedback, cutting guitars, and spacy synth sounds, giving it a fresh, modern twist and elevating it to the realm of cosmic disco.

Monkey Timers' love for the classics of disco, krautrock, and Chicago house, the intensity and immersion of current club music created by their real-life experience in the field, and Keita Sano's unique free-form outlandish sound techniques coexist on this 12" EP.

東京のクラブサウンドをレペゼンしてきたMonkey Timersと岡山の奇才プロデューサーKeita SanoによるプロダクションユニットGǼGが〈Sound of Vast〉より満を持して放つ超重量級オルタナティブ・レフトフィールド・ストンパー！

パワフルで不穏なベースライン上にRon Hardyのオープンリール音源シリーズJackmaster Haterから割愛した”Acid! Acid! Acid!” ヴォイスリフレインを刻み、鋭利なシンセスタブとダークなパッドでビルドアップしたヒプノティックなナンバーA1. Jackを皮切りに、80年代ドイツジャズロックシーンの伝説的ドラマーCurt Cressのドラミングをダンスミュージックの文脈で再解釈したオブスキュアなパーカッション・トラックAA1. Yamato、そしてThe S.O.S. Bandの82年作”High Hopes”のファンキーなベースラインに轟音フィードバックやカッティングギター、スペーシーなシンセサウンドで現代的なコズミックディスコへと昇華したAA2. Central。

ディスコ、クラウトロック、シカゴハウスといった古典への愛情と現場で積み重ねてきたリアルな経験が生み出す現行のクラブミュージックとしての強度と没入感、そしてKeita Sanoのフリーフォームで奇天烈なサウンドテクニックが同居した渾身の3曲を12“EPに収録。

Jovonn's Body'N Deep label continues its fine form with the not to be missed BND Project Volume 5. The 5th in the series features heavy hitters such as DJ Spinna, Atjazz, Demuir and Dirty Harry. Buy on sight!

a1 1 Gary Martin, Detroit’s most unpredictable producer.
a2 Human Robot, (Jefferson Ciarvi) Detroit’s most hard working DJ.
b1 George ACTV, the Stylish Brazilian living in Switzerland.
b2 DJ Mau Mau, Sao Paulo’s number one DJ.

Daniel Monaco returns on the Rush Hour Store Jams imprint with another disco heavy two tracker, with vocals from TK daMonza. Two feel good songs, to calm and comfort your soul...

Written by Daniele Labbate aka Daniel Monaco, additional production and Mixing by Whodamanny
Voice and Lyrics by TK daMonza
Alessandro Cinelli: Drums
Yannick van ter Beek: Percussion
Sergio Dileo: Saxophone
Simone Cesarini: Guitar
Alberto Melloni: Additional Guitars
Daniele Labbate: Bass, Synths, Backing Vocals
Recorded at Daniel Monaco Studio in Amsterdam
Mixed at West Hill Studio Napoli

Selection of all winners from the Music Team label - mid 80s to early 90s gems on here!

One of South Africa’s biggest independent labels for more than a decade, Music Team offered working musicians a shot at fame via access to top studios, producers, songwriters and session musicians, as well as distribution via a number of imprints: CTV, Red Label, Solid, Spinna, Mambo Music and others. Artists in the stable who tasted success would typically release a few albums over as many years before moving on to other labels or falling off the radar as times changed. At their peak, according to label boss Maurice Horwitz, Music Team was selling a million records a month, and was at the forefront of South African pop music as it evolved from soul to disco and beyond.

Afrosynth Records’ ‘Music Team Sampler’ dusts off six rare and long-forgotten gems from the Music Team catalogue, originally released between 1986 and 1992. Four are typical of the label’s take on the popular ‘bubblegum’ sound of the day — Isaac ‘Cool Cat’ Mofokeng’s ‘Candy’, ‘I Won’t Let You Go’ by Linda Oliphant, Jappie Lebona’s ‘My Love is Yours and ‘Instant Love (Eyami Lendoda)’ by Thandi Zulu (aka TZ Junior). Two instrumentals — Mr. Ace’s ‘Ace 1’ and ‘Axe Chop’ by The Hard Workers, a studio project by Music Team’s in-house producer Tom Mkhize — meanwhile hint at the imminent rise of kwaito and house.

Forged in the fire of a cruel and volatile political system that was gradually unraveling, instead of addressing political realities these indelible pop songs sought to provide an escape to a world where love and music were all that mattered.

Originally hailing from The Isle of Wight but now based in West Norwood, South London, Vertical Cat has been releasing tunes since 2001 on imprints like Smallfish, Vice and his own rather wonderfully named Achingly Responsive, but now finds himself delivering seven varied creations for Chicago's Kimochi Sound to issue via the kind of hand-numbered, limited edition run that's sure to get trainspotters salivating like Pavlov's dogs. From the jazz-inflected phrasing, subtle phasing and jiggly sub-bass of 'Go Willy-nilly' to the Mills-esque thumpfunk of 'Oh You Mucky Bugger!', there's a bit of everything here, but every last moment is delivered with quality and clearly perceptible personality. You've also got to love outro track 'I'm Leaving', which soundtracks an awkward call to HR with some nicely cheeky, perky exotica.

Pink Martini’s illustrious “Little Orchestra” joins forces with Hollywood Legend, Mamie Van Doren, in an enchanting duo set of throwback singles. “I Told Ya I Love Ya Now Get Out” brings a buoyant beat to a shockingly delightful breakup track. Mamie revisits “Ich dich liebe” after first singing it in the 1964 Spaghetti Western film Freddy and the Song of the Prairie and somehow it’s as transporting now as it was then. Building on her already incredible legacy, Van Doren brings a fantastic energy to these tracks, which she recorded with Pink Martini in her early 90s, injecting her quintessential charm and verve into the vocals, which interweave perfectly into the rich and glamorous sound of Pink Martini.Ads and reviews in R" and London Macadam.

"In the mood for love"
A bohemian atmosphere caught between Paris and Rio. Melodies and Harmonics that have a french taste and rhythms rooted in Brazil. Laura Fedele the time stopping voice.

"Take 4"
Up tempo track characterized by a soprano sax that swirls out melodies making you feel like you have travel back to the 70's. The jazzy guitar riffs opposed to flutes makes the picture complete; all weaved by S-tone inc. 's hand.

"Rendez-vous à minuit"
A Bossa Lounge motif with Wes Montgomery guitar riffs combined to scat voices all packed in relaxin' cruise formation.

"Vai Ser Bom"
Dedicated to Iemanjà, Brazilian sea god. A dreamy rhythmic atmosphere sweatened by the tender voice of Adi Souza and acoustic guitars inpired to Baden Powell.

"La Boca del Rio"
The acoustic bass distinguishes this up tempo track that creates great ambience. The acoustic piano duets the keyboards enriched by strings. The rhythms falling between house and bossa nova.

"Limbe"
A scent of India in a down tempo track, a bit psychedelic with sitars and tablas making the background for a French melody. Velvet voice of Laura Fedele gives the track that extra dimension.

"Memphis Freeway"
Funky track with a 70's taste starting with the flute that plays the theme with horns 'Temptations' style. The beat is a straight 4/4 kick with a groovy bass.

"Entre o Ceus e a Terra"
Like the dualism in the title, the track is divided between the tension of the spoken riff and the solarity of the melody both moved by a "bossy" up tempo base.

"Effetto Notte"
A cinematic feel for a soothing chill out theme on the keyboard alternating with dreamy orchestrations.

The original pressings are already hard to find, being extremely rare! Plus, to collect them all, you'd need the cost of a car for this parade of super pricey premium editions! If you want to enjoy the ultimate rare grooves, this is your only option!

These soul and funk performances, buried in the midst of the late 70s US record industry, which could be considered the destiny of the TAX SCAM label, are a must-listen! Enjoy killer tunes with grooves and feelings that are just as good as the hits of the time!

‘Expansions’ reaches its 50th anniversary of recording this year. The ground-breaking jazz funk track is one of the most influential records in club music, being a dancefloor hit in the UK and New York on release, and going on to be a foundation piece for club culture.

It has been sampled, quoted and remade and now for the first time the full length version is available on a 7-inch single. It is paired with ‘Cosmic Funk’

Lyrics written by Ontto, except “Voitelu” written by Ontto & Evill

Produced by Oranssi Pazuzu
Recorded by Julius Mauranen and Niko Lehdontie
Additional recording by Juho Vanhanen and Tom Brooke
Sounds captured at E-studio, Astral Studio, Cellar of Deposition and Inner Oscillations between November 2021 and December 2023.

Mixed by Julius Mauranen at Studio Kekkonen
Premix engineering by Niko Lehdontie
Mastered by Svante Forsbäck at Chartmakers
Album artwork and layout by Jenna Haapaharju
Management by Erin Lynch, FlyingFox AB
Thank you: Mikko Männistö, Tom Brooke, Erin Lynch, Jens Prueter, Jyri Riikonen, Timo “Moit” Alatalo
Evill - grand piano, vocals, effects
Ikon - guitar, sampler, synthesizers
Jun-His - the voice, guitar
Korjak - drums
Ontto - bass guitar, synthesizers

Orphx, Rrose, SHXCXCHCXSH & kareem remixing SOLARIS from kareems 1997 release CICLOP (Zhark00004)

CICLOP was released in 1997 combining a variety of different approaches ranging from Industrial Hip Hop and cinematic ambience to DubTechno. SOLARIS stood out with brutally stripped down minimalism.

Zhark0040 now assembles 4unique remixes of SOLARIS