Tom Gillieron’s It’s Alright arrives on Studio Barnhus in triplicate: one original, two remixes, no weak links. A UK producer with a fierce command of high-pressure club dynamics, leads with a version that comes big, busy and blazing, brimming with glorious noise, swift movement and late-night intent.
Afriqua brings his trademark musicality to the second version, turning the lights up enough to let some melody through, adding bounce, swing and a touch of house warmth, never loosening the grip.
Bona fide UK underground originators Horsepower Productions lower the ceiling again, rebuilding the track for the darkest of basement clubs in the form of a low-slung bruiser with broken edges and proper bass weight.
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the work of BIG|BRAVE is ever-expanding. The trio"s singular masterful sculpting of sonics into songcraft tucks layers of vulnerability into frenetic storms. in grief or in hope is an innovative vision of electro-acoustic sound and emotive storytelling, an endless bounty of overwhelming distortions and devastating beauty. The album marks a shift for BIG|BRAVE towards denser guitar-oriented compositions. With longtime touring bassist Liam Andrews (MY DISCO, Aicher) joining guitarist/vocalist Robin Wattie and guitarist Mathieu Ball in the studio for the first time, the pieces are keenly layered with a rich tapestry of harmonics and tonal intricacies. The trio"s instinctual progressions made more vivid through live recording, harnessing the gargantuan and storied sound of their performances. Wattie writes: "All that I could reflect on was grief and hope; death and life; cause and effect; shared experiences of being a human person." The tenth album for the ensemble, in grief or in hope pays homage to their past while looking into their future. Together the trio shift deliver emotional momentum that vividly describes the complex and deep feelings of struggle, pain, and transcendence. in grief or in hope transmits that sense of humanity with every gesture.
the work of BIG|BRAVE is ever-expanding. The trio"s singular masterful sculpting of sonics into songcraft tucks layers of vulnerability into frenetic storms. in grief or in hope is an innovative vision of electro-acoustic sound and emotive storytelling, an endless bounty of overwhelming distortions and devastating beauty. The album marks a shift for BIG|BRAVE towards denser guitar-oriented compositions. With longtime touring bassist Liam Andrews (MY DISCO, Aicher) joining guitarist/vocalist Robin Wattie and guitarist Mathieu Ball in the studio for the first time, the pieces are keenly layered with a rich tapestry of harmonics and tonal intricacies. The trio"s instinctual progressions made more vivid through live recording, harnessing the gargantuan and storied sound of their performances. Wattie writes: "All that I could reflect on was grief and hope; death and life; cause and effect; shared experiences of being a human person." The tenth album for the ensemble, in grief or in hope pays homage to their past while looking into their future. Together the trio shift deliver emotional momentum that vividly describes the complex and deep feelings of struggle, pain, and transcendence. in grief or in hope transmits that sense of humanity with every gesture.
Golden Earring were together between 1961 and 2021, and their last and best known line-up included two founding members George Kooymans (vocals and guitar) and Rinus Gerritsen (bass, keyboard) along with Barry Hay (vocals, guitar, flute and saxophone) a member since 1968 and Cesar Zuiderwijk (drums) a member since 1970.
They had over 40 hits and released 30 albums, many achieving either gold or platinum status in their home country, The Netherlands. They are best known for their 1973 hit single "Radar Love" and their 1982 single "Twilight Zone".
Around 1992, the unplugged sessions on MTV were a trend; almost every rock band or artist was doing them. Bass player Rinus Gerritsen suggested to record an acoustic album themselves. The record company wasn't very enthusiastic at first so with a small budget the band recorded the album live in an intimate cafe in Amsterdam. The Naked Truth turned out to be the Golden Earring's best selling album.
The Naked Truth is available as a limited edition of 2000 individually numbered copies on purple vinyl. The 2LP is packaged in a deluxe sleeve with linen laminate finish and includes an insert.
Producer, Drummer und Hamburger Jazzpreisträger Silvan Strauss war bereits eine feste Größe der Szene, als er 2021 sein Debüt "FACING" veröffentlichte - eine Mischung aus Madlib-inspirierten Beats und atmosphärischem Jazz. Seitdem erreichte er internationale Bühnen wie das Montreux Jazz Festival und begeisterte mit viralen Drum-Videos Musikgrößen wie Pete Rock und Queen Latifah.Für sein zweites Album "FLUKIN"" kehrte Strauss zurück zum Ursprung: Drei Tage intensive Live-Sessions in den Hamburger Clouds Hill Studios mit hochkarätigen Gästen. Im Gegensatz zum loop-orientierten Vorgänger setzt "FLUKIN"" auf echte Interaktion, Improvisation und organische Kommunikation in Echtzeit. Das Ergebnis ist ein unkomplizierter, lebendiger Sound, der die Magie des gemeinsamen Spielens einfängt.Unterstützt wurde er dabei von Künstlern wie Farhot, SALOMEA, Oscar #Worldpeace, Joe Armon-Jones und Mehdi Qamoum. Der Titel leitet sich vom Begriff "Fluke" (Zufallsglück) ab und beschreibt Strauss" Ansatz, bewusste Räume für glückliche, unvorhersehbare Momente in der Musik zu schaffen. Mit diesen 10 Tracks reiht sich Silvan Strauss in die klangliche Welt von Terrace Martin oder Hiatus Kaiyote ein.
Dirty Heads have built a career out of soundtracking the best moments of people's lives, and with '7 Seas' they're not slowing down. The RIAA Platinum Certified Southern California outfit returns with their much-anticipated ninth full-length album, building on their signature balance of carefree energy and reflective songwriting while inviting fans into their next chapter of freedom, positivity and forward motion. From sun-soaked, laid-back anthems made for a day at the beach to hard-hitting late-night bangers, the album moves fluidly across moods without ever losing the infectious Dirty Heads energy fans have come to love. With over 3 billion career streams worldwide and multiple #1 singles on alternative and rock radio, Dirty Heads have built a dedicated global following by seamlessly fusing reggae, hip-hop, alternative rock and pop.
Yellow Days' new album Rock And A Hard Place is a tour de force which sees George van den Broek returning to his soul roots, channelling everyone from Stevie Wonder to Gil Scott-Heron to his idol, Ray Charles, in a set of emotionally charged songs constructed with an attention to detail worthy of the Brill Building.
Beautifully sung, brilliantly played and almost glowing with intelligence, it's the sound of Yellow Days coming of age.
Los Angeles rock trio Dogstar is back with All In Now, the band’s fourth studio album and the follow-up to 2023’s Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees. Produced by Nick Launay (IDLES, Amyl and the Sniffers, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds), All In Now marks a new era for Dogstar, with layered guitar riffs and heavy bass inspired by their time out on the road. Includes black LP in a gatefold jacket with a printed insert.
2x GRAMMY® Award winning R&B powerhouse Kehlani releases her highly anticipated self-titled fifth studio album, KEHLANI, today on her birthday, April 24, 2026. The project captures her at her most honest, blending soul-baring storytelling with the lush, genre-bending sound that has made her one of modern R&B’s most influential voices. The album was anchored by a trio of defining singles, beginning with “Folded,” a breakout anthem that has become one of the defining R&B records of the decade. “Folded” delivered major award recognition, including 2x GRAMMY® wins for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance, an iHeartRadio Music Award for R&B Song of the Year (where she made her debut award show performance), NAACP Image Awards nominations, and three American Music Award nominations, including Song of the Year. The momentum continued with “Out The Window,” which further showcased Kehlani’s emotional transparency and sonic direction. Most recently, Kehlani released “Back and Forth” featuring Missy Elliott. The track pairs Kehlani’s signature vulnerability with Missy Elliott’s unmistakable innovation and energy, serving as the final preview before the album’s release. Kehlani celebrates a landmark year of cultural impact, including a surprise appearance during Giveon’s mainstage set at Coachella in addition to her solo performance at Revolve Festival. With over 20 RIAA certifications, more than 5 billion global streams, and status as a 7x GRAMMY® nominated songwriter and artist, Kehlani continues to solidify her place as one of contemporary R&B’s most essential voices. This year she was also honored at the Femme It Forward 2025 “Give Her FlowHERS” Awards Gala, receiving the Alchemist Award, and recognized as an ASCAP Women Behind the Music Honoree. Kehlani will also be honored with the Impact Award at the upcoming Billboard Women in Music, where she will deliver a special performance in celebration of her influence on music and culture. Kehlani will bring the album to global stages with upcoming festival performances at Essence Festival, Afronation Portugal, Roots Picnic, and more
This is hypnotic music in the purest sense: elegant, fluid, and deeply immersive, built on patience, precision, and a rare understanding of tension. Rather than forcing impact, the EP unfolds with quiet authority, drawing the listener deeper with every cycle and every subtle shift. Romanian producer Barac has long been regarded as one of the key figures in the country’s minimal and microhouse continuum, known for his hypnotic, deeply detailed sound and for shaping a distinctive artistic identity around rhythm, space, and subtle emotional tension. What makes this release so special is its balance of restraint and depth. The grooves are understated but powerful, the atmospheres weightless yet emotionally charged, and the overall flow simply brilliant. It is exactly the kind of record that shows why Barac remains such an important name in contemporary minimal and deep club music: few artists can create this level of hypnosis with such finesse. Look at the cross is a genius release, sophisticated, timeless, and absolutely captivating from start to finish.
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Der Mittlere Westen, insbesondere der Teil, aus dem Eric D. Johnson stammt, ist eine weitgehend flache Weite. Wenn man auf der Autobahn hindurchbraust, sieht man Städte und Ortschaften in der Ferne aufragen, doch wenn man blinzelt, verpasst man andere von Menschenhand geschaffene Gegenstücke zum Leben in der Ebene, die die Landschaft prägen: Hügel um Hügel, erbaut aus den Abfällen der Vergangenheit: Mülldeponien. Einige dieser Hügel eignen sich hervorragend als Schlittenhügel, Parks und Wanderwege. Andere verwandeln organische Abfälle in Kompost. ,The Landfill" ist etwas ganz anderes: ein Berg, der die Landschaft in Johnsons Herzen dominiert. Im Laufe seiner mittlerweile 25-jährigen Karriere unter dem Namen Fruit Bats war der Großteil von Eric D. Johnsons Schaffen das Ergebnis von Geduld und Feinschliff. Seine Songs sind, um einen Ausdruck zu verwenden, Langzeitprojekte, die auf Alben zum Leben erweckt werden, welche lange Zeiträume und Erinnerungen umfassen. "Baby Man" änderte das - er verbot sich, auf Material zurückzugreifen, an dem er vor der Aufnahme des Albums gearbeitet hatte. Es war sowohl ein atemberaubendes Dokument von Johnsons Können als Singer-Songwriter als auch ein ungeschönter Bericht über die zwei Wochen, in denen er das Album aufnahm. "Diese Session war vorbei", erklärt er, "aber es gab noch viel mehr zu erkunden. Mir gefiel die Unmittelbarkeit davon, und ich wollte sehen, wie sich das auf ein Fruit-Bats-Album mit voller Bandbesetzung übertragen lassen würde." Innerhalb weniger Wochen war er wieder im Studio, diesmal mit seiner Band: David Dawda (Bass), Josh Mease (Gitarren, Synthesizer), Frank LoCrasto (Klavier, Synthesizer) und Kosta Galanopoulos (Schlagzeug). Wenn man sich "The Landfill" anhört, stellt man fest: Diese Band rockt. Johnson produzierte die ersten Aufnahmesessions in den Bear Creek Studios in Washington und machte sich daran , "den Sound dieser Band einzufangen, die mich immer wieder in Staunen versetzt - das Gefühl, in einem Raum mit Musikern zu sein, die man liebt und denen man genug vertraut, um sie einfach machen zu lassen." Sie nahmen das meiste davon in einem Durchgang auf - ohne Click-Tracks, ohne zusammengestellte Gesangsparts und mit minimalen Overdubs, wobei der häufige Mitwirkende Thom Monahan zurückkehrte, um zusätzliche Produktionsarbeit zu leisten und den finalen Mix von ,The Landfill" zu erstellen. "So machen wir es auch mit meiner anderen Band, Bonny Light Horseman, und ich war neugierig, wie es bei den Fruit Bats funktionieren würde", bemerkt Johnson. "Es ist sowohl ein sehr persönliches Album als auch mein bisher kollaborativstes." Es ist zudem das live-orientierteste Album der Fruit Bats seit "The Ruminant Band" aus dem Jahr 2009, und durch die Reduzierung der Spuren, die einen Song einer kompletten Band normalerweise ausmachen, ist die psychedelische, technicolorartige Verträumtheit ihres Sounds lebendiger denn je. Die Songs auf "The Landfill" zeichnen sich sofort als einige der besten in Eric D. Johnsons Werk aus, Suchende und Hymnen gleichermaßen. Es ist der bisher gewaltigste Gipfel, den er erklommen hat.
Der Mittlere Westen, insbesondere der Teil, aus dem Eric D. Johnson stammt, ist eine weitgehend flache Weite. Wenn man auf der Autobahn hindurchbraust, sieht man Städte und Ortschaften in der Ferne aufragen, doch wenn man blinzelt, verpasst man andere von Menschenhand geschaffene Gegenstücke zum Leben in der Ebene, die die Landschaft prägen: Hügel um Hügel, erbaut aus den Abfällen der Vergangenheit: Mülldeponien. Einige dieser Hügel eignen sich hervorragend als Schlittenhügel, Parks und Wanderwege. Andere verwandeln organische Abfälle in Kompost. ,The Landfill" ist etwas ganz anderes: ein Berg, der die Landschaft in Johnsons Herzen dominiert. Im Laufe seiner mittlerweile 25-jährigen Karriere unter dem Namen Fruit Bats war der Großteil von Eric D. Johnsons Schaffen das Ergebnis von Geduld und Feinschliff. Seine Songs sind, um einen Ausdruck zu verwenden, Langzeitprojekte, die auf Alben zum Leben erweckt werden, welche lange Zeiträume und Erinnerungen umfassen. "Baby Man" änderte das - er verbot sich, auf Material zurückzugreifen, an dem er vor der Aufnahme des Albums gearbeitet hatte. Es war sowohl ein atemberaubendes Dokument von Johnsons Können als Singer-Songwriter als auch ein ungeschönter Bericht über die zwei Wochen, in denen er das Album aufnahm. "Diese Session war vorbei", erklärt er, "aber es gab noch viel mehr zu erkunden. Mir gefiel die Unmittelbarkeit davon, und ich wollte sehen, wie sich das auf ein Fruit-Bats-Album mit voller Bandbesetzung übertragen lassen würde." Innerhalb weniger Wochen war er wieder im Studio, diesmal mit seiner Band: David Dawda (Bass), Josh Mease (Gitarren, Synthesizer), Frank LoCrasto (Klavier, Synthesizer) und Kosta Galanopoulos (Schlagzeug). Wenn man sich "The Landfill" anhört, stellt man fest: Diese Band rockt. Johnson produzierte die ersten Aufnahmesessions in den Bear Creek Studios in Washington und machte sich daran , "den Sound dieser Band einzufangen, die mich immer wieder in Staunen versetzt - das Gefühl, in einem Raum mit Musikern zu sein, die man liebt und denen man genug vertraut, um sie einfach machen zu lassen." Sie nahmen das meiste davon in einem Durchgang auf - ohne Click-Tracks, ohne zusammengestellte Gesangsparts und mit minimalen Overdubs, wobei der häufige Mitwirkende Thom Monahan zurückkehrte, um zusätzliche Produktionsarbeit zu leisten und den finalen Mix von ,The Landfill" zu erstellen. "So machen wir es auch mit meiner anderen Band, Bonny Light Horseman, und ich war neugierig, wie es bei den Fruit Bats funktionieren würde", bemerkt Johnson. "Es ist sowohl ein sehr persönliches Album als auch mein bisher kollaborativstes." Es ist zudem das live-orientierteste Album der Fruit Bats seit "The Ruminant Band" aus dem Jahr 2009, und durch die Reduzierung der Spuren, die einen Song einer kompletten Band normalerweise ausmachen, ist die psychedelische, technicolorartige Verträumtheit ihres Sounds lebendiger denn je. Die Songs auf "The Landfill" zeichnen sich sofort als einige der besten in Eric D. Johnsons Werk aus, Suchende und Hymnen gleichermaßen. Es ist der bisher gewaltigste Gipfel, den er erklommen hat.
Als MONO ihr vorheriges Album OATH 2023 gemeinsam mit ihrem langjährigen Produktionspartner und Freund Steve Albini aufgenommen hatten, konnten sie sich nicht vorstellen, dass es das letzte Studioalbum sein würde, das sie zusammen machten. Albini starb im darauffolgenden Jahr tragisch, und dieser Verlust hinterließ eine unermessliche Leerstelle - nicht nur im Leben all jener, die Steve persönlich kannten, sondern bei jedem, der eine emotionale Verbindung zu einem der Tausenden von Alben hat, an deren Entstehung er in den vergangenen vier Jahrzehnten beteiligt war. Er brachte Klarheit in das Chaos und eine selbstlose Hingabe an die Kunst und die Künstler, die ihresgleichen suchte. Auf persönlicher wie auf praktischer Ebene stellte sein Tod MONO vor tiefe Trauer und große Unsicherheit. Albini war zu einem grundlegenden Bestandteil des unverwechselbaren MONO-Sounds geworden, und allein der Gedanke daran, ihn ersetzen zu müssen, war mehr als entmutigend.Und dann kam: Brad Wood (Touché Amoré, The Smashing Pumpkins).Ausgewählt aufgrund seiner Vertrautheit mit MONOs kreativen und technischen Arbeitsprozessen - ebenso wie seiner jahrzehntelangen Freundschaft mit Steve Albini - betrat Brad Wood im September 2025 das legendäre Electrical Audio Studio, um aufzunehmen, was schließlich zu Snowdrop werden sollte. Gemeinsam mit dem in Chicago ansässigen Dirigenten und Orchesterleiter Chad McCullough verpflichteten MONO ein zehnköpfiges Orchester und einen achtköpfigen Chor für die acht monumentalen Stücke, aus denen Snowdrop besteht. Die Band spielte, und Wood nahm in demselben heiligen Raum auf, in dem die meisten MONO-Alben ihrer 25-jährigen Geschichte entstanden waren - die Songs auf Snowdrop tragen daher ein besonderes Gewicht. Abgemischt wurde das Album von Wood in seinem Seagrass-Home-Studio in Los Angeles; es klingt zugleich intim und umhüllend.Wo leicht ein Schatten über Snowdrop hätte liegen können, findet sich stattdessen eine außergewöhnliche Atmosphäre der Dankbarkeit. Statt in Herzschmerz zu verweilen, entsteht eine eindringliche Wertschätzung für das gut gelebte Leben mit einem geliebten Freund - und eine Sehnsucht danach, was noch kommen mag. Snowdrop ist der Klang einer Band, die Schock und Trauer in Hoffnung und Staunen verwandelt - und neue Klarheit im befreienden Gefühl des Nichtwissens findet.
Das Debüt des transzendentalen Gitarrenmeisters aus dem Jahr 1971, remastered für all eure Sabbat-Bedürfnisse. 37 Minuten ambienter Gitarrenzauberei und der perfekte Soundtrack für das Erwachen des dritten Auges, Lichtalchemie oder Menschenopfer. Mit diesem Werk könnte man eine Sekte gründen. Der kalifornische Versandhandelsmystiker Master Wilburn Burchette wurde erstmals durch seine Anzeigen bekannt, die auf den hinteren Seiten des ,Fate Magazine", von ,Beyond Reality" und ,Gnostica News" versteckt waren. Im Angebot: Burchettes siebenteiliger, im Blockdruckverfahren hergestellter ,Psychic Meditation Course", der den Menschen beibringen sollte, wie man Musik hört. Passend zu seinen Lektionen verkaufte Burchette eine Reihe von Instrumentalplatten mit Gitarren- und Elektronikmusik, die mit kunstvollen, handgezeichneten Cover-Motiven versehen waren und Höranweisungen vom Meister selbst enthielten. Bereits seit seinem zwölften Lebensjahr war Burchette von der Parapsychologie fasziniert und verbrachte ebenso viel Zeit mit dem Lesen von Büchern über die Grundlagen der tibetischen Mystik wie mit dem Üben auf der Gitarre, deren Schwingungen er nutzte, um Klangbilder und -muster zu erschaffen. Nachdem er eine Zeit lang klassische Gitarre unterrichtet hatte, veröffentlichte Meister Wilburn Burchette in den sieben Jahren von 1971 bis 1977 sieben Alben, bevor er abrupt alles, was mit seinen musikalischen Erkundungen zu tun hatte, verbrannte und wegwarf.
Furniture is British new wave band active between 1979 and 1991, but were far more eclectic than you'd think, incorporating jazz, blues and post-punk sounds as well. They are noted both for their poetic storytelling and high-quality productions as for the numerous setbacks they experienced. These setbacks ultimately prevented them from making their big break, making them a big what-if of the burgeoning English new wave scene.
Although active since the late 70s, their 1986 debut album The Wrong People gave them their commercial breakthrough. It was supported by the single Brilliant Mind which eventually reached #21 on the UK Singles Chart and remains their only entry on it. They followed it up with a re-recording of their 1984 single Love Your Shoes. Although a radio hit, it ultimately failed to chart as not enough copies were pressed to match demand.
The album ultimately suffered from the same fate which means there are not a lot of copies floating around. In recent years it became a cult classic so we thought it would be fitting to reissue it on vinyl for the first time since its initial release in 1986.
The Wrong People is available as a 40th anniversary edition on orange vinyl, and includes an insert with lyrics.
Qadir Bijoux has been honing his craft for years, cooking up something deeply soulful, made of organic ingredients and infused with oriental spices. The Dilla-inspired producer/rapper is set to give you a first taste of his debut MEWE - an album with a jazzy, Madlib-esque sound. For the most part it"s an instrumental, sample-based project. Let the filter bass massage you and be mesmerized by Qadir"s and his partner in crime Ninja Kidsoul"s soothing backing vocals.
"raqs", which translates to the Dari noun for "dance" is written the same way like its Arabic original made of the three root letters: ra qa sa - to dance. under this premise of cultural kinship Afghan-German producer artist Farhot is about to addanother sonic layer to his discography, this time designed for the dance floor - a space, where culture can be shared by many, which invites movement and connection.while his earlier work was heavily influenced by the various traditions of hiphop, which later was enfused with sounds inspired by his Afghan roots, on "Raqs" he explores the vibrant musical heritage of mostly Arabic speaking regions from North Africa to West Asia, where as his fascination for Somali music also took him to East Africa. Like a well versed HipHop producer Farhot"s approach to "raqs" was guided by a virtual sampling journey which allowed him to connect and fuse sounds from Egypt, Lebanon or Somalia carefully woven into an EP that stands apart from his previous work but nevertheless carries his sonic signature: productions, that can sound as complex and immense as they sound playful and simple or creating intensity through unconventional ways of chopping and distorting vocals - amongst others one will find samples of Lebanese legend Fairuz dressed in an almost experimental uptempo production. Whoever followed Farhot"s work around the release of his sophomore LP Kabul Fire Vol. 2 via his own label Kabul Fire Records will know that he releases music intentionally alway ensuring a new quality to music, especially when he samples from cultures that are often times overshadowed by conflict or simply forgotten. With "raqs" he reminds us of the rich musical traditions that always existed beyond the west. he also reminds us of the ways that music can connect beyond borders, like an Afghan producer from Germany, who loves Somali music and Fairuz.
Like a thief in the night, and almost 4 for years after his critically acclaimed full-length album Kabul Fire Vol 2, beat virtuoso Farhot has returned to the (crime) scene with his latest all-instrumental record "stealing from cats". While on his last LP, he took listeners on a journey to the dusty streets of his birthplace Kabul, he is now taking them along as he goes out stealing sounds from dusty Jazz archives. Reminiscent of that time when Blue Note invited Madlib into their catacombs to create the seminal "Shades of Blue" LP, this slow-paced record sees Farhot eclectically fusing Jazz samples with downtempo, instrumental hip-hop art. From the hazy, chopped vocal samples of the intro tune "selfish" to the dreamy closer "they need me", this 12-song masterpiece is as much an homage to the virtuosity of Jazz cats as it is to the fine art of sampling that Farhot cheekily calls stealing.
After two EP releases and a few millions streams later, Hamburg based songwriter, producer and visual artist KUOKO is about to drop her debut self-titled album. Released via Kabul Fire Records this album is brimming with energy and purpose, the singles such as Perfect Girl and Strong Girls Don"t Cry see KUOKO channeling her frustrations with society"s demands of women, and the impact that it can have on them. As a Vietnamese-German woman KUOKO is claiming her own place in an industry that often doesn"t represent women in the complex and fluid ways in which they actually exist and create music - self-taught, conceptual, ambitious.
Get ready for Macem Ly"s debut album "Honda Date" - a neologism and a homage to all the hopeful Vietnamese couples he watched as they"d rather hopped on to a Honda moped rushing into nature for a romantic date than facing the rush of urban life. So the multi-instrumentalist and producer artist naturally created the perfect album for all those who travel and observe while enjoying long rides on busses or mopeds - not least for knowers of high-quality instrumental productions with a special place for hiphop tradition in their hearts. With "Honda Date" he showcases his musical prowess rooted in HipHop, Funk and Soul all the while proving a certain versatileness in creating new sounds - that are also born out of his training in classical music. Unconventional drums, alternative 808 beats, delicate soul samples and those of modern Jazz guitarists non unambiguously carry Macems Ly"s handwriting as he pays tribute to the old while non the less creating something new.
Colemine ist stolz darauf, die neueste 45er von Aaron Frazer zu präsentieren. Diese hier ist etwas ganz Besonderes. Zwei Tracks mit der Rhythmusgruppe der legendären Cold Diamond & Mink, dem Rückgrat des finnischen Soul-Labels Timmion. Die A-Seite ist ein neuer Track: ,It's A Shame". Und es ist vielleicht wirklich schade, dass dieser Titel es nicht auf die "Into The Blue" LP geschafft hat, denn er ist ein echter Knaller. Meisterhaft von Aaron und Produzent Alex Goose zusammengestellt und arrangiert, besticht der Track durch knackige Drums, Aarons charakteristisches, seidiges Falsett und wunderschöne Streicharrangements. Du wirst den Refrain noch tagelang vor dich hin summen. Die B-Seite ist der Album-Closer auf ,Into The Blue" - und das aus gutem Grund. Es fühlt sich wirklich wie ein süßer und gefühlvoller Abgesang am Ende eines Films an. Ein Klagelied über die Höhen und Tiefen der Liebe, das Gefühl, angesichts des Scheiterns dumm dazustehen, aber trotzdem weiterzumachen. Es fühlt sich an wie ein verlorenes Sample, das von Aaron und Goose gekonnt ins Hier und Jetzt geholt wurde. Für Fans von Durand Jones & The Indications, Pale Jay, Jason Ngonda, Thee Sacred Souls, Neil Frances, Khruangbin.
The second OM album, Conference of the Birds, also features Al Cisneros and Chris Hakius, with production by OM, originally released in 2006 on Holy Mountain. With Billy Anderson (of the Melvins, among others), they deliver an intelligent, hypnotic doom drone album featuring elements of dub and psychedelia, alongside monotonous vocals. Two tracks: minimalist and a logical continuation of Sleep"s sound.
The second OM album, Conference of the Birds, also features Al Cisneros and Chris Hakius, with production by OM, originally released in 2006 on Holy Mountain. With Billy Anderson (of the Melvins, among others), they deliver an intelligent, hypnotic doom drone album featuring elements of dub and psychedelia, alongside monotonous vocals. Two tracks: minimalist and a logical continuation of Sleep"s sound.
Irgendwann um das Jahr 2024 tauchte Vorhex Angel scheinbar aus dem Nichts auf: keine Social-Media-Präsenz, keine Identitäten, lediglich ihr Name tauchte hier und da auf einem Flyer in Nashville oder New Orleans auf. Wer neugierig genug war, um ihre Live-Show zu besuchen, konnte mit einer Vielzahl unerwarteter Dinge konfrontiert werden, die die Sinne anregten: aufwendige Bühnenbilder, Stroboskoplichter (oder alternativ völlige Dunkelheit), brennende Gegenstände, vor dem Auftritt eingenommene Rauschmittel. Die Musik bei diesen Auftritten passte zu dem Mysterium. Sie war laut, unberechenbar und verdammt viszeral. Wenn die beiden Live-Veröffentlichungen der Gruppe und ihr Debüt ,Heavenly" tatsächlich viszeral sind (Raven Sings the Blues nannte sie ja ,Erben des Strudels von High Rise"), dann ist der Nachfolger ,Drain" sicherlich ihr intellektuelles Werk. Seine sieben Tracks führen den Hörer vom Morgen bis zur Nacht, ein weitläufiges experimentelles Doppelalbum mit überlebensgroßen Gitarrensoli, spacigen Drone-Exkursionen und Momenten von kraftvoller Intensität durch das gesamte Werk. Zum ersten Mal sehen wir, wie Vorhex Angel ihren hämmernden Klangangriff gegen stimmungsvolle und dramatischere Gefilde eintauschen. Die Band - bestehend aus den Brüdern Jake und Jamin Orrall von JEFF the Brotherhood und Kunal Prakash von Silver Synthetic - erweitert die Grenzen des Vorhex-Angel-Konzepts, lädt neue Musiker in ihren Kreis ein, geht mehr Risiken ein und erntet dafür umso mehr. ,Drain ist keine Musik, die man im Hintergrund beim Kochen laufen lässt", warnt Kunal, bevor er zwinkert: ,Vielleicht ist sie etwas für besonders abenteuerlustige Köche." Vorhex Angel verspricht, dass noch mehr kommen wird. Mehr Jams, mehr unerwartete Wendungen - allein in diesem Jahr können wir mindestens eine Tour und mindestens zwei (!) weitere Alben erwarten. Vorerst gibt es ,Drain" zu feiern, sich damit auseinanderzusetzen, damit der Hörer wie die Musik selbst ein- und ausatmen kann, mit reichlich Raum für gedankliche Kontemplation. SPA Sometime around 2024, Vorhex Angel emerged seemingly out of the ether: no social media presence, no identities, simply their name popping up in Nashville or New Orleans on a flyer here and there. Those with enough curiosity to attend their live show could be met with any number of unexpected things to spike the senses: elaborate stage dressing, strobe lights (alternatively, complete darkness), burning things, pre-performance ingestibles. The music at those functions matched the mystery. They were loud, unhinged, and visceral as all hell. If the group's two live releases and debut Heavenly are indeed visceral (Raven Sings the Blues did name them "heirs to the maelstrom of High Rise"), then followup Drain is surely their cerebral offering. Its seven tracks guide the listener from morning to night, a sprawling experimental double album with larger than life guitar solos, spaced-out drone excursions, and moments of potent intensity throughout. For the first time, we see Vorhex Angel trade their pummeling sonic onslaught for moody and more dramatic pastures. The band-revealed to be brothers Jake and Jamin Orrall of JEFF the Brotherhood and Silver Synthetic's Kunal Prakash-push the parameters of the Vorhex Angel concept outward, inviting new players into their circle, adding more risk and generating more reward. "Drain is not in-the-background cooking-type music," warns Kunal, before winking: "Maybe it is for particularly adventurous chefs." Vorhex Angel promises there will be more. More jams, more left turns-just this year, we can expect at least one tour and at least two (!) more albums. For now, there is Drain to celebrate, to sit and chew on, to allow the listener to breathe out and in like the music does, with ample room for cerebral contemplation.
Maximum Exposure Inc. presents Joy Rider, the debut album from Down Town, the Toronto duo of Ian Elias Afif (bass+effects) and Maxwell Cecil Stover (soprano saxophone + electronics).
Produced and mixed in collaboration with Tony Price in Toronto, Joy Rider portrays a new vision for low-end music as sculpture. Liquid bass paintings, alloy tone abstractions — a virtual still life formed out of fretless aluminum bass, specular soprano saxophone cybernetics, and metallic rhythm architectures.
These pieces belong to a lineage of post-minimalist, low-end experimentalism that treats electroacoustic improvisation and ambient synthesis as mutable sound matter - Joe Zawinul's circuitboard cartographies, the insurgent bass guitar mutations of Bill Laswell, Mick Karn, and Robbie Shakespeare, Evan Parker's recursive multiphonic sax investigations, the most textural sides from the ECM catalogue and the sonic holography constructed by Jon Hassell and Michael Brook during their sessions with Eno and Lanois Hamilton, Ontario.
The album unfolds like a series of suspended environments - music for inside a city.
Für Ihre politischen und gesellschaftlichen Entscheidungen von gestern, heute und morgen gibt es nun einen neuen, verlässlichen Anbieter. Wir kündigen zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt den Wechsel zu der FLINTA-geführten Institution DIE BEHÖRDE aus Bremen an. Als erster amtlicher Schritt wird die Musikproduktion mit dem Titel DER LETZTE ARBEITGEBER erscheinen. Darin enthalten: acht exklusive Stücke mit einer flüchtigen Spielzeit von knapp 20 Minuten. Düster, punkig, relevant und mit dem nötigen Bremer Ernst vorgetragen. Textlich wird der sich erhärtende Verdacht, im falschen Leben zu sein, mit wütender Ehrlichkeit von der Straße gesammelt. Unbewältigt stehen Themen wie Diskriminierung, patriarchale Dominanz und Migrationsfeindlichkeit auf der Tagesordnung. Eiskalte, angriffslustige und hallende Gitarren prallen auf mäandernde Basslinien und pointiert-scharfes Drumming, während der Gesang in aller Dringlichkeit verwüstet, zerstört und wieder heilt. Die Anmut der hier vorgetragenen dienstlichen Beschwerde liegt in der Hoffnung, dass die Lösung nur ein paar Straßenbahnhaltestellen entfernt liegt. Ausführung und Qualität erinnern an Musikgruppen wie Berlin 2.0, Rauchen, Pogendroblem oder Frustwut. Damit ist DIE BEHÖRDE unabdingbarer Bestandteil des derzeit verfügbaren, hochwertigen und notwendigen Bildungsangebots. Ausrufezeichen!
"Imagine a classic singer/songwriter record loaded with the intimacy and grit reminiscent of Alex Chilton or Nikki Sudden." Shindig
Los Angeles singer-songwriter Tracy Bryant returns with his new album The Well, which is his first release since 2019’s critically acclaimed Hush. His fourth solo album, The Well marks a striking new chapter, trading his signature guitar-driven sound for piano-led songwriting that took root during the pandemic. The album was born out of one of the most turbulent periods of his life, written in the wake of his father’s sudden passing and birth of his first child. It was produced by longtime friend and compatriot Joo-Joo Ashworth at Studio 22 in Cypress Park, CA, and mastered by Dave Cooley at Elysian Masters. The nine songs are filled with raw emotion and driving motorik rhythm, telling tales of loss and love, relationships beginning and ending.
When the pandemic upended Bryant’s promotion for Hush and brought his 2019 European tour to a halt, he found himself at home rediscovering his musical roots at the piano, listening to Vince Guaraldi and Arthur Russell to take inspiration for the song structures. Without a band around, Bryant used the instrument to create both rhythm and melody, which resulted in a repetitive and precise backbeat, which was elevated when he began working with drummer Carmeron Gartung to rehearse the new songs. This different approach would define the style of The Well, creating an amalgamation of sounds with classic songwriting structures blended with post-punk, 90s indie, krautrock and psychedelia.
To produce the record, Bryant turned to Joo-Joo Ashworth, who share a friendship stretching back to 2011 (when Joo Joo was only 18) when both of their bands, Corners and Froth, were at the forefront of the bourgeoning Los Angeles/Echo Park music scene of the time and embarked on their first national tours together. Ashworth, who has since become one of underground music’s most respected producers, recorded the album throughout 2024/2025 on half inch tape at Studio 22 in Cypress Park, California, giving The Well a warm, considered sound that matches the weight of its subject matter.
The album’s emotional core was forged by two significant life events arriving in close succession. In January 2022, Bryant’s father passed away unexpectedly at the age of 67. Just three months later, Tracy and his wife welcomed their first child. The Well is a direct result of those experiences, a songwriter processing grief and joy, endings and beginnings in real time.
The nine songs take the listener on a meticulously crafted journey through the nooks and crannies of Bryant’s mind. Spanning 37 minutes, the album is an exploration of classic songwriting elements moving fluidly between driving beat punk, like “Weight” and “Widow”, and more melancholic tracks like “Halfway” and “Danny”. Album opener “Cold Floor” sets the tone immediately, Bryant’s lyrics confronting the day of his father’s death with unflinching directness – the breezy California piano sound is in direct contrast to the heavy theme. The Bowie-esque title track is perhaps the album’s most expansive moment – a fully realised epic composed with a dynamic flare.
The Well feels like an arrival. Dramatic and expansive, it is a true, visceral reflection of the life changing events that altered the course of Bryant’s life. Fans will be surprised by the heavy focus on piano but they will welcome the change as a bold turning point for an artist who has lived long enough to know exactly what he wants to say.
Some previous press:
"feels like a slice of California, down to its ringing post-surf guitars and bright melodies, but cross-cut with a folk sensibility more aligned to the work of Elliot Smith or, on occasions, Conor Oberst." Uncut - lead album review
"…sees the Los Angeles rocker confront both the finer and uglier aspects of love and life, combining classic rock with psychedelic tinges and catchy melodies." Evening Standard 4*s
Soul Jazz Records’ ‘Calypso – Musical Poetry in the Caribbean’ was first issued in 2014 and has been out of print for nearly 10 years. On its release ‘Calypso’ was voted one of the year’s best 50 reissues in Rolling Stone magazine and received glowing reviews in Pitchfork, The Guardian, Songlines and many more. This new edition has been fully remastered and comes as a one-off limited-edition double vinyl pressing on translucent green vinyl, complete with bespoke inners featuring extensive sleevenotes, notes on all the artists and songs featured, and original artwork and photography. The album is also available in a new card-edition CD package, also with complete notes and text.
Featuring Lord Kitchener, The Mighty Viper, Count Zebra, Lord Flea, Lord Hummingbird, King Fighter, Lord Growler, Lord Byron, Lord Ivanhoe and other members of Calypso’s aristocracy and aristocrats, the album features the music of Calypso in its many styles. Calypso is one of the most exciting and enduring forms of musical expression that first emerged at the beginning of the 20th century – swinging, persuasive rhythms, brilliantly expressive melodies, and lyrics of great humour, wisdom and wit. Here you will find music from Trinidad, birthplace of Calypso, other Caribbean islands including Jamaica and the Bahamas, as well as sounds from the style’s subsequent onwards journey including Britain, Panama and the United States. Calypsonian songs play out a role in society similar to the storytelling Griots of West Africa (and the corresponding music of Kaiso); with their own tales about popular and incredible news items, modern life, local politics all mixed up with sexual innuendo, one-upmanship, comedy and more. At its source, Calypso is intricately and inextricably bound to the social history of Trinidad and its myriad of traditions, beliefs, folklore and fables. As the music spread around the world, both from the diaspora of many of its performers as well as its commercial success, the subjects of songs similarly took on local topics.The most notable singer of Calypso in England was the Trinidadian Lord Kitchener, who came to Britain in 1948 on HMS Empire Windrush, along with fellow Calypsonians Lord Beginner and Lord Woodbine.
Hip Hop icon and one of the genre’s most distinctive voices, Big L returns with 'Harlem's Finest: Return Of The King', the latest release in Mass Appeal's 'Legend Has It...' series.
Features guest appearances from Nas, JAY Z, Mac Miller, Joey Bada$$, Method Man and more
Featuring members from King Diamond, Motörhead, Scorpions, Don Dokken Lex Legion is a brand-new band comprised of old friends with incredible heavy metal pedigree. Comprising four-fifths of the classic late 80s King Diamond lineup featuring Mikkey Dee (Drums), Pete Blakk (Guitars), Andy La Rocque (Guitars) and Hal Patino (Bass) infused with the jaw-dropping vocals of Nils K. Rue (Pagan’s Mind), it also boasts Motörhead, Scorpions, and Death on its collective resume. Lex Legion’s eponymous debut album is a single-minded, future-facing throwback of world class hard rock/metal distinguished by tasteful, less-is-more arrangements, virtuoso musicianship, and relentless melody and harmony.
Featuring members from King Diamond, Motörhead, Scorpions, Don Dokken Lex Legion is a brand-new band comprised of old friends with incredible heavy metal pedigree. Comprising four-fifths of the classic late 80s King Diamond lineup featuring Mikkey Dee (Drums), Pete Blakk (Guitars), Andy La Rocque (Guitars) and Hal Patino (Bass) infused with the jaw-dropping vocals of Nils K. Rue (Pagan’s Mind), it also boasts Motörhead, Scorpions, and Death on its collective resume. Lex Legion’s eponymous debut album is a single-minded, future-facing throwback of world class hard rock/metal distinguished by tasteful, less-is-more arrangements, virtuoso musicianship, and relentless melody and harmony.
At a time dominated by mega trap bass and the omnipresence of urban music, FANTOMES swims against the current, daring with carefree and sincere rock that draws equally from Nirvana's powerful playing, the raspy vocals of the Pixies, and Weezer's fragile pop.
While the song themes often seem quite dark, the bright melodies and instrumentation evoke more an imaginary Californian summer than a bartender's blues.
„Immer noch hier“ singen die Sportfreunde Stiller gleich zu Beginn von „Happy Birthday!“, ihrem Album
zum 30-jährigen Band-Geburtstag. Ein pragmatischer, ein geradezu logischer und deshalb auch ein höchst
gelungener Einstieg. Nicht, dass man explizit darauf hätte hinweisen müssen, denn für viele von uns waren
die Songs von Peter, Rüde und Flo ja immer irgendwie gegenwärtig, schaut mal in eure Playlisten, CDund Plattenregale. Dabei klingen sie 2026 frisch und unverbraucht wie zu seligen „Thonträger“-Zeiten,
gleichzeitig aber auch erfahren, mit allen Wassern gewaschen und bei aller Nostalgie auch zeitgemäß. Rockmusik wie sie sein muss, punkig anmutendes Uptempo-Schlagzeug und zuweilen wohl temperierte, ruppige
E-Gitarren inklusive.
Hinzu kommt ihr untrügliches Gespür für unvergessliche Pop-Melodien und ein gewisses Faible für flächige,
manchmal an die 80er Jahre erinnernde Synthies. Auch textlich geht „Happy Birthday!“ - in stürmischen
Zeiten - in die richtige Richtung: Dem Leben zugewandt, ab und an auch nachdenklich, grundsätzlich aber
alle Menschen verbindend. Die Sportfreunde Stiller sind also immer noch hier - und das ist nicht nur gut
so, sondern womöglich besser denn je!
According to the court ruling in the lawsuit brought against the band, allegedly by a former technician, this album should have been released under a different name for the group. Perhaps as a provocative nod, the individual who appears on the cover wearing a nut as an oppressive turban is struck on the back cover by the hammers of Justice and the Law. However, the group ignores this and continues to sign as it has been doing since 1983. The musical arrangements are more powerful, with the guitars taking precedence over the rest much more than before. The drums are also more present. The soundscape takes centre stage, even over the lyrics. The opening track, 'Monopoly', is representative of this, with its fast-paced rhythm provided by galloping guitars. Originally released in 1994, it is surprising how, almost ten years after their debut, La Polla Records were still capable of making albums of such intensity.
As a follow-up to our previous work reissuing the recordings of Pau Riba, key figure in Catalonia's counter-culture and music scene, we now present "Juguetes de época y cajas de cerillas - Singles y rarezas. Primera época (1967-1969)," compiling songs drawn from rare releases in his catalog as well as his singles from this period. It includes previously unreleased material sourced from the artist's own tapes, along with an extensive booklet featuring notes and photographs of the artist. This collection brings together songs taken from rare releases in his discography-such as the album recorded at one of the concerts performed by Grup de Folk during its brief existence, "Folk 2" (1968)-as well as from his singles: "Taxista!" (1967), "Noia de porcellana" (1969), "Miniatura" (1969), "L'home estàtic" (1967), "Pau i Jordi" (1968), and "El Nadal no té 20 anys" (1967). Alongside these tracks, this compilation also releases for the first time part of the previously unheard material found on magnetic tapes discovered in the artist's studio after his passing. Among these tapes were the instrumental recordings of "Taxista!"-versions with slight differences from those issued on the original single, possibly prepared for television playbacks. These recordings provide further insight into the making of Riba's first release, particularly regarding the mixing process and the later addition of subtle details.
In 2019, La Volte released Les Furtifs, the latest novel by science fiction writer Alain Damasio. At that time, to mark the publication, Damasio invited the band Palo Alto to join him on stage in response to an invitation from the literary festival Oh les beaux jours !, held at La Criée – Théâtre national de Marseille. What was initially intended as a one-off performance led to a multi-date tour across France. The show performed at La Maroquinerie was filmed and recorded in multitrack and will be release on the 12th of June 2026 on Hublotone (HUBLO006CD).
At the same time, to join this release, Palo Alto invited eight artists to remix the pieces composed for the show: Ptôse, Pacific 231, Judith Juillerat, Herb Duncan, Norscq, Thierry Zaboitzeff, Lefdup & Lefdup, and Electronicat.
Bringing together the best of the French underground music scene, these tracks echo avant-garde artists such as Coil and Tuxedomoon, blending electronic music with string instruments, instrumental compositions with acid club influences. They will be available on vinyl in a gatefold sleeve featuring artwork by Kiki Picasso (ex-Bazooka). Inside the gatefold, an exclusive text by Alain Damasio introduces the project.
Palo Alto is a French band formed in Paris in the late 1980s. They have recorded a dozen albums and developed several projects featuring guest musicians such as Scanner, Simon Fisher Turner, Ramuntcho Matta, J. G. Thirlwell / Foetus, Richard Pinhas and the New York trumpeter Rhys Chatham. They contributed to a tribute album to John Balance / Coil and asked a dozen artists to reinterpret "Half-Mute", Tuxedomoon’s debut album, featuring the original members of the American band (Steven Brown, Blaine L. Reininger and Peter Principle). In 2018, they were selected by the Californian band The Residents to take part in a cover album released on Cherry Red Records. Their latest album, dedicated to the philosopher Gilles Deleuze, was released on the Belgian label Sub Rosa in 2020.
a A1 - The Stealthy Ones remix By Ptôse
[c] A2 - Une Grâce [remix By Pacific 231]
[e] A3 - Menace Prophylaxie Niveau 6 [remix By Judith Juillerat]
[g] A4 - La Ville Est À Nous ! [remix By Herb Duncan]
[i] A5 - Lueur Ultramarine [remix By Norscq]
[k] B1 - Une Clameur De Sabbat [remix By Thierry Zaboitzeff]
[m] B2 - Un Cri [remix By Lefdup & Lefdup]
[remix By Electronicat]
[a] A1 - The Stealthy Ones [remix By Ptôse]
[c] A2 - Une Grâce [remix By Pacific 231]
[e] A3 - Menace Prophylaxie Niveau 6 [remix By Judith Juillerat]
[g] A4 - La Ville Est À Nous ! [remix By Herb Duncan]
[i] A5 - Lueur Ultramarine [remix By Norscq]
[k] B1 - Une Clameur De Sabbat [remix By Thierry Zaboitzeff]
[m] B2 - Un Cri [remix By Lefdup & Lefdup]
[remix By Electronicat]
et for release on June 12, Silence marks the return of Lucie Antunes following Carnaval (2023). The album was born from a desire to clear space — and to rediscover, through dance and collective creation, a renewed artistic momentum.
Developed from a text by poet Laura Vazquez and co-produced with Canblaster, Silence exists at the intersection of record, performance, and immersive experience, in connection with a work created alongside choreographer Mathilde Monnier.
Through an organic and hypnotic sound palette — transformed voices, percussion, vibraphones, and synthesizers — the album explores altered states of consciousness, offering a sensory journey between shadow and light. Surrounded by artists such as Clara Ysé, Halo Maud, and Rebecca Chaillon, Lucie Antunes delivers a collective work that is both intense and deeply inhabited.
Silence is a passage — a crossing between bodies, voices, and worlds — where music becomes a space to feel, to disappear, and to be reborn.
Damian Dalla Torre returns with People Pleaser, a record shaped by movement, collaboration and an ever-deepening relationship with sound as environment.
The Leipzig-based multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer first found wide attention with his 2022 debut Happy Floating, and his subsequent album I Can Feel My Dreams was named the #1 Contemporary Album of 2024 by The Guardian, an accolade that broadened his audience and deepened confidence in his evolving voice. That second album, written between Europe and South America, opened unexpected doors and took Dalla Torre to stages across New York, Japan and Italy. “When you release music, it’s very intimate,” he reflects. “You show your emotions pretty raw. I was kind of scared. But getting so much positive feedback gave me a lot of self-confidence to try out more.”
People Pleaser begins in that quiet shift of confidence.
The title stayed with him for months before he committed to it. “It was a working title for a long time,” he says. “I didn’t actually think I would use it. But this term also felt somehow relevant in connection with the phase of self-negotiation during the development process. Some aspects are related to pressure, others are positive.” The ambiguity felt right. Rather than presenting it as a statement, Dalla Torre leaves it open, an invitation rather than a confession.
At the centre of People Pleaser is collaboration. Guitarist Bertram Burkert, whose playing stretches from classical delicacy to electric abstraction, joined Dalla Torre in the studio for an intensive three-day session, recording a wide palette of textures that would become the backbone of the album. Vocalist Laura Zöschg, a key live collaborator, harpist Babett Niclas, organist Felix Römer, tape experimentalist Markus Rom, marimba and vibraphonist Volker Heuken and Japanese artist Manami Kakudo also contribute, creating a sound that feels intimate yet expansive.
Damian Dalla Torre returns with People Pleaser, a record shaped by movement, collaboration and an ever-deepening relationship with sound as environment.
The Leipzig-based multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer first found wide attention with his 2022 debut Happy Floating, and his subsequent album I Can Feel My Dreams was named the #1 Contemporary Album of 2024 by The Guardian, an accolade that broadened his audience and deepened confidence in his evolving voice. That second album, written between Europe and South America, opened unexpected doors and took Dalla Torre to stages across New York, Japan and Italy. “When you release music, it’s very intimate,” he reflects. “You show your emotions pretty raw. I was kind of scared. But getting so much positive feedback gave me a lot of self-confidence to try out more.”
People Pleaser begins in that quiet shift of confidence.
The title stayed with him for months before he committed to it. “It was a working title for a long time,” he says. “I didn’t actually think I would use it. But this term also felt somehow relevant in connection with the phase of self-negotiation during the development process. Some aspects are related to pressure, others are positive.” The ambiguity felt right. Rather than presenting it as a statement, Dalla Torre leaves it open, an invitation rather than a confession.
At the centre of People Pleaser is collaboration. Guitarist Bertram Burkert, whose playing stretches from classical delicacy to electric abstraction, joined Dalla Torre in the studio for an intensive three-day session, recording a wide palette of textures that would become the backbone of the album. Vocalist Laura Zöschg, a key live collaborator, harpist Babett Niclas, organist Felix Römer, tape experimentalist Markus Rom, marimba and vibraphonist Volker Heuken and Japanese artist Manami Kakudo also contribute, creating a sound that feels intimate yet expansive.
First released in 1976, "Metallic K.O." was the fourth album from IGGY & THE STOOGES, a classic, memorable recording of the Stooges confrontational last gig. The Stooges had not been heard since "73"s "Raw Power", and the sound of kamikaze Iggy in between new songs dodging eggs and glasses thrown by Hell"s Angels gave him a new audience in the embryonic punk crowd. It defined Iggy as a punk originator, sold 100k+ and become the Stooges best-selling album. Previously re-issued as an extended, two-CD set with two complete shows (FREUDCD070), it"s now been condensed down to the exact original album edit that shocked and inspired so many. In the 2007 remastering from the original tapes an original tape-speed fault was found - now for the first time the album can be heard in the correct pitch! As Lester Bangs said: "IT"S THE ONLY ROCK ALBUM I KNOW WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY HEAR HURLED BEER BOTTLES BREAKING AGAINST GUITAR STRINGS". Recorded 1973 & 74. Inner bag with historical background.