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In den frühen 1960er Jahren übte Paris eine magische Anziehungskraft auf amerikanische Jazzmusiker aus.
Zu den Stars, die sich dort vorübergehend niederließen, zählten u.a. der Tenorsaxofonist Dexter Gordon,
der Pianist Bud Powell und der Schlagzeuger Kenny Clarke. Auf diesem Album von 1963, das oft als
Dexters bestes bezeichnet wird, interpretieren die drei zusammen mit dem großen französischen Bassisten
Pierre Michelot traumhafte Bebop-Klassiker und Balladen.

VERVE ACOUSTIC SOUNDS SERIE: Stereo, komplett analog von Ryan K. Smith bei Sterling Sound von
den Originalbändern gemastert, QPR-Pressung (180 g), stabiles Tip-On-Gatefold (Stoughton Printing),
wattierte Innenhülle.
Die allererste Veröffentlichung von Impulse! Records (mit der Katalognummer A-1) gilt als eine der besten
Aufnahmen von Kai Winding und J.J. Johnson. Die beiden Posaunisten hatten erstmals 1949 bei Sessions
für das Album “Trombone By Three” miteinander gespielt und nahmen danach bis 1956 zusammen noch
neun weitere Alben auf. Creed Taylor, der bereits 1955 ein Album der beiden für Bethlehem Records produziert hatte, stellte ihnen 1960 für “The Great Kai And J.J.” eine besonders hochkarätige Rhythmusgruppe
zur Seite, mit keinem Geringeren als Bill Evans am Piano.

Am 22. Februar 1975 fand das allererste KARAT-Konzert statt. Nun, 50 Jahre später, sind KARAT immer
noch da. Sie blicken zurück auf etwa 5.000 Konzerte, fünfzehn Studio- und fünf Livealben sowie unzählige
Kopplungen. Fünf Dekaden voller Lieder, von denen die meisten geblieben sind. KARAT ist die einzige
Band aus dem Osten Deutschlands, die schon vor dem Mauerfall in der BRD ihre Platten vergoldete.
Jetzt zum großen Jubiläum hätten es sich Gitarrist Bernd Römer, Sänger Claudius Dreilich, Keyboarder
Martin Becker, Bassgitarrist Daniel Bätge und Schlagzeuger Heiko Jung in der Komfortzone gemütlich
machen und auf die großen Hits mit einer weiteren Best Of verweisen können. Viele hätten das vermutlich
auch gut gefunden, aber es wäre nicht KARAT gewesen. Denn die Band blickt nicht nur zurück, sondern
vor allem nach vorn. Auch wenn nach dem großen Jubiläumsjahr die musikalische Reise weitergeht, KARAT
werden auch in Zukunft nicht zur Oldieband mutieren. So veröffentlichen sie genau an dem Februartag,
als das erste Konzert stattfand, ein neues Album. „Hohe Himmel“ heißt es und vereint ausschließlich
neue Lieder. Dennoch haben KARAT damit alte Bandtraditionen im Blick: die Tracks wurden im Studio
live eingespielt, das Ergebnis gibt es nicht nur digital, sondern auf wunderbarem Vinyl. Und all dies in
einem großartigen Package bestehend aus: Vinyl, CD und einem wunderschönen 12-seitigem Booklet in
Vinylgröße. Hier bleiben keine Wünsche offen. Karat eben!

Music is like literature: getting through a second novel or second album is often a perilous exercise. Spatsz and Mona Soyoc, propelled into the limelight by their explosive Try Out, headed off to New York to record a follow-up to this fabulous debut. By Pass (1983) follows in the musical and sonic footsteps of its predecessor. The same sticky synth layers, the same flayed vocals capable of voluptuous flights, KaS Product still navigates the murky waters of a nervous, unhealthy cold wave, somewhere between the gall of Suicide and the gothic melodies of Siouxsie. And the melodies are always there, as on the stunning "Tina Town" and "T.M.T", two of the most successful tracks on an album that holds up remarkably well, and also deserves a closer look at its detours, such as "Taking Shape" or "Tape" at the end of the disc.

‘4th DIMENSION’ is the last and probably greatest album ever recorded by Italian piano Maestro Mario Rusca. This monumental music produc"on features tracks in Nonet, Quintet and Trio. Along with the faithful rhythm sec"on composed by Riccardo Fioravan" on bass and Maxx Furian on drums, on this slamming cinema"c jazz album Mario Rusca teamed up with two extraordinary wind players: legendary Flavio Boltro (of Michel Petrucciani Quintet fame) on trumpet and Gabriele Comeglio on sax alto.

As far as the choruses are concerned, Nicole4a Tiberini, Mar"na Rossi and Alice Macchi, from Maestro Rusca’s ensemble music courses at the Civica di Jazz School, provide inspired and swinging backing vocals. The cherry on the cake, the element that gives to ‘4th DIMENSION’ a pulsa"ng and swinging’ drive, is the par"cipa"on on the album of Marco Fadda, one of Italy’s leading percussion players.

This heterogeneous ensemble has shaped, during 5 days of intense studio recordings, an absolute masterpiece full of swinging rhythms along with a few magical in"mate moments. In his 65 years career, Italian piano legend Mario Rusca has shared the stage and recording studios with luminaries such as Chet Baker, Cur"s Fuller, Gerry Mulligan, Lou Donaldson, Art Farmer, Lee Konitz, Dusko Gojkovic, Enrico Rava, Tullio De Piscopo, Kenny Clarke, Stan Getz, Toots Thielemans, Gianni Basso, Pepper Adams, Steve Lacy and Tony Sco4 (with whom he formed an indissoluble partnership).

Being accompanied in this album by extraordinary musicians, Rusca chooses to flow in a repertoire that, like in his most recent records for Mono Jazz, bridges between original pieces and revisited standards from the American Jazz Songbook, approached with unprecedented sensi"vity and depth.

The journey of ‘4th DIMENSION’ is an extraordinary cinema"c musical voyage across various styles ranging from Bop, Hard Bop, Cool, Funk and La"n Jazz. ‘4th DIMENSION’ is a perfect follow up to the interna"onally acclaimed Easy Tempo legacy! In these 13 tracks, “il Maestro” embraces and enhances a ‘cinema"c’ component in his music - an a4ribute he has long cul"vated through original soundtracks and library albums recorded for diverse cult Italian labels.

This, as we were saying, is achieved through the addi"on of percussionist Marco Fadda, who introduces a series of rhythmic nuances across several tracks, and of the extraordinary female vocal trio reminiscent of I Cantori Moderni of Alessandro Alessandroni & Edda Dell'Orso, used in the tradi"on of Italian composers of ‘60s and ‘70s film music.

This natural progression reflects Italy's history, where jazz musicians have long been involved in soundtracks and film scoring since the late ‘50s. Italian jazz has integrated this approach into its composi"on and arranging styles, as demonstrated in the first 10 volumes of the Easy Tempo series. A spirit and tradi"on that Rusca's ‘4th DIMENSION’ record con"nues. Listening to some of the tracks on the record evokes the legendary works created for cinema by Piero Umiliani, Piero Piccioni, Lelio Lu4azzi, Armando Trovajoli, Gianni Ferrio and others.

Lucien Kimono fully composed the original soundtrack for Season 2 of Amours Solitaires, which aired on Arte and France TV in November.

Initially a popular Instagram account before becoming a French Euphoria-style drama, the series follows the romantic wanderings of its young protagonists. From ultra-modern synthetic arpeggios to warm, nostalgic Rhodes melodies, 18 tracks map out their joys, sorrows, and orgasms.

Alternative Tentacles Records is thrilled to announce the first-ever vinyl release of two long-awaited tracks, previously available only in digital format. This highly anticipated split 7" features Jello Biafra & The Guantanamo School of Medicine and The November 3, with two explosive songs: "Blunder Blubber" and "IFAR." "Blunder Blubber," originally released as a digital single to mark Rush Limbaugh's passing and was recorded during the TEA PARTY REVENGE PORN recording sessions, highlights everything iconic about Jello Biafra & The Guantanamo School of Medicine. The song critiques the rise of right-wing extremism, tracing its roots back to Rush Limbaugh's influence and the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine under President Reagan in 1987—a policy change that allowed one-sided political commentary on public airwaves. Biafra argues that this set the stage for the toxic media landscape, fueling figures like Limbaugh and the current wave of ""MAGA"" rhetoric. Reflecting on the political climate, Biafra notes, "I wrote the song back when Clinton was president, seeing the writing on the wall. I was hoping never to use it, but we had no choice but to update and perform it now." On the flip side, The November 3 delivers "IFAR," a fiery debut track that first dropped during the 2020 Republican National Convention. Blending punk rock energy with raw political outrage, lead vocalist Billie O' Rights unleashes a bold, biting rant, backed by Tom Pain’s searing guitars. Pat Triotte and Justice Ferrall add their creative touches to this electrifying anthem, capturing the chaotic spirit of the times. "IFAR," is a raucous, tongue-in-cheek commentary on partisan divides, clocking in at just two minutes of catchy, irreverent fun. Interestingly, the song was reportedly conceived during a mundane moment: Pat Triotte was baking blueberry muffins one Saturday afternoon when the idea hit, and within hours, the track was recorded— and the muffins were supposedly amazing. Despite the humorous and often provocative tone of both songs, the core message of this release is clear: a call to action to vote. With this limited 7" vinyl, Alternative Tentacles Records urges everyone to make their voices heard in the 2024 election and beyond! Don't forget to VOTE!

Neue Musik von Anton Newcombe von BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE und DOT ALLISON (u.a. ONE DOVE, Solo, Sonic Cathedrals). Eine Zusammenarbeit zwischen den beiden Soundtüftlern. Während des Lockdowns in Berlin und Schottland aufgenommen, arbeiten Dot Allison und Anton Newcombe als All Seeing Dolls zusammen. Produziert von Anton Newcombe in Berlin, schickten er und Dot sich gegenseitig Gesangs- und Musikideen, um Dots eindringlichen Gesang mit ihren Fähigkeiten als Multiinstrumentalisten zu vereinen. Auf dem Album finden sich Gitarre, Ukulele, Klavier und Autoharp, gespielt von Dot, sowie zusätzliche Beiträge von Hakon Adalsteinsson (Gitarre) und Uri Rennert. Im Interview mit Clash Magazine sagte Dot über den Entstehungsprozess: "Wir haben unseren Weg gefunden... viele der Songs wurden während des Lockdowns geschrieben... wir sprachen über Musik, das Leben, was wir für wichtig halten und teilten Songs, die wir mögen und sprachen über Künstler, die wir mögen... wir beschlossen, Ideen auszutauschen... also schickte ich etwas mit Autoharp und Stimme oder Akustik und Stimme, und er schickte mir tolle Ideen zurück... wir haben uns gegenseitig unterstützt und gestärkt... und ich sagte zu ihm, dass es ein bisschen wie ein kleines Weihnachten ist, die Tracks zu hören, nachdem er sie zurückgeschickt hatte." Auf erstem hören musikalisch näher an DOT ALLISONs letzten Sonic Cathedral-Output, finden sich hier die eher BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE-typischen Ideen in den klanglichen Tiefen wieder.

Neue Musik von Anton Newcombe von BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE und DOT ALLISON (u.a. ONE DOVE, Solo, Sonic Cathedrals). Eine Zusammenarbeit zwischen den beiden Soundtüftlern. Während des Lockdowns in Berlin und Schottland aufgenommen, arbeiten Dot Allison und Anton Newcombe als All Seeing Dolls zusammen. Produziert von Anton Newcombe in Berlin, schickten er und Dot sich gegenseitig Gesangs- und Musikideen, um Dots eindringlichen Gesang mit ihren Fähigkeiten als Multiinstrumentalisten zu vereinen. Auf dem Album finden sich Gitarre, Ukulele, Klavier und Autoharp, gespielt von Dot, sowie zusätzliche Beiträge von Hakon Adalsteinsson (Gitarre) und Uri Rennert. Im Interview mit Clash Magazine sagte Dot über den Entstehungsprozess: "Wir haben unseren Weg gefunden... viele der Songs wurden während des Lockdowns geschrieben... wir sprachen über Musik, das Leben, was wir für wichtig halten und teilten Songs, die wir mögen und sprachen über Künstler, die wir mögen... wir beschlossen, Ideen auszutauschen... also schickte ich etwas mit Autoharp und Stimme oder Akustik und Stimme, und er schickte mir tolle Ideen zurück... wir haben uns gegenseitig unterstützt und gestärkt... und ich sagte zu ihm, dass es ein bisschen wie ein kleines Weihnachten ist, die Tracks zu hören, nachdem er sie zurückgeschickt hatte." Auf erstem hören musikalisch näher an DOT ALLISONs letzten Sonic Cathedral-Output, finden sich hier die eher BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE-typischen Ideen in den klanglichen Tiefen wieder. Exklusiv für den Indie-Handel: Transparentes mit farbigen Splatter Vinyl

Amsterdam-based keyboardist, producer, arranger and DJ Soul Supreme reached out to NYC drummer Jay Mumford in 2021 to lay the down groove on his re-imagining of Q-Tip and J-Dilla's "Let's Ride". That paved the way for future collaborations: a cover of A Tribe Called Quest's "Award Tour (We Gettin' Down)" and two tunes on Soul Supreme's Poetic Justice LP. But when the pair began doing brief covers of their favorite funk, jazz and hip-hop tunes on Instagram just for fun, followers of both musicians - and often, the covered artists themselves - began to take note. Two of those 20+ covers were particularly well-received, and the duo decided to answer the peoples' call for a 7" release with the songs pushed to their full potential. Similar to "Award Tour" and "Let's Ride", a hip-hop classic and a fan favorite are pushed to their full potential here. This installment goes coast to coast and explores Digable Planets' "9th Wonder" (the "East" side) and People Under the Stairs' (PUTS) "Crown Ones" (the "West" side).

The iconic synth intro of "9th Wonder" makes way for Jay's thunderous ode to a slowed down Clyde Stubblefield groove. Sure to be a favorite with DJs, Jay eventually detours into a syncopated New Orleans funk break, before getting back to the groove for Soul Supreme's funky wah wah clavinet work. Throughout, the arrangement expands beyond both that of the original and all of its DNA. The addition of cascading horns (featuring a trumpet solo by Lourens van der Zwaag) and a second, more aggressive break from Jay bring it back full circle, completing a modern update of a classic that manages to pay homage to '70s jazz-funk, breakbeats and '90s hip-hop - all while staying both modern and raw.

Diehard PUTS fans will recognize Soul Supreme's catchy Rhodes line as soon as the needle drops, but Jay's heavy funk groove quickly separates it from the original and takes it from hip-hop cover to heavy funk tune. Soul Supreme's Rhodes solo pushes it far beyond the confines of instrumental funk as the groove intensifies, while his chops as an arranger are on full display: his horn parts - featuring van der Zwaag, trombonist Olav Schloorlemmer and Job Chajes' Contra-Alto Clarinet that channels The Headhunters - counter his synth melodies in a discussion that completes the record as a heavy slice of uncut jazz-funk.

After two pandemically conditioned ‘reaction’ albums - Yay! (2023) and Neigh!! (2024) - a few non-album singles and a compilation album, a downsized and sleek Motorpsycho is back where we all know and love them, with an epic, sprawling double album, filled to the brim with inventive, organic and ecstatic rock-based music. Rejoyce Psychonaut! This eponymously titled, 11 song work, has exactly as much variety & diversity, accord and discord, as one expects from a band that has released a few albums before, and that these days must be regarded as an institution in European rock. From concise 3min-something pop-rockers, to 20mins plus progressive epics, via acoustic intimacies and psychedelic wig-outs, this is concentrated Motorpsychosis: commenced Rebis, countdown initiated. Ever closer. Ever sharper... Since the traditional 3 or 4 piece rock band seems to be a dying breed these days, and MP always was a band in flux anyway, a new pragmatic era has begun in the Psychoverse. The band has, in what one might call alchemical terms, been ‘dissolved and purified’, and is by now again reduced to the core two founding members HMR & BS. This is nothing new, it has happened a few times before, but these days they are also the owners and creators of the record company NFGS, which is now the hub of all recorded band activity, and Motorpsycho marks the final severance of existing ties to other labels for the first time in 35 years. If ‘freedom is free of the need to be free’, this is it. Yikes! The minimalist title of the album is then not just easy to remember, it’s also a statement: a new era has begun in the Psychoverse, a state of affairs reflected in execution and details as well as title, if not perhaps, in ambition or size: “Senex psittacus negligit ferulam” *. This is a time of new beginnings for a band that has spent two years consolidating and reseting before charging ahead anew on a new path, trumpets blaring (...and trumpets don’t come much more blaring in the Psychoverse than with this grandiloquent hyperbole. Good fun! ). New day rising indeed. The core band was adroitly helped by a gaggle of greats from all over the Scandinavian musical landscape on these recordings: drummers Ingvald Vassbø and Olaf Olsen, string arranger/violinist Mari Persen, vocalist Thea Grant, and - as usual - honorary psycho, brother Reine Fiske, were all fellow travellers on this musical journey. Motorpsycho was co-produced by the band and Deathprod, and mixed by Andrew Scheps. Motorpsycho are not the best at what they do, they’re the only ones that do what they do. NFGS2025 *: “Senex psittacus negligit ferulam,” or “An old parrot doesn’t mind the stick.”

"Heritage is the tenth studio album by Swedish progressive metal band Opeth. The album was recorded in early 2011 at Atlantis Studios in Stockholm and produced by Mikael Åkerfeldt, engineered by Janne Hansson, and mixed by Steven Wilson (the first album since 2003's Damnation on which he worked with the band, although not as producer). It takes on more of a progressive rock sound, something the band had wanted to do for some time, resulting in a stark contrast to the progressive death metal sounds of their past albums.

A critical and commercial success and charted at number 19 on the Billboard 200. The first 5000 copies of this edition will contain a beautiful 16 page booklet.

Heritage is available as a 2LP limited edition of 5000 individually numbered copies on black & red marbled vinyl and comes with a limited 16 page booklet, a poster and an insert."

This 2024 recording showcases original artists who continue to captivate audiences with their exceptional music and require our support. Darryl Howard, the vocalist and songwriter of Nu’rons, takes on the lead vocals, while Emanuel Campbell, also a member of Nu’rons, contributes to the lyrics. The 45rpm vinyl includes two versions of “Outside Looking In”: an extended version and a full radio edit.

The band members are: - Darryl Howard (vocals) - Eugene Williams (guitar) - Teddy Jackson (bass) - Lucious Frierson (keyboards) - Danny Kelly (drums) Written by Emanuel M. Campbell. Some of you may recognise my esteemed friend Eugene Williams from the Williams Brothers, who played guitar on “Outside Looking In.” This 45 is a previously unreleased gem that is now available for purchase on our website 15 Demos (£25 inc worldwide shipping) 300 issues (£18 inc uk shipping / £21 inc worldwide shipping)

Album features and was co-produced by Joseph Shabason. String arrangements by Owen Pallett. Thom Gill has written songs for Chaka Khan, in addition to contributing to albums by The Mountain Goats, Owen Pallett, Joseph Shabason, Bernice, and many others. Way Through is a collaborative album by Toronto musicians Chris Cummings, Joseph Shabason, and Thom Gill (as Cici Arthur). Inspired by moments of discovery in familiar places, the album's title reflects the feeling of uncovering hidden paths in life. Musically, it blends mid-century influences like Jobim and Sinatra, with producer-instrumentalists Shabason and Gill crafting lush, expansive soundscapes. Featuring a 30-piece orchestra led by Owen Pallett, the album brings a grand scale to Cummings' intimate, reflective lyrics. The project began in 2020 when Cummings lost his job and turned to full-time music for the first time in his life. His collaborators tailored the arrangements to showcase his understated vocal delivery against sweeping orchestral backdrops. Songs like 'Cartwheels for Coins' and 'Prior Times' explore themes of regret and emotional complexity, contrasting the grandeur of the music with Cummings' quiet introspection. Tracks like 'Damaged Goods' provide upbeat moments with doo-wop harmonies, while the cinematic closer 'No Fight Or Flight' emphasizes the filmic quality of the album. Through its orchestral richness and deeply personal lyrics, Way Through captures the tension between ambition and realism, offering a poignant reflection on life's unpredictable journey

A special ‘Submerge” 12” EP featuring a bunch of reworks of this pivotal track from Apta's forthcoming ‘The Pool’ album on Castles in Space.

Kicking things off, Apta's own rework of the original sees the shadowy textures and droning wall-of-sound backdrop turned into a static-strewn dreamland of a piece, underpinned by a flickering guitar riff, cracked snare drums and fuzzed-out Odyssey strokes before launching into the euphoric half-time vocal refrain.

The follow-up sees Clay Pipe boss, illustrator and musician step into her Hardy Tree guise for a beautifully hypnotic waft of wistful folk-tinged electronics and shimmering ambient textures. It's warmly nostalgic, and packed full of all the feel of a lovely Clay Pipe release.

Following on from that, modular wizard Polypores takes pieces of the original and stretches them into an organic swell of texture and movement, warping the low basses and flickering modular plinks (and / or plonks) into a beautiful, undulating wall.

Flip over and It's none other than the brilliant Pye Corner Audio, providing an organically blooming suite of saturated percussion and woozy drifting oscillators, in peak PCA fashion. There are few artists that can do as much as with little as Martin Jenkins can, and hearing his audio sunshine underpinning the vocal line is breathtaking.

It's good to get the ears nice and soothed too before the aural assault and hypnotic spirit-cleansing heft of the legendary Gnod. Dubby throbbing bass and cavernous reverb tear the original into shards and piece it together as a churning, industrial powerhouse before shooting the rest into the endless reaches of space.

Closing things out on a space theme is the ideal way to do things too, with Field Lines Cartographer's remix taking things waaay into the outer reaches. Grounding bass churns and stellar synth sweeps float below the modulated vocal line, resulting in a perfectly crafted drone, rich in melody but untethered to the earth.

Bunny Wailer, respectfully called "The Blackheart Man", produced Johnny Scar's one-off recording 'United Africa'. The mystic singer wrote this heavy roots song and sang in his unique chant with a stylistic nod to the roots reggae icon, Burning Spear. The song appeared as 12"on the Solomonic Production imprint in 1986.

Prolific Norwegian trumpeter and ECM veteran Arve Henriksen returns with Estonian guitarist/composer Robert Jürjendal in tow, matching his idiosyncratic shakuhachi-style melodic condensations with Jürjendal's glassy electro-acoustic soundscapes and sonorous percussion.

Henriksen releases a lot but is remarkably reliable; his playing is so versatile that hearing it dematerialise into different ensembles and individual methodologies is always a treat. Jürjendal is a veteran guitarist, but doesn't approach his instrument from a purely classical standpoint, taking a Fripp-inspired path towards texture, processing and looping his sounds until they're barely recognisable. The duo share a similar love for Hassell's Fourth World ambience, and here inject new life into that mood.

Jürjendal's percussion is impressive: he offsets cascades of oddly-tuned electronics on 'Tuonela' with booming, ritualistic tom hits that punctuate Henriksen's melancholy phrases; and on the brilliant 'Ancient Bells', plays a set of gongs and gamelan-style instruments, creating swirling hammered tonal clusters that quiver beneath Henriksen's echoed-out, spirited improvisations. It's not always that corporeal, either; on 'A Remarkable Flow', he loops guitar phrases, creating gentle vibrations that rumble in the background while he mirrors Henriksen's pitchy zig-zags with high-pitched oscillator vamps.

Even on the peaceable 'Miraculous Lake', discreet kalimba loops set a celestial tempo that anchors the duo's gaseous soundscapes. And although they veer towards end-credits loveliness on the Göttsching-influenced 'Reunion Hymn', it’s balanced by the album's darker passages, like 'Rebirth' and 'Another Me'. On the latter, Henriksen's trumpet is transformed into a voice-like warble, while Jürjendal replies with glacial E-bowed drones that resonate creepily alongside his lysergic FM pads.

After appearing with Archie Shepp at the landmark Pan-African Cultural festival in Algiers in 1969, African-American trumpeter-cornetist Clifford Thornton recorded a set of his own compositions in Paris later that year. The result was Ketchaoua, an important political and spiritual as well as musical statement that reflected the inspiration that he took from Islam. Indeed, the title of the album refers to the awe-inspiring mosque in Algiers.
Clifford Thornton’s superb band comprised his compatriots, saxophonists Archie Shepp and Arthur Jones, drummer Sunny Murray, trombonist Grachan Moncur III, pianist Dave Burrell, and bassist Earl Freeman, as well as French bassist Beb Guérin. Together they brought energy and ingenuity to the leader’s compositions, which were characterized by vivid atmospheres, exploratory, mysterious sounds and haunting themes. And the song titles conveyed an important social and cultural message. Pieces such as ‘Brotherhood’ pointed to the sense of unity and kinship that African-American artists felt with the citizens they encountered on their journey to North Africa and Europe.
This newly remastered deluxe edition of Ketchaoua provides an opportunity to hear one of the major entries in Clifford Thornton’s relatively small yet nonetheless highly impressive discography. It is an album that marks him out as a figure in the avant- garde movement of the late 60s and early 70s who deserves far wider recognition.

When Apollo Brown and Crimeapple connect, it’s like old film grain under a projector— gritty, timeless. This album isn’t just boom-bap nostalgia; it’s a rebirth of smoke-stained bars, where Crimeapple plays both poet and philosopher, flipping bilingual manteca rhymes with a chef’s precision, stirring up the street grime and serving it with a side of sharp wit. Apollo Brown, as always, builds his beats like ancient architecture—dusty, soulful, and heavy with forgotten stories. These tracks sound like the cracks in the sidewalk talking back, the perfect companion for long nights and even longer thoughts. It’s a sonic novel, a street sermon, and Crimeapple’s wordplay dances through it like grease sizzling in a pan, a reminder that even in decay, there’s beauty. This, Is Not That.

Amongst the hundreds of recordings issued by Sun Ra and his Arkestra, under their various guises, the majority were recorded in concert or in makeshift studios such as their early 1960s set-up at NYC's Choreographer's Workshop. Beyond those, roughly 22 albums were recorded at Variety Recording Studio in New York's Times Square. However, on August 25, 1986, Sun Ra and cohorts entered Mission Control, a state-of-the-art 24-track studio north of Boston, which was teeming with electronic keyboards and otherworldly sound generators. Nestled within that arsenal was a brand-new digital ultra keyboard — the Prophet VS ("Vector Synthesizer").
Of all the keyboards Ra played throughout his half-century career, the Prophet was one of the most sophisticated. There's no evidence that he had played either of the instrument's earlier incarnations, the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 and Prophet-10. Created using microprocessors, a then-new technological advance, under the auspices of engineer Dave Smith in 1978, the Prophet-5 revolutionized electronic music as the first polyphonic and, most importantly, programmable synthesizer.
Ra was intrigued by the Prophet (surely by the instrument as well as by the name). Recorded during a single day, it's about time that these once lost performances have now been found.
It was a joy and a thrill to be sitting at the console hearing this music for the first time, especially with my fingers on the faders and knobs of the mixing desk. We watched the oxide fly off the 2" tapes during playback, making this our one chance to digitize before they metamorphosed into dust. Welcome to the new Sun Ra album....35+ years after it was recorded. The Omniverse has expanded once again.

Sibelius und Barber: Sternstunden des Repertoires

Auf seinem neuen Album vereint Renaud Capuçon zwei Meisterwerke des 20. Jahrhunderts, geliebt von allen Geigern für ihre klang- und effektvollen Möglichkeiten, das eigene Können zu zeigen, und gleichzeitig gefürchtet für ihre Herausforderungen: das Violinkonzert des Finnen Jean Sibelius und das 30 Jahre später entstandene Gegenstück aus der Feder des Amerikaners Samuel Barber. Nordische Schwermut trifft hier auf die schwelgende Unbesorgtheit eines jungen Genies, verbunden durch ein Höchstmaß an Virtuosität – und damit ideales Repertoire für einen Ausnahmemusiker wie Renaud Capuçon.

Scour ist eine Metal-Supergruppe mit Philip Anselmo (Pantera, Down), Derek Engemann (ex-Cattle Decapitation), John Jarvis (Agoraphobic Nosebleed), Mark Kloeppel (Misery Index) und Adam Jarvis (Pig Destroyer, Misery Index). Auf ihrem Debüt in voller Länge verbindet Scour Black Metal mit Grindcore, Punk und Thrash und bringt Extreme Metal in modernes Terrain. Scour ist auf einigen der bedeutendsten Festivals der Welt aufgetreten, darunter Roskilde, Hellfest, Tecate Metal Fest und Maryland Deathfest.

Originally released on February 17, 2015, Aaron Watson’s The Underdog made music history by being the the first independently distributed and promoted album from a solo male artist to debut at #1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. Though it was Aaron’s twelfth album, The Underdog’s success sent shockwaves though Nashville, and the music world as a whole, launching hits and fan favorites “Freight Train,” “That Look,” “Getaway Truck,” “Bluebonnets” and the Texas independent music anthem “Fencepost”. Produced by Keith Stegall and Aaron, The Underdog took Aaron’s career to new heights and helped re-shape the country music landscape. It was a pivotal shot in the arm for DIY / independent country artists around the globe.
NOW... available commercially for the first time on vinyl, this stunning two record 10th Anniversary set
features the original 14 songs/recordings as they were meant to be be heard - with that warm analogue vinyl sound. As an added bonus, Side D features a custom etching of the album cover and the trailblazing and career defining lyric “I’d rather be an old fence post in Texas” (than the king of Tennessee) from the album’s closing sing along song “Fencepost”. From the humble honky-tonks of Texas to multiple sold-out tours around the world. Rolling Stone calls Aaron "Texas country's reigning indie underdog”. Aaron Watson is here to stay and is currently writing and recording a forty song album, aptly titled Horse Named Texas, which is slated for release in early 2026.

Music is storytelling, and some of the best stories have been told through centuries-old traditional folk songs. On their new album ‘Northern Sky’, The Wellermen have given this rich traditional musical history a new sound, hoping to continue to captivate millions of fans around the world. It helps that The Wellermen’s four members all bring their respective experience and perspectives to the table. The fact that they’re from different corners of the world really adds something to the music - there’s something romantic about the way the members have to go on a voyage to see each other.

The Wellermen’s history is well-known: having been the originators of the sea shanty trend on Tiktok, they’ve since gone from strength to strength, gaining a huge following across social media with new trends linked to their music. Their versions of ‘Misty Mountains’ and Ed Sheeran’s ‘Nancy Mulligan’, along with their spine-tingling rendition of ‘Hoist The Colours’ have racked up billions of views across Tiktok and youtube and over 110m streams of their debut album, and led them to appearances on shows like Ant and Dec, LAst Week Tonight with Jon Oliver, The Colbert Show and more.

The group have now returned with their new album ‘Northern Sky’, where they have gone above and beyond to show they are indeed masters of their craft. Recorded in a cottage in the picturesque hills of Surrey, they poured their considerable knowledge and prowess into the album’s 12 tracks, all of which fit their love of storytelling. On the Scottish folk song ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’, for example, the group’s harmonies and rich vocals capture the nostalgic, wistful nature of the song, which speaks of love and nature’s beauty. The group’s tribute to Johnny Cash on the song ‘Hurt’ is set to be a fan favourite - melding the raw and uninhibited torment of the original with the dignified but heart-rending grief of Cash’s version.

Elsewhere on the record the original song and title track ‘Northern Sky’ is a perfect demonstration of the Wellermen’s gift for creating a real dynamic, steering it gently from the darker, more ominous numbers into something truly uplifting. ‘Tall Tales’, another original, is a wonderful portrayal of humorous one-upmanship - a call-and-response that is likely to get crowds’ feet stomping and hands clapping. Say the Wellermen: “It’s all about connection and storytelling, and we hope the listeners are able to find something meaningful.” One thing is absolutely certain: these talented young men are in it for the long haul.

After four EPs of skeletal kraut-punk and slimmed down post-motorik alienage Milan’s Tv Dust are back with an entirely different beast, their proper debut ‘Transition’, an incredible collection of no-jazz, breakneck rhythms, mutant-wave, trance-funk, shredded sax jags and furious, yet mysterious assaults.

Tv Dust run a tight ship, they jam econo, with the album strongly based around the incredible interplay of drums (Sergio Tringali), bass (Filippo Aloisi) and sax/synth (newest member Gaetano Pappalardo). Shedding the use of vocals has completely freed the band up into a mutating beast, wild horses racing beside a volcano eruption, improv bursts that perfectly soundtrack the ruins of a city facing the inhuman consequences of wild expansion and dumb economics.

Transition is a no-jazz, no-panic, no-border album, born between a small bar and a basement, reworking some ideas from the first Tv Dust sessions with a new mindset, with improvisation becoming an important tool in the trio's new path that already sees releases on Occult Punk Gang, My Own Private Records, Sentiero Futuro and Maple Death.

Transition like the transformation of the group, you still get the original package of furious hypnotic grooves, shortwave radio alien funk, devo-id convulsions, jittery no-wave and Italo post-punk tradition alongside dada-jazz and freeform freakouts.

Music is storytelling, and some of the best stories have been told through centuries-old traditional folk songs. On their new album ‘Northern Sky’, The Wellermen have given this rich traditional musical history a new sound, hoping to continue to captivate millions of fans around the world. It helps that The Wellermen’s four members all bring their respective experience and perspectives to the table. The fact that they’re from different corners of the world really adds something to the music - there’s something romantic about the way the members have to go on a voyage to see each other.

The Wellermen’s history is well-known: having been the originators of the sea shanty trend on Tiktok, they’ve since gone from strength to strength, gaining a huge following across social media with new trends linked to their music. Their versions of ‘Misty Mountains’ and Ed Sheeran’s ‘Nancy Mulligan’, along with their spine-tingling rendition of ‘Hoist The Colours’ have racked up billions of views across Tiktok and youtube and over 110m streams of their debut album, and led them to appearances on shows like Ant and Dec, LAst Week Tonight with Jon Oliver, The Colbert Show and more.

The group have now returned with their new album ‘Northern Sky’, where they have gone above and beyond to show they are indeed masters of their craft. Recorded in a cottage in the picturesque hills of Surrey, they poured their considerable knowledge and prowess into the album’s 12 tracks, all of which fit their love of storytelling. On the Scottish folk song ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’, for example, the group’s harmonies and rich vocals capture the nostalgic, wistful nature of the song, which speaks of love and nature’s beauty. The group’s tribute to Johnny Cash on the song ‘Hurt’ is set to be a fan favourite - melding the raw and uninhibited torment of the original with the dignified but heart-rending grief of Cash’s version.

Elsewhere on the record the original song and title track ‘Northern Sky’ is a perfect demonstration of the Wellermen’s gift for creating a real dynamic, steering it gently from the darker, more ominous numbers into something truly uplifting. ‘Tall Tales’, another original, is a wonderful portrayal of humorous one-upmanship - a call-and-response that is likely to get crowds’ feet stomping and hands clapping. Say the Wellermen: “It’s all about connection and storytelling, and we hope the listeners are able to find something meaningful.” One thing is absolutely certain: these talented young men are in it for the long haul.

There are records that come from the soul. No matter how primitive may be the recording techniques the musician has access to, the soul gets its way to the heart and mind of the listener. Samtvogel' is one of those records. Günter Schickert recorded that amazing piece of human greatness in 1974, using the media he had at the time, putting his brain at work to find the best way of taping everything he had to say. When I was recording Samtvogel' in 1974 I had only 2 Taperecorders. I played one track and while listening I added the second one. And so on. Four times. When I mixed all together I borrowed a 3rd taperecorder. And still added the last track to the master. I had a small mixer with 2 stereo and 1 mono but it was possible to pan tracks. No equalization. It all came out of my still living G2000 Dynacord guitar amplifier, of course valve, with no master, even the voice recorded through it. If I made a mistake in 1 track I had to repeat it from the beginning. And if while mixing I was not fast enough in changing the tape I had to start again. So it took me more than 3 months to get ready.'

Thanks to these three months of work, between June and September of 1974, 'Samtvogel' was privately issued that same year. It would later be issued on the Brain label, with a small change in the artwork -titles added to the front cover, which weren't on the original private pressing. Brain also reissued it on the label's Rock On Brain' LP series, this time with a completely different sleeve. The album contained two tracks on side one and just one on side two, and its sound has often been compared to the most explorative works of Syd Barret - however it must be pointed that Schickert did not need any mind spreading substances to allow his sounds float out of his mind & soul, they just came out in the most natural way. It will also appeal to fans of the echoed athmosferic guitar work of other kraut innovators such as Ash Ra Tempel, Manuel Götsching or A.R. & The Machines, and some may find on the vocal passages certain resemblances to Damo Suzuki on Can's 'Tago-Mago' era.

The Wah Wah reissue is housed in a quality sleeve that reproduces that of the original 1974 private pressing and features a 4 page insert with liners and photos - sound remastered at Eastside mastering Berlin. Get this bird now, before it flies away again!

There are records that come from the soul. No matter how primitive may be the recording techniques the musician has access to, the soul gets its way to the heart and mind of the listener. Samtvogel' is one of those records. Günter Schickert recorded that amazing piece of human greatness in 1974, using the media he had at the time, putting his brain at work to find the best way of taping everything he had to say. When I was recording Samtvogel' in 1974 I had only 2 Taperecorders. I played one track and while listening I added the second one. And so on. Four times. When I mixed all together I borrowed a 3rd taperecorder. And still added the last track to the master. I had a small mixer with 2 stereo and 1 mono but it was possible to pan tracks. No equalization. It all came out of my still living G2000 Dynacord guitar amplifier, of course valve, with no master, even the voice recorded through it. If I made a mistake in 1 track I had to repeat it from the beginning. And if while mixing I was not fast enough in changing the tape I had to start again. So it took me more than 3 months to get ready.'

Thanks to these three months of work, between June and September of 1974, 'Samtvogel' was privately issued that same year. It would later be issued on the Brain label, with a small change in the artwork -titles added to the front cover, which weren't on the original private pressing. Brain also reissued it on the label's Rock On Brain' LP series, this time with a completely different sleeve. The album contained two tracks on side one and just one on side two, and its sound has often been compared to the most explorative works of Syd Barret - however it must be pointed that Schickert did not need any mind spreading substances to allow his sounds float out of his mind & soul, they just came out in the most natural way. It will also appeal to fans of the echoed athmosferic guitar work of other kraut innovators such as Ash Ra Tempel, Manuel Götsching or A.R. & The Machines, and some may find on the vocal passages certain resemblances to Damo Suzuki on Can's 'Tago-Mago' era.

The Wah Wah reissue is housed in a quality sleeve that reproduces that of the original 1974 private pressing and features a 4 page insert with liners and photos - sound remastered at Eastside mastering Berlin. Get this bird now, before it flies away again!

There are records that come from the soul. No matter how primitive may be the recording techniques the musician has access to, the soul gets its way to the heart and mind of the listener. Samtvogel' is one of those records. Günter Schickert recorded that amazing piece of human greatness in 1974, using the media he had at the time, putting his brain at work to find the best way of taping everything he had to say. When I was recording Samtvogel' in 1974 I had only 2 Taperecorders. I played one track and while listening I added the second one. And so on. Four times. When I mixed all together I borrowed a 3rd taperecorder. And still added the last track to the master. I had a small mixer with 2 stereo and 1 mono but it was possible to pan tracks. No equalization. It all came out of my still living G2000 Dynacord guitar amplifier, of course valve, with no master, even the voice recorded through it. If I made a mistake in 1 track I had to repeat it from the beginning. And if while mixing I was not fast enough in changing the tape I had to start again. So it took me more than 3 months to get ready.'

Thanks to these three months of work, between June and September of 1974, 'Samtvogel' was privately issued that same year. It would later be issued on the Brain label, with a small change in the artwork -titles added to the front cover, which weren't on the original private pressing. Brain also reissued it on the label's Rock On Brain' LP series, this time with a completely different sleeve. The album contained two tracks on side one and just one on side two, and its sound has often been compared to the most explorative works of Syd Barret - however it must be pointed that Schickert did not need any mind spreading substances to allow his sounds float out of his mind & soul, they just came out in the most natural way. It will also appeal to fans of the echoed athmosferic guitar work of other kraut innovators such as Ash Ra Tempel, Manuel Götsching or A.R. & The Machines, and some may find on the vocal passages certain resemblances to Damo Suzuki on Can's 'Tago-Mago' era.

The Wah Wah reissue is housed in a quality sleeve that reproduces that of the original 1974 private pressing and features a 4 page insert with liners and photos - sound remastered at Eastside mastering Berlin. Get this bird now, before it flies away again!

Recorded during a residency in Tenerife powered by Keroxen Festival and Discrepant back in 2020 - amidst the pandemic, no less -, the duo of Carlos Godinho and Mestre André return after their 'Mãe D'Água' debut on Sucata Tapes and an entry on Keroxen's Aquapelago Series through a split with tropical druids Lagoss. Mostly captured in performance through a quadraphonic system placed inside a huge disused fuel tank, with a few tracks recorded out in the open throughout the island, 'Lava Love' evokes the tectonic shifts and motions inherent in their title in 13 tracks.

Based around Godinho's percussive arsenal, from found objects to instruments from all sorts of cartographies, and André's electronic processing, each of these expositions is a point in a map that is created between the island's concrete and fictional existence, discarding any superficial overdubs and crescendos, to focus on the balming and transporting properties of sound itself. From stripped down vignettes like 'Bajamar I' & 'II', 'Chacho' or 'Tangana I' to hypnotic tapestries that confuse the real and imagined like 'Haha No!' or 'La Gomera', Banha da Cobra conjure a collective dream of the island.

All tracks performed and recorded by Banha da Cobra in a quadraphonic system inside an enormous fuel tank (Espacio Cultural El Tanque, Santa Cruz de Tenerife),except Bajamar I and II (recorded outdoors at cantonera de Bajamar, with Lagoss), Taganana I and II (recorded outdoors at Playa de Almáciga) and El Guachinche de Los Realejos (recorded outdoors at Playa de Castro, with Lagoss).

The Young Mothers return with their third album, Better If You Let It, blending a genre-defying mix of jazz, hip-hop, punk, experimental rock, and electronic music. Formed by Norwegian bassist Ingebrigt Håker Flaten in Austin, Texas, the band’s sound is shaped by the diverse musical backgrounds of its members, hailing from both the U.S. and Norway. With influences spanning from Texas’ vibrant hip-hop and punk scenes to Norway’s experimental jazz traditions, the band creates a powerful fusion that feels cinematic and unpredictable.

The lineup includes Jawwaad Taylor (trumpet, rhymes, electronics) and Jason Jackson (tenor and baritone sax) from Houston, Stefan Gonzalez (vibraphone, drums, percussion, voice) from Dallas, Frank Rosaly (drums, electronics) from Chicago and Amsterdam, and Håker Flaten (bass) from Norway.

This global roster brings together a dynamic, cross-cultural sound, with Better If You Let It showcasing their most cohesive and wide-ranging material yet. Recorded in Oslo and set for release on Sonic Transmission Records, the album is a bold statement, proving The Young Mothers’ ability to push musical boundaries across genres and geographies.

Nicht einmal ein Jahr war Sonny Rollins bei Blue Note unter Vertrag. Doch in dieser kurzen Zeit gelang es
ihm, drei exzellente Studioalben und ein atemberaubendes Live-Album für das Label aufzunehmen. Sein
im Dezember 1956 eingespieltes Blue-Note-Debüt mit dem schlichten Titel ”Volume 1” war ein klassisches
Rollins-Hardbop-Album. Das Repertoire bestand aus vier weniger bekannten Kompositionen des Tenorsaxofonisten, in denen er jedoch mit gewohnt atemberaubenden Soli brillierte. Und wie so oft überraschte
Sonny mit einer eigenwilligen Interpretation einer Broadway-Musical-Nummer

Dajusch unleashes the 'Ambition EP', a raw and uncompromising statement of techno tradition. Berlin-based producer, DJ and sound engineer Dajusch returns with his latest four-track EP, a high-powered offering that channels the essence of Detroit and Chicago techno while pushing the boundaries of contemporary club sound. Known for his deep connection to electronic music's pioneering roots and his work behind the scenes as a mastering engineer, Dajusch brings an intense and refined energy to this release. The EP opens with the single 'No Mas', a relentless percussive workout where hypnotic synths intertwine with driving drum patterns, setting the stage for an unyielding ride. The title track 'Ambition' follows suit with a high-octane groove, combining raw machine-funk aesthetics with a pulsating bassline and intricate, evolving textures that command the dance floor. On the flip side, 'Split' takes a darker and more cerebral turn, layering industrial-tinged sonics over a tight, rolling beat, blurring the line between peak-time energy and introspective depth. Closing out the EP is '36g', a heady, propulsive cut that builds into a whirlwind of syncopated rhythms and distorted stabs, rounding off the record with a powerful, no-holds-barred climax. With Ambition, the Spandau20 artist Dajusch reinforces his position as a purist and innovator, delivering a release that feels both timeless and forward-thinking. Whether experienced in the heart of a sweaty warehouse or through the pulse of a late-night drive, this EP stands as a testament to the raw, unfiltered power of techno.

Kid Katana Records teamed up with SNK, Dotemu and Leikir Studio to release Metal Slug Tactics OST, a return of this iconic franchise renewed in a dynamic tactical RPG.

This edition includes:
→ 2x 12-inch orange vinyls featuring the 37 tracks in the game
→ exclusive gatefold designed with game-related graphics and glossy 90s finish

This OST was fully composed by Tee Lopes, the talent behind the music of TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, Sonic Mania and Streets of Rage 4: Mr X’s Nightmare. He crafted a solid piece of music perfectly fitting the colorful and intense gameplay.

Inspired by "slow and quiet life on the southern coasts of England", the debut from CVOIA - a new collaboration between producers and Captured Visions label founders Adam O'Hara and Tom Parker - offers gorgeously lolloping, lazy beats and expansive, cinematic orchestration. There's the brittle, slow motion breakbeats and woozy instrumentation of the duo's original, then remixes from four of their favourite acts: Awakened Souls, Inhmost, Jack Lever and Synkro. All the tracks are about as strenuous as an afternoon on the beach, and equally nourishing, with Synkro's rich, synth-soaked near-ambient mix a dramatic, undisputed highlight. Jack Never's Northern Mix, meanwhile, wouldn't sound out of place nestled somewhere in Mo'Wax's first dozen or so releases. High praise indeed, but much deserved.

Bakermats neues Album "Grace Note" ist eine herzerwärmende Hommage an die kraftvolle Verbindung zwischen House-Musik und Gospel. Das Album feiert die Freude und die spirituelle Essenz dieser Genres und lädt die Zuhörer ein, die Magie der Tanzfläche neu zu entdecken, auf der Bakermats Musik seit über einem Jahrzehnt Momente der Freude und Verbundenheit fördert. 15 Tunes inklusive den Singles "Save My Soul feat. AMANZI", "Your Shine with Fly Disco Butter", "Joy feat. Ann Nesby" und "Praise Break".

Mit MORPH legt die Ellis Mano Band ein facettenreiches, in sich schlüssiges Opus vor. “MORPH ist für uns mehr als nur ein Album – es ist unser
nächster großer Schritt, unser musikalisches Reifezeugnis,“ so die Band. Mit Tracks wie dem epischen „Countdown To Nothing“ und der rockigen
Hymne „For All I Care“ lädt die multinational besetzte Blues-Rock Institution die Hörer auf eine intensive Reise durch moderne Interpretation des
Classic Rock ein. Dabei treffen energiegeladene Riffs auf überraschende, ruhige Momente – alles verpackt im Artwork der Grafiker Legende Hugh
Syme (Rush, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi…), das den Spirit von MORPH perfekt widerspiegelt. „Wir freuen uns, diese Klangwelten mit unseren Fans zu teilen,
sowohl auf Platte als auch live!“
Mit zahlreichen Top-2-Platzierungen in den Schweizer Albumcharts und hervorragenden Kritikerreaktionen schreitet die Ellis Mano Band weiter voran
und wird auch in Zukunft Musik vom Allerfeinsten liefern - zeitlos und 100% handgemacht!

WRWTFWW Records is very excited to announce the first ever release of the highly-sought after original soundtrack from 1987 cult horror movie Dolls by multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, music man extraordinaire Fuzzbee Morse. The limited-edition LP is a miracle of lostthen-found VHS era film scores and is housed in a heavyweight 350gsm sleeve with a bloody cutout sticker and exclusive composer notes.

Directed by Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator, From Beyond, Robot Jox...) and released by Charles Band’s infamous Empire Pictures (which later morphed into Full Moon Productions), Dolls is 80s campy VHS horror in all its glory, a fan-favorite with all the attributes needed for a frightening popcorn night, including one hell of a soundtrack with a very welcomed heavy dose of menacing synths, thunderous orchestrations, and quirky interludes.

The haunting score comes from master Fuzzbee Morse who composed it in Richard Band’s garage with a Yamaha QX-1 sequencer, an arsenal of vintage synthesizers, and a wide array of instruments. The result is a must-have (and never released before!) soundtrack that blends horror tropes with influences ranging from Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring to Bernard Herrmann, Frank Zappa, Beethoven, Charles Ives and Eleanor Rigby!

Dolls follows the WRWTFWW release of Fuzzbee Morse’s Ghoulies II (1988) as well as 3 other soundtracks from the Empire Pictures vaults: Richard Band’s Ghoulies (1985), TerrorVision (1986), and Troll (1986). All still available – complete the collection now!

Points of interests

- For fans of soundtracks, horror, cult, synth, ambient, classical, 80s, VHS, Charles Band, Full Moon Productions, Stuart Gordon, John Carpenter, b-movies, sci-fi, Gremlins, toys, evil toys, Toys R Us, the good old days, toys you can play with at 33rpm, Christmas presents.
- First ever release for the soundtrack of cult horror movie Dolls (1987), with cut out sticker and composer notes.

The new recording of The Book of Sounds is an intimate exploration of the piano by pianist Carlos Cipa - a way of looking into the sound, of listening into the moment when Cipa's fingers press down on the piano keys. The Book of Sounds, composed between 1979 and 1982 by composer and pianist Hans Otte, is a musical pendulum movement of one hour in twelve 'pieces', as the composer himself describes them. Chords and melodies repeat themselves, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly; they follow each other in harmonic cadences and yet never dissolve - a timeless back and forth.
The Book of Sounds is the European-German answer to the concert music of American minimalism. But it is also the essence of many questions about society and the human condition at that time. Inspired by Zen Buddhism, Otte was convinced that a return to simplicity, to the unagitated - a piano, harmonic cadences, a middle register - frees the listener to focus on what is really important in art: the human being. Introspection begins with listening. Seldom have simple chords and melodies been so selectively staged. It is a process of endless reduction - no wild sound dramaturgies, no climaxes, hardly any beginning or end. The interpreting pianist simply prepares a tableaux of perception for the listener. Cipa naturally sets accents; he recorded the 12 pieces on three different pianos - a Steinway grand piano, a Yamaha piano, and a Yamaha CP-70, an early electric piano - to help shape the tonal characteristics.
Carlos Cipa hits the nerve of the times with this new recording. What music can be as art is still up for debate today. The Book of Sounds is not 'art-proof' and in this it is still a provocation today; absolutely unspectacular and practising relaxation. It is a wonderful invitation to feel, experience, and perhaps even find oneself in the confrontation with the work - and for a moment not to fuel the discourse. Cipa, who otherwise appears as a composer himself, here carries out Otte's intended gesture of withdrawal in a double sense and steps into the background as creator but also interpreter, in order to bequeath The Book of Sounds to the loudspeakers and headphones at home in one step forward.