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Suffocating, the hidden child of Plastikman, Farmer's Manual and Warp. The glitches could just as well be the disgusting sound system of the club crackling under the humidity as a rhythmic pan too well timed to be honest. From durations to sound grain, the gloves are removed. The standards are far behind, the pleasure vibrates from the ears to the lower abdomen. The listener manages to get lost on a straight line, the perfect labyrinth according to Borges, but the exits flash red for those who want to escape. Will Elvis leave the building?.

Volume 4 of the Make Up series is another doozy and this one brings together accomplished house heads Camille, Chez Damier, and Nico Lahs in a celebration of underground disco classic "through the lens of 60's and 70's underground comix." Similar to these rebellious reads, the tracks on this release carved their niche with purists seeking distinct and thrilling sounds. Across the double album, Camille's contributions include Mystic Pleasure's 'Back Door (Getting Down)' and Cold Fire's 'Badder Than Bad' which both bring soulful melodies and infectious rhythms, Chez Damier adds Fascination's 'Shine My Love' and Bileo's 'You Can Win' with shimmering vocals and funky basslines and together, they make for an exhilarating mix of disco brilliance.

Deluxe Edition = "Queen's Tassel Pink" Vinyl + bonus 7". Video Age make breezy and timeless songs that are so ineable, they can only be the result of a decades-long friendship and songwriting partnership. Across four albums, Ross Farbe and Ray Micarelli have gleefully worn their influences on their sleeve, writing inviting tunes that reference sounds ranging from disco to pop and indie rock. On their latest LP, Away From The Castle, the New Orleans duo have strayed from nostalgia and instead have honed their own unique musicality, making songs that sound like themselves with a taste of inspiration from classic singer-songwriters of the 60s and 70s. The album is a testament to the possibilities that come from getting out of your comfort zone, the freedom of writing vulnerably and unselfconsciously, and the joys of getting to work with your closest companions. After releasing and eventually touring their critically-acclaimed third album Pleasure Line in 2020, Farbe and Micarelli sought inspiration for their next project through collaboration. They worked with Drugdealer on his album Hiding In Plain Sight, Micarelli gigged throughout New Orleans' jazz and blues scenes, and Farbe recorded local artists at his home studio, most recently producing Esther Rose's new album Safe to Run. Feeling refreshed, they rented a cabin in Eunice, Louisiana with touring members Nick Corson and Duncan Troast, where they spent eight days in August 2022 jamming, cooking and writing together. Through this process, Video Age have made their best collection of tracks to date by perfectly alchemizing their influences and experiences into a record still tinged with nostalgia, but moving towards a more succinct and authentic voice. Away From The Castle is a document of a band having fun and rediscovering their love for making music together, but it's also their most honest and personal work yet-Video Age distilled to its purest form.

It's a pleasure to see MOY back on AF. Sure, Jonny doesn't invent anything, but everything he does sounds incredible and his tracks have the ability to grab you and never let go. He seems to say: "I know what you're here for". The particular way he executes hyperactive beats, acid basslines and melodies, makes the material very emotive and timeless, walking his influences around and elevating the machine's rhythms to new emotional levels. Jonny Moy always delivers, in fact, the brilliantly titled 'Supermassive EP' is not just a title but a statement of intent. These four tracks will stick in your head for a long time, for the club, nightdriving or home. What are you waiting for? Go on!

Dreems returns with his second full-length album, a languid journey through ambient dimensions. Following up his self-titled debut from 2014, these two LPs will stand together as test of time, a snapshot of the atmosphere that surrounded him throughout the decade.

As a versatile club-DJ with a respected catalog of mixed-tempo club remixes, and as half of the ‘Krautback’ / elementally Australian industrial act ‘Die Orangen,’ Dreems merely hints at his musical identity as an album artist, an expansive space in which he truly does soar with the spirit of a true artist, plumbing the depths of his emotional being, achieving catharsis in the shimmering pleasure of sound.

Diamond Bay’s 12 tracks surprise and reward the listener with the great gift of capturing your attention without ever attempting to hijack it. In a world gripped by the algorithmic nightmare of millennial whoops and material hooks, Dreems has charted a course for something altogether different - a peaceful kind of sonic painting. These are pastoral, passing vignettes. They highlight our awareness without forcefully directing our thoughts, except on the vocal pieces which reinforce the contemplative themes, adding not only specificity, but bringing a real sense of intimacy to the record.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, THE ROUTES are back with their unique blend of beat-you-to-death surf music (IGGY POP). Their latest target: the music of JOY DIVISION!

Having previously surfy-fied the songs of KRAFTWERK and BUZZCOCKS, Surfin' Pleasures sees THE ROUTES take on the music of JOY DIVISION. As with their previous tributes, this is not an album of note for note cover versions. THE ROUTES have only taken subtle melodic and rhythmic hints from the original songs; rearranging them into songs of their own, respectfully and lovingly translating the music of JOY DIVSION into a different musical language.

Surfin' Pleasures sees twelve classic JOY DIVISION songs reimagined and rearranged as banging 60s surf guitar instrumentals (a la THE VENTURES, DICK DALE, SHADOWS, TRASHMEN, TERAUCHI TAKESHI, LINK WRAY, THE SURFARIS and THE ASTRONAUTS and more).

Prepare to be taken on a wild musical trip where A Means To An End and Ice Age are transformed into the background music of a 60s drag race movie, Transmission hints at the classic ASTRONAUTS sound, and Digital gets the beach party treatment... You don't have to be a fan of JOY DIVISION to enjoy these tunes, and likewise if you're a JOY DIVISION fan you don't need to be a fan of surf music to enjoy them.

The record cover comes courtesy of British design icons Peter Saville and Malcolm Garrett. It is a reworking of Peter Saville's design for JOY DIVISION's Unknown Pleasures. Reminiscent of the op art of Bridget Riley, the lines are no longer that of a pulsar, but that of the sound wave of a reverb tank. Its cover design is provided with calender embossing as well as a printed inner sleeve, just like the hit-album Unknown Pleasures.

Blasphemy or alchemy? You decide!

One thing is for sure is that THE ROUTES have provided the world with yet another future cult classic, destined to irk or jerk for eons to come.

"Join the Kyle Shepherd Trio on 'A Song More Sweetly Played' as they explore, collaborate and improvise on the ‘songs we like to play’. The album’s title is a dedication to the celebrated South African artist William Kentridge, with whom Shepherd collaborated on a joint-work “Waiting for Sybil” that has toured world-wide. In addition to ten Shepherd originals, perhaps most unexpected is the inclusion of an exquisite reading of Massive Attack’s ‘Teardrop’ and a deconstructed take of Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believing’, a favourite rock anthem that Shepherd describes as a ‘guilty pleasure’.

‘The inclusion of the Massive Attack and Journey tunes – that’s something out of character to me,’
observes Shepherd. The selection rests well within the grand jazz tradition of repurposing popular songs as vehicles for improvisation, thought, and pleasure. ‘It just came down to playing some tunes that we like and we can flow with, so that we can be inspired and express ourselves in a very natural organic way,’ he says. ‘We walked away from the from the studio feeling like – you know, we actually really enjoyed playing this record! I felt less attached to any sort of predetermined concepts except that we would play some music that I wrote that we like – a selection of things that we like to play. It felt like a bit of a tonic – every musician gets a chance to breathe through the music, and the music just flows and moves as organically as we could make it.’

To hear one of South Africa’s foremost pianists play with intention, freedom and enjoyment, in the tradition and beyond it, is above all a gift to the listener, and Matsuli Music is proud to be able to share the Trio’s first album in a decade, A Dance More Sweetly Played.

Kyle Shepherd is one of South Africa’s leading jazz, film and theatre music composers and pianists of his generation, internationally recognised for his distinctive compositional style and performances. He was the Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year for Jazz in 2014 and the UNISA piano competition winner in 2019, and has performed in 28 countries around the world, including 11 concert tours to Japan."

The Kyle Shepherd Trio: Kyle Shepherd (Piano), Shane Cooper (Double Bass) and Jonno Sweetman (Drums).
All Compositions by Kyle Shepherd except “Teardrop” by Massive Attack and “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey.
Recorded May 2024 at Sunset Studios, Cape Town
Recording Engineer - Jürgen von Wechmar
Mixed by Martin Ruch.
Mastering by Frank Merritt.
Artwork and Design by English Designed and produced with support from the Baxter Theatre, Cape Town.

Here we have the third LP by the excellent Guy Hamper Trio, featuring James Taylor on Hamond organ, and Guy Hamper on guitar (sometimes called Childish) and what a first-class LP this is! 'Instrument of Evil' in particular has a very eerie vibe. We asked the man himself what was the inspiration for it? G.H. The track is the sequel to '7% Solution', which featured on the last Guy Hamper Trio LP (with Thee Headcoats standing in as rhythm section). A 7% Solution being the amount of morphine Dr Watson administered to Sherlock Holmes. For 'Instrument of Evil' I took Sherlock Holmes' later designation of his syringe as "an Instrument of Evil". This is originally a quote from the bible- "Wicked men do at times reject God's purpose for the state, transforming the good of civil government into an instrument of evil." Point of interest: Morphine addiction happens to tie in with another aspect of the song. In the section that nods to Elmer Bernstein's main title theme to the film of the book The Man With the Golden Arm, in which the main character is also a morphine addict. Another ingredient - we added six-string bass to that section in tribute to Jet Harris - he formerly of top group The Shadows, who recorded a great version of Bernstein's classic. To top it all off the record sleeve references the fine graphics of the great Saul Bass. The track also features contributions from Tom Morley (trumpet) and Anna Jordanous (sax) . Both Were a pleasure to work with. My job at the wheel is to basically make a playground and let Jamie, Anna and Tom loose in it with very little direction, apart from pointing out the swings and location of the roundabout. I told Tom "you're a Spanish trumpeter stood on a hill in Spain." For Anna, I think we said "go low and nasty." Other titles are taken from early poetry chapbooks I made in my youth. 'The First Creature is Jealousy' and 'Dog Jaw Woman' being examples. The title 'Incense Rising From a Censer' comes from Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov, a book I really recommend. Prayer rises to God on the smoke of the incense burning in the censer. I imagine this track being some kind of antidote to 'Instrument of Evil'. They are all excellent tracks. I imagine film companies will be queuing up to use many of them.

AERIAL SUPER HIGHWAY, the third project released on Futurepast by Kato De Vidts builds on the emotional depth of her previous release, Human Becomings, De Vidts in collaboration with J. Noon crafted together on this one an immersive soundscape that beckons the audience to ascend into a celestial, hypnotic state.

From the tranquil whispers of the first track Aerial Super Highway, enveloping you in gentle melodic layers, to the driving energy of the closing Dragon Dance, where pulsating beats echo the rhythm of fire, this EP showcases De Vidts & J. Noon ability to weave intricate sound narratives. Her evocative sound design guides listeners through emotional landscapes rich with vulnerability and resilience.

As you navigate this sonic highway, expect moments of introspection and exhilaration within a beautifully chaotic interplay of hope and uncertainty. AERIAL SUPER HIGHWAY transcends the typical EP experience, inviting you to rise above the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary and uncanny aspects of existence. Join Kato De Vidts & J. Noon on this entrancing journey, where each note invites you to take off and plunge into the depths of your own consciousness. Prepare to be transported to a realm where the air hums with the magic of sound, enchanting all your perceptions.

The Iconic 80s Band, Berlin, Return with Strings Attached to Take Your Breath Away

Nearly 40 years after their founding, the Los Angeles-based synth pop group, Berlin, return with an album of their classic tracks_with strings attached. Working with a full philharmonic orchestra, Strings Attached sees the band revisit some of their classic tracks, from their formation in the early 1980s through to today, including, of course, the iconic theme to the movie, Top Gun, Take My Breath Away. Featuring the classic line-up of Terri Nunn, John Crawford and David Diamond, Strings Attached is perfect for both existing fans of one of the most legendary bands of the 80s and those who are being introduced for the first time.
Founded by bassist John Crawford, singer Terri Nunn, and keyboard player David Diamond, Berlin made its first national impression with the provocative single Sex (I'm A...) from the gold-selling debut EP, Pleasure Victim in 1982. The group was filled out by guitarist Rick Olsen, keyboard player Matt Reid, and drummer Rob Brill. Berlin's first full-length LP was the gold Love Life in 1984. In 1985, the group was pared down to a trio of Crawford, Nunn, and Brill. Berlin topped the charts around the world in 1986 with the single Take My Breath Away, the love theme from the Tom Cruise movie Top Gun, a track which won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and which has cemented itself as one of the most memorable songs featured in a film of all time.

Dischi Fantom’s Sussurra Luce series, blurring the boundaries between text, music and voice, returns with their fifth instalment, an expanded version of Hanne Lippard’s “Talk Shop”. Sculpting a fascinating bridge between radically experimental sound practice, conceptual art, and sound poetry, across its two sides the Berlin based multidisciplinary artist taps an almost dada sensibility, delivering a suite of poems and texts where singular words and sentences are looped and repeated creating a sensory experience of the efficiency and stress found in our private as well as public life.

Roughly a year ago, we had the pleasure of exploring the first two releases from Dischi Fantom’s emerging Sussurra Luce series, Ginevra Bompiani, Caterina Barbieri, and Tomoko Sauvage’s “Il Calore Animale” and Francesco Cavaliere’s “Zoomachia Disc 1”. An extension of the Milan based cultural platform Fantom’s broad and diverse activities (exhibitions, installations, performances, etc.) across numerous artistic disciplines, the series, curated by Francesco Cavaliere and Massimo Torrigiani, delves into the “science of imagination”, working with contemporary authors to explore and blur the boundaries between text, music and voice. Now the brilliant series returns with its latest entry, the Berlin based multidisciplinary artist Hanne Lippard’s “Talk Shop”. Released in a limited edition of 200 copies and coming with an LP-sized booklet, it combines orality and textuality with the idea of loop and repetition to explore the notion of time, and it’s a stunning gesture of performative poetics that plums a startling range of subjects through its sonorous forms.

Working across the fields of text, vocal performance, sound installation, printed objects and sculpture, for more than a decade Hanne Lippard has deployed language as the raw material for her work. Working within a practice that rests at the juncture of the spoken and written word, drawing upon content appropriated from the public sphere (found text) intertwined with her own words, Lippard’s work investigates how the rise in digital communication and mediation reprograms our relationship to language, presenting the subsequent fragility of language - its flaws, oddities, and potential for misinterpretation - and its attempts to convey meaning and sense.

“Talk Shop”, the fifth instalment of Dischi Fantom’s Sussurra Luce series and Lippard’s third recorded release - building upon the ground of 2020's “Work”, issued by Collapsing Market, and 2021's “PigeonPostParis”, released by Boomkat Editions - began as a live performance. Combining orality and textuality with the idea of loop and repetition to explore the notion of time, its relationship with the world of work today, and its personification through the experience of the human body - anonymity as the spearhead of the digital economy - the conceptual underpinnings of the piece depart from the notion that the human voice has become commodified by the ubiquitous nature of contemporary productivity, and intertwined with the mechanics of capital - the voices of satnavs, smart speakers and voicemail systems - while the written word has become increasingly anonymous online.

Addressing vocal anonymity as a spearhead of the digital economy, Lippard’s “Talk Shop” - regarded by the artist as “a compilation of poems and texts where singular words and sentences are looped and repeated creating a sensory experience of the efficiency and stress found in our private as well as public life” - taps an almost dada sensibility through its unexpected layers of meanings drawn from a maximalized approach to the potential of the human voice, creating an engrossing and challenging listen from the first sounding to the last, that continues to reveal itself and unfold with every return.

Sculpting a fascinating bridge between radically experimental sound practice, conceptual art, and sound poetry, it culminates as one of the most strikingly singular creative gestures we’re likely to encounter this year. Highly recommended and not to be missed.

Hanne Lippard (Milton Keynes, 1984) explores the social forms that govern discourse. Her artistic practice, which mainly takes the form of reading and sound installations, investigates the voice as an instrument of emancipation and alienation in times of hyper-connectivity. By mixing personal thoughts and appropriating texts from advertising, slogans and newspaper articles, the text becomes a mix of private and public that regains inventiveness and authorship through the use of the voice, becoming a body of its own. Her recent artistic research has focused on the use of the female body as a container of sounds, on the conscious and unconscious automation of speech and language.

Speedcore 220 to 300 BPM banger, a real pityless moments for a pure psychedelic rock'n'fuck dobble pleasure !
Clear sound and monstrous drops !

For soul-reggae artist Natty, music isn’t just pleasure, it is also a healing power.

The London-raised singer-songwriter has been on a remarkable journey of creative and personal discovery in recent years, moving his partner and children to rural Jamaica to live off-grid and off the land, while delving deep into studies on music’s mental and physiological properties .

The result of this journeying is Natty’s expansive, fourth album, The Divine Trinity.

Across nine tracks he employs his trademark vocal power and uplifting melodies to explore everything from earthy funk grooves to guitar-strummed yearning, emphatic spoken word entreaties and spacious, dubbed-out reggae.

Partnering with his longtime band The Rebelship once more, Natty also expands his reggae-influenced sound through the instrumental frequencies of South Asian tablas, Zimbabwean mbira and wooden flutes. “There’s so much that I’ve never done before in this record,” he explains. “We have a song in 5/4, inspired by my time learning music in Zimbabwe, as well as sound bowls, the song of the crickets from the land we live on in Jamaica and hand drums from all over. Its ancient frequencies combined with classic songwriting, allowing people to tune into the power of music.”

What if Japanese city pop met no wave? Neither in your wildest dream such occurrence could be real, but let’s make things clear. Frank Chickens could have been possibly forerunners for several famous alternative bands, Cibo Matto on top of all, but sure had a development on their own. Our history began in London, early eighties, art duo Frank Chickens is the original creation of Japanese performers Kazuko Hohki and Kazumi Taguchi. All of a sudden the band debuts with a pair of singles and a full length on Kaz Records, it’s 1984, but could have been easily 1994. Backed by the likes of Steve Beresford (Alterations, The Slits, General Strike, London Improvisers Orchestra), Annie Whitehead (Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Robert Wyatt), Lol Coxhill, Tony Coe and Clive Bell (the top of the cream of the English avantgarde) the band soon became a case in history. Now we have the pleasure – 37 years after its original release – to reissue their second album: Get Chickenized!

The record came out in 1987 on the british label Flying Lecords and showed a different side of the project, with a major focus on the so-called synth wave counterculture, still maintaining a certain avant feel. With original conspirator Steve Beresford still on board, the band was propelled in the studio by another key figure of the London underground: journalist, composer and producer David Toop. Being John Peel’s favorite for a while, the band built a cult following retaining some absurd live performances, well known for their idiosyncratic choreography. Later revamped in the year 2000 - thanks to cult label Ninja Tune – the band enjoyed a second wave of success, with a remix album featuring the likes of Pizzicato 5, Fink and Neotropic. With a cover embellished by the labor of Pere Ubu David Thomas, this second influential album is finally available for your listening pleasure. Here’s your chance to dive deep into this exotic pop extravaganza.

No stranger to the Spatial family following the release of his excellent Age of Awareness EP back in 2023, Eusebeia brings his eclectic breakbeat driven vibes to sister label
Curvature for an EP spanning a variety of energies with a free-spirited approach to drum patterns and atmosphere you wont want to miss.

A1 Set In Motion
Shimmering melodic keys and light hi hats quietly introduce Set In Motion, as Eusebeia takes a laid back opening approach to his Curvature debut. Clean, wandering breaks enter the mix and develop continually, as a subtly used, luscious female vocal greets the listener with a curiously soothing vibe. Following the breakdown, a deep, pounding bassline punctuates skillful synthwork riddled with intrigue and atmosphere to round off
a unique, eclectic track.

A2 In Perpetuum
Stepping things up with a doggedly breakbeat focus, In Perpetuum is an energetic piece with an opening backdrop akin to an aging printer being coaxed back to life,
before an echoed vocal welcomes hyperactive, rasping breaks, edited and chopped with the scintillating talent we have come to expect from Eusebeia. The latter half of the
track changes up the vibe slightly with inquisitive padwork gliding above the omnipresent edits.

B1 Flow State
Subtle cowbell style cymbals and gentle melodies introduce Flow State, before an inimitable duality of old school atmospheric breaks pass the baton repeatedly through the track in typically impactful style from Eusebeia. The melodies and an understated bassline wrapped around kickdrums continues through the various phrases before the beats depart, leaving the listener to reflect on a truly captivating track just as the title
suggests.

B2 The Cure For What Ails You Reverberating percussion and classic whale sounds instantly grasp your attention
before ominous 808 bass ushers in a thunderous helping of pure amen pleasure sent straight from the old school - edited and programmed to perfection by Eusebeia with a
finesse seldom seen in modern production. Dense kickdrums vibe perfectly with the highs and mids of a track destined to headline many an atmospheric junglists set.

Adam F drew inspiration from legendary artists like Lalo Shiffrin, Stevie Wonder, and Quincy Jones, as well as the vibrant Funk era for his monumental track.
“With these influences I set out to create something truly unique.” Looking back on the now towering legacy of the track Adam states: “It's incredibly humbling to think that my work on Brand New Funk sparked a fusion movement within the jungle/drum and bass scene.
Over the years numerous bootlegs of my tracks emerged, showcasing the impact it’s had. However, I'm thrilled to announce that the two new releases we're unveiling are official collaborations - a joint effort between myself and Bladerunner, accompanied by the exceptional skills of another talented mixer who prefers to remain anonymous.
For these tracks, I had the pleasure of incorporating live funk bass and horns, which further elevated the energy and groove. It has been an incredible path with many a twist and turn, with club performances that have captivated audiences for over a year now. I am truly grateful for the support and the opportunity to share my passion with all of you."

Adam F drew inspiration from legendary artists like Lalo Shiffrin, Stevie Wonder, and Quincy Jones, as well as the vibrant Funk era for his monumental track.
“With these influences I set out to create something truly unique.” Looking back on the now towering legacy of the track Adam states: “It's incredibly humbling to think that my work on Brand New Funk sparked a fusion movement within the jungle/drum and bass scene.
Over the years numerous bootlegs of my tracks emerged, showcasing the impact it’s had. However, I'm thrilled to announce that the two new releases we're unveiling are official collaborations - a joint effort between myself and Bladerunner, accompanied by the exceptional skills of another talented mixer who prefers to remain anonymous.
For these tracks, I had the pleasure of incorporating live funk bass and horns, which further elevated the energy and groove. It has been an incredible path with many a twist and turn, with club performances that have captivated audiences for over a year now. I am truly grateful for the support and the opportunity to share my passion with all of you."

It s been 7 years since I introduced the first part of this series -Mis Hermanos Rumanos- with Sepp and later (Part 2) with Faster and Nu Zau. Seven years later the saga of Romanian brothers grows and continues, it is a pleasure to be able to bring together two good friends and talented artists from the great and already proliferating minimal scene of this country. In this third part we can find a darker and percussive sound, acoustic string instruments and at the same time maintaining the minimalist essence that characterizes Acmé. I hope you enjoy this third installment, we really appreciate your support with the purchase of this record, it is very important for us to be able to continue investing in this quality format. I hope to see you somewhere soon, With love, Alex Font.

8 years after the official reissue of the LP “An Eye For An Eye” by Byrne & Barnes, Favorite Recordings proudly presents this new single release.
The 7inch first includes the classic “Love You Out Of Your Mind”, extracted from the WestCoast classic LP, which was a one-stop collaboration between Robert Byrne and Brendan Barnes, however both display incredible music career and went on to produce for famous artists such as Pointer Sisters, Patti Austin, Earth Wind & Fire, or Phil Collins to name just a few. The song parades all the elements of the AOR style: a jazzy sometimes fusion approach, with modern soul and groove flavors.
The other side features an exclusive and unreleased track by Robert Byrne, dug by the original executive producer up in his archives for our great pleasure. “Do You Wanna Make Some Love” is also nurtured with Westcoast and AOR vibes, while leering to Boogie and Disco influences. We have no doubt it will delight all the Byrne & Barnes music lovers and many more.

It's a pleasure, a labour of love and a yearly highlight to present a new volume of the Mr Bongo Record Club series. In this collection, we have curated new finds alongside old, treasured tracks that hold a special place in our hearts, selecting music inspiring us from the Brazilian, Latin, soul, disco, gospel, cosmic, dancehall and downtempo genres. We have chosen a diverse array of artists, including Os Panteras from Brazil, stomping underground disco by Claude Jay, the Danish soul sounds of Gitte & Inger and the gospel excellence of Truth & Devotion, to name a few.

Most of the selections in this volume are older vintage productions, however, there is one very special contemporary production, recorded exclusively for Mr Bongo Record Club 7. For ‘Spring Has Sprung’, we linked three of our cherished musical family together; the legendary cult artist Asha Puthli, the wonderous band SOYUZ and Swedish maestro Sven Wunder. The result, as you’d expect, is completely breathtaking.

Reflecting on Volume 7, it now feels like a record comprised of two themes. Firstly, we have gone quite heavy on the Brazilian selections. This saw us searching further afield and digging into other areas of the endlessly rich Brazilian musical tapestry. The reflection of a more folk / Afro-Brazilian sound than presented in previous volumes in the series, can be heard in the songs of As Sublimes, Romeu Fernandes and Conjunto de Percussão Dora Pinto. The second theme is a representation of the tracks that we have been playing in our club DJ sets and are aimed more at the dancefloor. Disco tracks such as 'Come Inside' by The Shades of Love and The Duncans' 'Too Damn Hot' have been firmly tested favourites in recent years.

We hope these songs, by the sensational artists on display, inspire you as much as they do us. Music is the gift that keeps giving and there is so much more to learn, find, and share.

Coming together as Raz & Afla, Raz Olsher and Afla Sackey converge worlds through their dynamic fusion of electronic and traditional African rhythms, forging a path that is as bold as it is innovative. Rooted in their deep-seated passion for music and cultural exploration, they seamlessly blend their distinct musical backgrounds to create a unique sonic landscape that captivates audiences worldwide.

Raz Olsher is a visionary producer and composer known for his boundary-pushing electronic soundscapes, bringing his expertise in blending diverse musical elements to the duo. His meticulous attention to detail and penchant for experimentation form the foundation upon which Raz & Afla's sound thrives.

Already part of the Wah Wah 45s family with his band Afrik Bawantu, Afla Sackey is an esteemed percussionist and vocalist with roots tracing back to Ghana. He infuses the duo's music with rich traditional African rhythms and melodies. Afla's virtuosity on percussion instruments and his soulful vocals add a visceral, organic dimension to their compositions, creating a mesmerising auditory experience that transcends cultural boundaries.

Together, Raz & Afla defy genre limitations, seamlessly weaving together electronic beats, Afrobeat grooves, and intricate percussive textures. Their music resonates with a deep sense of cultural authenticity and a forward-thinking approach that pushes the boundaries of contemporary music.

Following on from their critically acclaimed full length debut The Cycle, and its subsequent remix project, their sophomore LP, Echoes Of Resistance, finds the duo remaining committed to exploring new sonic territories and creating music that speaks to the universal language of rhythm and melody. Once again, they invite listeners on a journey that celebrates the beauty of cultural exchange and the power of music to inspire and unite.

From more politically conscious cuts like the singles What's Going On? and We Taya, and On Da Phone, which deals with addiction to social media, to dealing with more personal and social issues on songs like ENo Be Me and Ano Be Mumu, Raz & Afla's music is something for the mind, body and spirit, as well as the feet.

There are moments of pure euphoria and unadulterated joy too though, as tracks like Mon Ni Fere, Voodoo Zeezee and Baby Moo inspire elated, tribal dance floor pleasure, and there's still time for a little, good old fashioned loving as Shikor Shikor conjures up the raw emotions of care and affection whilst delivering a hypnotic beat and instantly irresistible vocals from Afla Sackey.

With a growing discography that includes critically acclaimed releases and collaborations with musicians from around the globe, Raz & Afla continue to carve out their place in the international music scene. Their electrifying live performances are celebrated for their energy and the profound connection they forge with audiences, making every show a vibrant celebration of musical diversity and harmony.

Vierzig Jahre nach ihrer Gründung und fast zwei Jahrzehnte nach ihrer letzten Veröffentlichung kehrt die legendäre Synthie-Pop-Band Propaganda zurück, um ein neues Kapitel ihrer internationalen Erfolgsgeschichte zu schreiben. Das selbstbetitelte neue Album von Ralf Dörper und Michael Mertens knüpft nahtlos an die Tiefe und Dramatik ihrer früheren Welthits an. Mit modernen Soundwelten, Zitaten und Referenzen reflektieren Dörper und Mertens aber auch ganz dezidiert die persönlichen und gesellschaftlichen Umbrüche seit ihren letzten Veröffentlichungen. Das Album wurde komplett in ihrer Homebase Düsseldorf konzipiert und produziert - eine Entscheidung, die zeigt, dass sich Propaganda ihrer Wurzeln bewusst sind. Die Produktion wird dank des Gastauftritts des gefeierten Film-Komponisten Hauschka und Gesangs der aufstrebenden Künstlerin Thunder Bae in bisher nicht gekannte Sphären geführt. Mit ihrem neuen Album haben Propaganda in einer Zeit der Vergänglichkeit etwas Authentisches geschaffen, das vom ersten Sound bis zum Ausklang der letzten Note und auch dank des Artworks einen bleibenden Eindruck hinterlässt. Das dritte Album von Propaganda ließ lange auf sich warten, aber das Warten hat sich gelohnt.

Vierzig Jahre nach ihrer Gründung und fast zwei Jahrzehnte nach ihrer letzten Veröffentlichung kehrt die legendäre Synthie-Pop-Band Propaganda zurück, um ein neues Kapitel ihrer internationalen Erfolgsgeschichte zu schreiben. Das selbstbetitelte neue Album von Ralf Dörper und Michael Mertens knüpft nahtlos an die Tiefe und Dramatik ihrer früheren Welthits an. Mit modernen Soundwelten, Zitaten und Referenzen reflektieren Dörper und Mertens aber auch ganz dezidiert die persönlichen und gesellschaftlichen Umbrüche seit ihren letzten Veröffentlichungen. Das Album wurde komplett in ihrer Homebase Düsseldorf konzipiert und produziert - eine Entscheidung, die zeigt, dass sich Propaganda ihrer Wurzeln bewusst sind. Die Produktion wird dank des Gastauftritts des gefeierten Film-Komponisten Hauschka und Gesangs der aufstrebenden Künstlerin Thunder Bae in bisher nicht gekannte Sphären geführt. Mit ihrem neuen Album haben Propaganda in einer Zeit der Vergänglichkeit etwas Authentisches geschaffen, das vom ersten Sound bis zum Ausklang der letzten Note und auch dank des Artworks einen bleibenden Eindruck hinterlässt. Das dritte Album von Propaganda ließ lange auf sich warten, aber das Warten hat sich gelohnt.

Big Crown Records is proud to present the reissue of one of Brooklyn’s most sought after “holy grail” soul records, YIA Talent Hunt Winners. Youth in Action, Inc. (YIA) was formed in 1963 when the Central Brooklyn Coordinating Council received a grant to develop a youth services program in the Bedford-Stuyvesant community. It was originally organized to identify and address the social problems that were leading to the high crime rate in Bed-Stuy. Recently the Smithsonian Museum of African American History released an archive of footage filmed by a community activist, which shows the real-world effects of the group’s efforts: young people engaged in sports, the arts, and other activities to better themselves and their world. The appearances by Jackie and Bobby Kennedy point to the group's relationship to the Great Society programs of President Lyndon B. Johnson. What there is no mention of in either the NMAAHC’s collection of YIA materials nor in the Brooklyn Public Library’s also extensive collection is this talent show and the record that came to be because of it.
Local vocal groups chose tunes to cover from the era (1964 - 1968) ranging from The Rascals to The Intruders, from The O’Jays to Billy Stewart. All of these groups were backed by a local act called The Thrillers Band. The winners of the talent contest were then invited into the studio to record their versions which would be pressed up on this record and given away to local radio and TV stations. The hope of the whole thing was that this would help the young groups get discovered by producers and record labels and start their professional music careers. The intro to the album is Reverend Horace Tyler congratulating the winners and asking them “to just remember, when you reach the top and become our big stars of tomorrow, don’t forget YIA”.
What this album may lack in fidelity and production it more than makes up for in charm. The engineers at the recording sessions pump in pre recorded applause and screaming to give the it the feel of the day of the contest while the young groups sing their hearts out, clearly giving their all. From today’s perspective, soul music fans will lose it over the choices of covers on this record and the killer, raw, innocent performances of them by these local Brooklyn groups. The Channels 4, Carla & The Carlettes, The United Souls, Sharon Seabrook & The Starlettes, and The Destinations all won that day and got to take place in this record. It makes you wonder, and even pine for the performances of the groups who didn’t make the cut, even if just to find out what tunes they covered, or better yet, were their original songs written by some of them for this contest?
It is with great pleasure that we make this available to the public again. This is a truly rare record, and an awesome piece of New York History.

Citirax's next outing takes the form of a debut album from Los Angeles-based duo OP-ART. This pair, like so much great music of recent times, is born out of the creative isolation of lockdown and features Andrew Clinco, who you may know for his work with Drab Majesty. The alias they have adopted is an acronym of "Oblique Pleasures Amidst Rough Times" which they say reflected the challenges of their formation. Musically the duo is inspired by the 1960s visual art movement so embraces layered, psychedelic soundscapes with a minimalist approach and takes cues from New Wave artists like John Foxx and early OMD. OP-ART in particular focuses on analogue synthesis and gear like the Arp Odyssey and Moog Rogue while exploring time, romance, and existential themes with real emotional depth.

Der Afrobeat-Virtuose Seun Kuti bereitet sich darauf vor, sein neuestes musikalisches Meisterwerk, das von Lenny Kravitz produziert wurde und auf dem Damian Marley und Sampa The Great zu hören sind, auf die Welt loszulassen. Sein Album “Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head)“ erscheint sechs Jahre nach dem Grammy-nominierten Album "Black Times" und einen entscheidenden Moment in Seun Kutis glanzvoller Karriere und zeigt seine Entwicklung als Künstler und Aktivist. Produziert von dem legendären Musiker Lenny Kravitz und Fela Kutis ursprünglichem Tontechniker Sodi Marciszewer (künstlerischer Produzent), verspricht „Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head)“ ein Klangerlebnis wie kein anderes. Mit der Expertise von Kravitz und Sodi und dem unvergleichlichen Talent von Seun Kuti bleibt das Album den Wurzeln des Afrobeat treu und definiert gleichzeitig die Grenzen der zeitgenössischen Musik neu. Die sechs elektrisierenden Songs auf „Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head)“ verkörpern den Geist des Widerstands, der Resilienz und der Revolution. Jeder Song handelt davon, sich Herausforderungen zu stellen und für Veränderungen zu kämpfen. So wie die Einzelsingles „Dey“ feat. Reggae-Ikone Damian Marley, beschrieben als "ein Song über das Umarmen und Verfechten dessen, was wir sind, ungeachtet dessen" und „Emi Aluta“ "ein Song über den Kampf (Aluta bedeutet Kampf), der eine Hommage an alle großen Revolutionäre ist", mit dem sambischen Sänger, Rapper und Songwriter Sampa The Great, einem der besten und innovativsten Lyriker unserer Zeit. Der Song „T.O.P.“ handelt davon, "wie die Gesellschaft Geld und Erfolg mehr schätzt als Menschen". Seun Kuti möchte dies ändern, indem er Empathie fördert und die Verbindung zur Natur wiederherstellt. In einem anderen Song, „Love & Revolution'“, drückt er seine Liebe zu seiner Frau aus und glaubt, dass wahre Liebe die Menschen dazu inspirieren kann, die Welt zu einem besseren Ort zu machen. "Dieses Projekt war für mich etwas ganz Besonderes, von dem Moment an, als ich es konzipierte und mit Lenny Kravitz sprach, der mir so viel brüderliche Liebe und Respekt entgegenbrachte", sagt Seun. "Er hat mich in sein Haus eingeladen. Ich habe seine Tochter Zoe kennengelernt und er hat uns mit Feuereifer geführt. Seit wir vor drei Jahren über das Album gesprochen haben, war er als ausführender Produzent dieses Projekts immer an unserer Seite und hat uns sehr unterstützt". "Ich möchte mich bei Craig Ross und Sodi, dem Produzenten dieses Projekts, bedanken. Wir hatten eine großartige Zeit. Es war das erste Mal für mich, dass ich mit Sodi im Studio war und ich war wirklich beeindruckt von seiner Arbeit und seinen väterlichen Ratschlägen und seiner Hingabe". Jeder Song auf dem Album ist ein Beweis für Seun Kutis unerschütterliches Engagement, Musik als Werkzeug für sozialen Wandel und Empowerment einzusetzen. Mit seinen kraftvollen Texten und ansteckenden Grooves führt er das Erbe seines Vaters, des legendären Fela Kuti, fort und bahnt sich gleichzeitig seinen eigenen Weg in der Welt der Musik.



Seun Kuti ist ein nigerianischer Musiker, Sänger und Songwriter, der für seine fesselnden Auftritte und seine gesellschaftskritische Musik bekannt ist. Er ist der jüngste Sohn des Afro-Beat-Pioniers Fela Kuti. Seun hat die meiste Zeit seines Lebens damit verbracht, das politische und musikalische Erbe seines Vaters zu bewahren und zu erweitern, und zwar als Leiter der ehemaligen Band seines Vaters, Egypt 80. Als aufstrebender Saxophonist und Schlagzeuger trat er in die formellen Reihen der Band ein, bevor er 12 Jahre alt war. Als Fela 1997 starb, übernahm Seun Kuti auf Wunsch seines Vaters die Leitung von Egypt 80, die er seither innehat. Im Laufe seiner Karriere hat Seun Kuti 4 Alben mit Egypt 80 veröffentlicht: `Many Things' (2008), `From Africa with Fury: Rise for Knitting Factory Records" (2011), koproduziert von Brian Eno und John Reynolds, "A Long Way Beginning" (2014) und das für einen Grammy nominierte "Black Times" (2018), das ein Feature von Carlos Santana enthält. Außerdem haben sie zahlreiche EPs veröffentlicht. Seun hat vor einem begeisterten Publikum auf der ganzen Welt gespielt und mit vielen großen Künstlern zusammengearbeitet. Im Jahr 2022 schloss er sich für die EP "African Dreams" mit dem Roots-Frontmann und MC-Extraordinarius Black Thought zusammen. Im Jahr 2023 arbeitete Seun an Janelle Monaes "The Age of Pleasure" (Grammy-Nominierung für das Album des Jahres) mit den beiden Singles "Float" und "Knows Better" mit, tat sich mit Talib Kweli und MadLib für deren Album "Liberation 2" bei dem Song "Nat Turner" mit Cassper Nyovest zusammen und veröffentlichte eine neue Version der Single "Bad Man Lighter" mit Black Thought und Vic Mensa.

Der Afrobeat-Virtuose Seun Kuti bereitet sich darauf vor, sein neuestes musikalisches Meisterwerk, das von Lenny Kravitz produziert wurde und auf dem Damian Marley und Sampa The Great zu hören sind, auf die Welt loszulassen. Sein Album “Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head)“ erscheint sechs Jahre nach dem Grammy-nominierten Album "Black Times" und einen entscheidenden Moment in Seun Kutis glanzvoller Karriere und zeigt seine Entwicklung als Künstler und Aktivist. Produziert von dem legendären Musiker Lenny Kravitz und Fela Kutis ursprünglichem Tontechniker Sodi Marciszewer (künstlerischer Produzent), verspricht „Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head)“ ein Klangerlebnis wie kein anderes. Mit der Expertise von Kravitz und Sodi und dem unvergleichlichen Talent von Seun Kuti bleibt das Album den Wurzeln des Afrobeat treu und definiert gleichzeitig die Grenzen der zeitgenössischen Musik neu. Die sechs elektrisierenden Songs auf „Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head)“ verkörpern den Geist des Widerstands, der Resilienz und der Revolution. Jeder Song handelt davon, sich Herausforderungen zu stellen und für Veränderungen zu kämpfen. So wie die Einzelsingles „Dey“ feat. Reggae-Ikone Damian Marley, beschrieben als "ein Song über das Umarmen und Verfechten dessen, was wir sind, ungeachtet dessen" und „Emi Aluta“ "ein Song über den Kampf (Aluta bedeutet Kampf), der eine Hommage an alle großen Revolutionäre ist", mit dem sambischen Sänger, Rapper und Songwriter Sampa The Great, einem der besten und innovativsten Lyriker unserer Zeit. Der Song „T.O.P.“ handelt davon, "wie die Gesellschaft Geld und Erfolg mehr schätzt als Menschen". Seun Kuti möchte dies ändern, indem er Empathie fördert und die Verbindung zur Natur wiederherstellt. In einem anderen Song, „Love & Revolution'“, drückt er seine Liebe zu seiner Frau aus und glaubt, dass wahre Liebe die Menschen dazu inspirieren kann, die Welt zu einem besseren Ort zu machen. "Dieses Projekt war für mich etwas ganz Besonderes, von dem Moment an, als ich es konzipierte und mit Lenny Kravitz sprach, der mir so viel brüderliche Liebe und Respekt entgegenbrachte", sagt Seun. "Er hat mich in sein Haus eingeladen. Ich habe seine Tochter Zoe kennengelernt und er hat uns mit Feuereifer geführt. Seit wir vor drei Jahren über das Album gesprochen haben, war er als ausführender Produzent dieses Projekts immer an unserer Seite und hat uns sehr unterstützt". "Ich möchte mich bei Craig Ross und Sodi, dem Produzenten dieses Projekts, bedanken. Wir hatten eine großartige Zeit. Es war das erste Mal für mich, dass ich mit Sodi im Studio war und ich war wirklich beeindruckt von seiner Arbeit und seinen väterlichen Ratschlägen und seiner Hingabe". Jeder Song auf dem Album ist ein Beweis für Seun Kutis unerschütterliches Engagement, Musik als Werkzeug für sozialen Wandel und Empowerment einzusetzen. Mit seinen kraftvollen Texten und ansteckenden Grooves führt er das Erbe seines Vaters, des legendären Fela Kuti, fort und bahnt sich gleichzeitig seinen eigenen Weg in der Welt der Musik.



Seun Kuti ist ein nigerianischer Musiker, Sänger und Songwriter, der für seine fesselnden Auftritte und seine gesellschaftskritische Musik bekannt ist. Er ist der jüngste Sohn des Afro-Beat-Pioniers Fela Kuti. Seun hat die meiste Zeit seines Lebens damit verbracht, das politische und musikalische Erbe seines Vaters zu bewahren und zu erweitern, und zwar als Leiter der ehemaligen Band seines Vaters, Egypt 80. Als aufstrebender Saxophonist und Schlagzeuger trat er in die formellen Reihen der Band ein, bevor er 12 Jahre alt war. Als Fela 1997 starb, übernahm Seun Kuti auf Wunsch seines Vaters die Leitung von Egypt 80, die er seither innehat. Im Laufe seiner Karriere hat Seun Kuti 4 Alben mit Egypt 80 veröffentlicht: `Many Things' (2008), `From Africa with Fury: Rise for Knitting Factory Records" (2011), koproduziert von Brian Eno und John Reynolds, "A Long Way Beginning" (2014) und das für einen Grammy nominierte "Black Times" (2018), das ein Feature von Carlos Santana enthält. Außerdem haben sie zahlreiche EPs veröffentlicht. Seun hat vor einem begeisterten Publikum auf der ganzen Welt gespielt und mit vielen großen Künstlern zusammengearbeitet. Im Jahr 2022 schloss er sich für die EP "African Dreams" mit dem Roots-Frontmann und MC-Extraordinarius Black Thought zusammen. Im Jahr 2023 arbeitete Seun an Janelle Monaes "The Age of Pleasure" (Grammy-Nominierung für das Album des Jahres) mit den beiden Singles "Float" und "Knows Better" mit, tat sich mit Talib Kweli und MadLib für deren Album "Liberation 2" bei dem Song "Nat Turner" mit Cassper Nyovest zusammen und veröffentlichte eine neue Version der Single "Bad Man Lighter" mit Black Thought und Vic Mensa.

Produced by Lenny Kravitz (Executive) and Fela Kuti’s original engineer Sodi Marciszewer (Artistic). Worldwide tour in 2024 / 2025 (North America, Europe, Australia). New album from 2018 Grammy nominated album “Black Times”. Seun Kuti set to release highly anticipated album ‘Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head)’ featuring guests Damian Marley and Sampa The Great on October 4th. Afrobeat virtuoso Seun Kuti is gearing up to unleash his latest musical masterpiece upon the world with the upcoming release of his album that will be set to make waves globally via Milan independent label Record Kicks. Coming 6 years after the Grammy nominated album ‘Black times’, this album marks a pivotal moment in Seun Kuti's illustrious career, showcasing his evolution as an artist and activist. Executive produced by legendary musician Lenny Kravitz and Fela Kuti’s original engineer Sodi Marciszewer (artistic producer), ‘Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head)’ promises to deliver a sonic experience like no other. With both Kravitz's and Sodi’s expertise together with Seun Kuti's unmatched talent, the album is poised to redefine the boundaries of contemporary music while staying true to the roots of afrobeat. Featuring a tracklist of six electrifying songs, each track on ‘Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head)’ embodies the spirit of resistance, resilience, and revolution. Each song talks about standing up against challenges and fighting for change. Like the standalone singles ‘Dey’ feat reggae icon Damian Marley, described as “a song about embracing and championing who we are, regardless” and ‘Emi Aluta’, “a song about struggle (Aluta means struggle) that pays homage to all the great revolutionaries”, that features Zambian singer, rapper and songwriter, Sampa The Great, one of best and most innovative lyricists of our time. The song ‘T.O.P.’ is about “how society values money and success more than people”. Seun Kuti wants to change this by promoting empathy and reconnecting with nature. In another song, ‘Love & Revolution,’ he expresses his love for his wife and believes that true love can inspire people to make the world a better place. “This project has been very special to me from the moment I conceived it, speaking to Lenny Kravitz, who has shown me such a brotherly love and respect” Seun says. “He has brought me to his home. I met his daughter Zoe and he has guided us with fierceness. Since we spoke about the album, three years ago, as the executive producer of this project, he has always been by our side and very supportive”. “I want to thank Craig Ross and Sodi, the producer of this project. We had a great time. It was the first time for me in the studio with Sodi and I was really impressed by his work and his fatherly advice and dedication”. Each song on the album is a testament to Seun Kuti's unwavering commitment to using music as a tool for social change and empowerment. Through his powerful lyrics and infectious grooves, he continues to carry on the legacy of his father, the legendary Fela Kuti, while carving out his own path in the world of music. As a musician and pan-African activist, Seun has been involved in a number of campaigns in recent years, including #EndSARS – a social movement against police brutality in Nigeria. Significantly, he’s revived the Movement of the People (M.O.P.), the political party his father set up in 1979, which was quashed by the military government not long after Fela’s failed presidential bid. Fans can expect an album that not only entertains but also inspires and ignites a spirit of activism and liberation. Seun Kuti is a Nigerian musician, singer, and songwriter renowned for his captivating performances and socially conscious music. He is the youngest son of Afro beat pioneer Fela Kuti. Seun has spent most of his life preserving and extending his father's political and musical legacy as the leader of his father's former band Egypt 80. As a developing saxophonist and percussionist, he entered the formal ranks of the band before he was 12. In 1997 when Fela passed, in fulfilment of his father's wishes, Seun assumed the mantle as head of Egypt 80 and he has run it ever since. During his career, Seun Kuti released 4 albums with Egypt 80: ‘Many Things’ (2008), ‘From Africa with Fury: Rise for Knitting Factory Records’ (2011), coproduced by Brian Eno and John Reynolds, ‘A Long Way Beginning’ (2014) and the Grammy nominated ‘Black Times’ (2018) that included a feature from Carlos Santana. They also released numerous EPs. Seun has played for enthusiastically receptive audiences globally and collaborated with many great artists. In 2022, he joined forces with Roots frontman and MC extraordinaire Black Thought in the EP ‘African Dreams’. In 2023, Seun collaborated on Janelle Monae's ‘The Age of Pleasure’ (Grammy nominee for Album Of The Year) with the two singles 'Float' and 'Knows Better', teamed up with Talib Kweli and MadLib for their album ‘Liberation 2’ on the song ‘Nat Turner’ featuring Cassper Nyovest and released a new version of the single ‘Bad Man Lighter’ with Black Thought, featuring Vic Mensa

Zimmerman conjures up a kind of Arcadian folk surrealism that is utterly his own.” MOJO "Startling collection of intimate, home-recorded songs from the cult singer-songwriter adored by David Bowie and Big Thief alike. I eulogised the “Arcadian folk surrealism” of his 1974 ‘Over Here In Europe’ but, if anything, this informal collection of intimate home-studiorecordings is even better. Recorded between 1973 and76 whilst living in Belgium this is the kind of assured, organic freewheeling folk music that has the mellow, introspective rough-edged feel of some lost private-press LP, the kind rightly revered by Endless Boogie’s Paul Majors as “real people” music. A true find.” Andrew Male MOJO magazine Never released before collection featuring Ian A Anderson & Maggie Holland recorded 73-77 is among Tucker’s finest - Free-ranging, Playful, Intimate - his Songpoet imagination unbound and in full bloom. Recorded between 1973-76 this is the first ever release for ‘I Wonder If I’ll Ever Come True’ a stunningly beautiful, homegrown collection by Songpoet Tucker Zimmerman and friends. The range and depth is astonishing. From the heady surreal journey of ‘It All Depends’ Upon the Pleasure Man’, to the uplifting Gene Clark-esque 'So It Goes’, to some of his most beautiful & touching love songs in ‘Let’s Start Over Again’ & ‘Song’. Only one song has seen the the light of day before now - ‘Taoist Tale’ from his 1984 album ‘Word Games’. This recording from a decade earlier loses no power in its folkier stripped down style driven by Tucker’s strong narrative.
While living in bucolic seclusion in Belgium with Marie-Claire, Tucker invited visiting musicians (Derroll Adams, Wizz Jones, Maggie Holland, Dave Evans, Ian Anderson) into his home studio to play and live tape whatever songs he had at hand. Maggie Holland and Ian A Anderson feature, while Tucker found a freeing simplicity in just guitar, ’70s organ, bass and piano. We are so grateful to Ian A Anderson, who carefully kept and curated these recordings from 50 years ago. “Every time I would leave, Tucker would hand me another tape full of songs”. Ian worked with Tucker and ourselves to present this wonderful album. The collection is among Tucker’s finest - free-ranging, playful, intimate - his Songpoet imagination unbound and in full bloom. The ethos, the playing, the freedom, feels like Ronnie Lane’s time in the Welsh Borders. Unhurried, liberated, down-home and cosmic. Extraordinary music made among friends.

“Loves Love” jettisoned STÜM into 2024 and now “Beautiful Dancers” is here to take him ever higher.

As the second single off his forthcoming Essence Of Time EP, “Beautiful Dancers” is a blissful yet haunting take on techno. This track is total club rapture made up of ghostly vocal calls, static-like percussion and howling wind effects. A record of mixed emotions, pleasure and pain all blended up into 6 plus minutes.

Speaking on the tune, STÜM says “The songwriting process involved juxtaposing the organic with the synthetic weaving together contrasting sounds to mirror the duality of human emotion.”

Third in line is “Limbo”, a heaving acid hit full of hypnotic foreign instruments and vocals. This one gives off a massive street party feeling. From there we head to “Escape” a more dreamy and introspective bell-tone tune. A deliberate breather from STÜM before storming into the title track of the EP.

“Essence Of Time” is a shimmering rave piece. Dulcet piano intertwines with airy effects and hammering synths – another excellent example of STÜM’s ability to blend light and shade all at once.

Veteran electronic music composer Jill Fraser"s new work takes stock of generations and lifetimes of memory, speculating on how the spirit of our songs might be interpreted after we"re gone. With her 1978 Serge Modular, Prism Modular and Ableton Push 3 in the circuit path, she recomposes a stack of American revival hymns, making new creations for the future. A fluent meditation upon mortality and rebirth amid numinous infinities of dimensional sound. The sound world of Earthly Pleasures accesses a seeming infinity of dimensional sound in which the human hand is always keenly felt, no matter how deep the space. It"s a breathtakingly transcendent album that suggests inclusion within a diversity of genres: Ambient, Electronic, New Age, Modern Classical, Gospel, Healing, Sacred... . It is the work of a veteran composer and synth master at the peak of her powers, meditating upon the detritus of memory, the passage of all consciousness, and the rebirth of meaning in a new era.

New album of Housse de Racket member Pierre III - previously seen on Ed Banger.

Throughout my musical journey, electronic music was always a discreet companion, like that cousin who's not so close, but always fun to hang with.

So I put aside my beloved guitar aside for a while, knelt to the Roland Holy Trinity 303, 808, 909, and focused on rhythm, repetition, loops, four on the floor and the search for trance. By the way, the evocative working title for the album was ‘body music.'

Which is ironic because I haven't clubbed less than these last few years. So this music is more like a fantasy, a personal interpretation.

Thinking outside the box, leaving my comfort zone, felt like a producer's challenge, a game. We ‘play’ music. But don’t get me wrong, I play very seriously. I’m not a content creator, I am a musician.

You’ll hear many influences on this record, from Chicago House to Homework-era Daft, Talking Heads, ESG, early 90’s Dance Music… Club music for indie heads I guess.

I don’t want to sound self indulgent, but I love this record very much and I really loved doing it. Music is about pleasure and pleasure is a success in itself.

So please, step into my ‘Discotheque’.

Sacred Skin is back! Their sophomore album Born in Fire hits turntables everywhere September 2024. Pre-order now to reserve your copy! This latest effort builds off the band’s full-length debut (2022’s The Decline of Pleasure) and takes their sound to a completely new level. Painting a blackened, dystopian vision of life in modern-day Los Angeles, Born in Fire is a movie soundtrack inspired by a forgotten era. Anthemic pop music steeped in romanticism and melancholy and drenched in layers upon layers of new wave nostalgia. For fans of ’80s soundtracks, Tangerine Dream, INXS, Depeche Mode, and New Order.

Midnight Mannequin Records is proud to present this deluxe pressing of Born in Fire on 2xLP colored vinyl and housed in a gatefold jacket, complete with OBI strip.

Into the Burning Blue, the fifth studio album from Trace Mountains, begins underwater. Songwriter Dave Benton was too. And though the songs were derived from a place of pain and heartbreak, Into the Burning Blue is an adventurous, bold, and groovy album about movement. Benton is at his most declarative, depicting his constant tread of water to stay afloat, and the occasional triumph that comes as reward. Pain often brings a new perspective on pleasure, and without the blues, joy wouldn't be as bright and elusive as it is. But excavation is essential to the new perspective, and you often need new tools to break out of the monochromatic mold. Into the Burning Blue is a testament to looking inward, embracing new methods, and accepting the help of your friends - no matter how hard they are to find.

As the 21st century was born, so Kreator underwent what was nothing less than a seismic creative rebirth. By this time, the iconic German band had released nine studio albums in the 1980s and '90s, which had established them as one of the most important metal names of these decades.In the first period, they had helped to shape and pioneer the thrash scene through such releases as 'Pleasure To Kill' (1986), 'Terrible Certainty' ('87) and 'Extreme Aggression' ('89). During the following decade, the band had opened up exciting horizons of experimentation on albums like 'Coma Of Souls' (1990), 'Renewal' ('92) and 'Endorama' ('99).
Now, though, it was time to move into a fresh era, as vocalist/guitarist Mille Petrozza explains.
“During the 1990s, we were definitely experimenting with what the band were doing. But (drummer) Ventor and I decided that for this album – our first of the new millennium – we wanted to go back to the sort of sound that we had at the start of Kreator. In other words, to get back to the reason why we began the band in the first place.”

There was also new guitarist introduced, as Sami Yli-Sirniö (who had made his reputation with Finnish band Waltari) took over from Tommy Vetterli. The latter (also known as Tommy T. Baron) had joined in 1996 and played on the 'Oucast' (1997) and 'Endorama' albums.

The producer for this album was Andy Sneap, who was now making a name for himself as one of the pre-eminent masters of this art in the modern metal world.“I had known and liked Andy since the days he had been the guitarist in Sabbat, as they were signed to Noise Records as Kreator were on that label. He was our first choice to work on this new project. I liked what he'd done for Testament on their album 'The Gathering' (released in 1999). He had given them a sound they'd never had before, and that really was what we were after. It was natural and organic, and also very modern. I remember phoning him at his Backstage Studios in England (Ripley in Derbyshire). And Warrel Dane, the vocalist in Nevermore, answered. Andy was producing their new album at the time ('Dead Heart In A Dead World', 2000). And when I heard this, again I was very impressed. So, I was delighted when he agreed to produce the new Kreator album.”

The album title came from something Petrozza had read. “In a book I came across a comment that John F. Kennedy said (in 1962). This was: "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable”. I thought 'Violent Revolution' would make a good title for an album. So, I kept it in my mind for this record. I think 'Violent Revolution' is a title that makes a real impact.”

One interesting aspect of the track listing was that the 52 second instrumental 'The Patriarch' actually came after the opening song 'Reconquering The Throne'. Fans might have been expected that it would have opened the album. But for Petrozza, there was a logical reason for this not to happen. “We really wanted to lead off with a thrashing track, to show everyone what we were now doing musically. After 'Endorama', it was important that everyone should recognise this was a new era for Kreator.”

'Violent Revolution' is without question an excellent album. While in some ways it does hark back to the glories of the band's earlier days, nonetheless it does not sound at all nostalgic. The performances and production values are very much part of the contemporary era, and the strength of the compositions themselves are of the highest values. Rising to the challenge offered by a new generation of ambitious metal bands, Kreator proved they were far from being a spent force. Unlike so many of their peers, here was a band who still had so much creativity to offer, and were also clearly excited themselves by what they were doing. And when you hear the band themselves enjoying the entire process, then you know this is a bona fide revitalisation.

In this electrifying 2024, we're buzzing with excitement as we celebrate 40 years of Flexi, the record emporium that's weathered countless storms amidst the ever-shifting tides of the music industry, catering to vinyl aficionados across the ages. Alongside the raves and swag, no doubt, there's a killer compilation dropping on the indie label "Flexi Cuts," dubbed evocatively as "Musica Solida" spread across 3 or perhaps 4 12-inch samplers, boasting a carefully curated selection of singles from cherished Flexi-affiliated artists and producers. The vision? To cultivate a virtuous movement of sublime tunes, echoing the fervor and zeal to persist within the realm of quality that Flexi embodies within the Italian scene, alongside kindred spirits... despite the daunting challenges of the market in recent years.



Musica Solida # 1 showcases

DJ Rocca: One of the most solid producers on the panorama, a respected maestro of the clubbing scene in Italy and worldwide.

Club Soda: Live electronic ensemble, still dreamin' from their latest EP 'Basso e Batteria', which packs an unreleased track recorded directly from their house-flavoured jam sessions.

Lex (Athens) & Locke : A Greek producer who is well established in today's dance house scene, with quality-vibey releases and a very nice and classy and groovy sound. We will definitely hear from him in the future!

Hiroyuki Kato: Emerging Osaka-based multi-instrumentalist makes his debut with a very punchy and catchy track!

The Mechanical Man (feat. Bob Vito) : Neapolitan super producer. Raw-sounding, gritty, powerful and never dull, a pleasure to have him with us.



The record will be released in about 200 vinyl copies no more.

Packaged in the classic discobag 2- holes, with a distinctive letterpress print in a beautiful silver cover.



Compiled by Simone Guerra aka Relative

Mastered by Francesco Brini (except track B1, Mastered by Marco Spaventi)

Distributed by Rubadub, Glasgow

Pressed by Desslab

Design by GLZ

The principles of pleasure radiate a knowing, carnal heat throughout the genre-fluid sound of LSDXOXO. His decade of dedication to the sensibility of underground club culture has brought forth club classics interwoven with pop music hooks and subversive, tongue-in-cheek lyrics.

After four years of what LSDXOXO, real name RJ Glasgow, calls a period of “healing and self-discovery,” he is consolidating his multiplicitous sound with one compelling masterstroke: the debut album DOGMA, to be released on his own imprint F.A.G. DOGMA marks a complete paradigmatic shift: it is a poetic and fantastical performance, a route for deep escapism through an expanded musical palette including piano and guitar, and a deeply personal confessional through a fresh approach to songcrafting.

Within DOGMA, RJ meditates on the interlinked qualities of fame, infamy, lust and submission, as he rediscovers a pure, unadulterated approach to music-making, all the while adopting a futurist approach to pop music appreciation. RJ’s unmistakable signatures—the smutty dancefloor caller, the maker of irresistible bangers, the latter-day electroclash and DnB nostalgist—take on even more shades and intricacies. Despite his widespread acclaim as a collaborator with and songwriter for other artists, RJ strips DOGMA down almost exclusively to himself, carving out intentional space as a chameleonic vocalist and performer. He breathes life into the album with private thoughts, external fears and a red thread through personal themes that crystallise the album’s narrative from front to back.

The album’s promo single “Bloodlust” offers angsty, intimate indie-tronica, and musings on the intoxicating nature of love and infatuation. The lead single “Ghost” reaches beyond RJ’s Philadelphia origins to find itself in the deep south, in a sultry fever dream of coquettish R&B featuring backing vocals from close collaborator Kelela. Elsewhere on the album futuristic love, pensive pop earworms, evocative vintage dance styles and sleazy club tracks intermingle. While the DOGMA era will eventually explore remixes and reworks, the album is RJ’s purest embrace of himself and his artistry.

RJ first garnered attention as LSDXOXO in New York City with his on-the-pulse Soundcloud edits and then as part of the cult GHE20GOTH1K collective. His DJ sets and productions quickly earned him acclaim across globally-linked underground scenes. His decision to shift from sampled vocals to picking up the pen and microphone pushed his reach out to the stratosphere; his association with XL Recordings via the Dedicated 2 Disrespect EP in 2021 was a turning point for the burgeoning superstar.

This multiplicity of the LSDXOXO sound has led to enviable co-signs. These include being selected as the opening DJ for Beyoncé’s German Renaissance tour dates, remixing Lady Gaga, Pink Pantheress and Shygirl and producing five tracks for Kelela's highly acclaimed 2023 album for Warp Records, Raven. His fully-realised live show has also taken to the stage, serving fierce charisma to huge audiences at festivals including Primavera, Nuits Sonores and Rewire.

Permanent Parts is the second album released by visual artist Katharina Grosse (synthesizer) and musician Stefan Schneider (synthesizer; So Sner, To Rococo Rot). Grosse and Schneider were joined at Galerie Max Hetzler on 29 April 2023, performing as part of the Spectrum without Traces exhibition, by three artists who all generally work within improvised music – Carina Khorkhordina (trumpet), Tintin Patrone (trombone and electronics), and Billy Roisz (noise generator, piezo and mini cymbal). Permanent Parts is an extraordinary set of recordings that inhabits multiple zones at once: within its thirty-five minutes, we can hear the interactions of non-idiomatic collective music making, and the electronic glimmers of electro-acoustics, while, at the same time, the music remains untethered to genre.

This capacity to work within liminal zones makes perfect sense when thinking about both Grosse’s and Schneider’s prior work, whether the energetic diffusions and spatial explorations of Grosse’s artistic practice, or the slippery texturology of Schneider’s recent work with electronics. Khorkhordina, Patrone and Roisz all find their own ways into this dynamic, too, and Permanent Parts feels like an equal exchange of presence and contribution; there are no hierarchies here. This might explain the music’s curious sense of development, where several elements are allowed to exist alongside each other, not in direct contact but in a mode that’s somewhere between carefree layering and unconscious juxtaposition. The musicians are listening, but not just with their ears – their skin, their bodies are hearing, too.

When talking about Permanent Parts, Schneider is careful to place it within contexts that are specific, to some degree, but which allow for difference to blossom. “Although it was recorded live, it somehow was not meant to be a documentation of a live event in the first place. The five piece line up that appears on the record had met for the first time only a few hours before the concert took place.” While it might take a leap of faith for all parties to walk together, and so willingly, into a place of such freedom, of such risk, there is clear sympathy here between the musicians, and a shared appreciation of the immediacies of the situation.

It also throws some of our preconceptions about this music out of the window. “The record does not feel like a document of a performance as the music was not pre-composed and there was no reference,” Schneider continues. “Perhaps it was not even an improvisation?” For Grosse, her musical relationship with Schneider similarly shakes free from expectation: “My sound does not exist without Stefan’s. It is neither written down nor is it improvised. It is instantaneous.” When thinking about the five-piece exploration on Permanent Parts and asked to expand on what each musician brings to the table, she continues, “We all love the thrill of an unknown encounter and we seem to have a need for building connections through the thicket of our voices.”

There’s a curious phrase on the back cover of the album, before the artists are listed: “Wir sind eine Batterie / We are a battery.” This sums up the spirit of Permanent Parts. Schneider recalls that Grosse said this phrase to the musicians at the start of the performance. Grosse explains further, “The figure of the battery referred to our placement in the space building out a small circle facing one another from where the sound could spill into the impressive volume of the gallery.” The battery as an arrangement of similar devices; but I also think of charge, and the conversion of chemical energy, and of fortification. It’s a poetic metaphor that sums up much of the febrile pleasure of the music contained on these Permanent Parts.

– Jon Dale, Melbourne

It is with great pleasure that we announce Mitchum Yacoub's debut album Living High in the Brass Empire_ a showcase in unique stylings of tropical funk, afrobeat, cumbia, and soul; a musical patchwork threaded by a heavy, hypnotic rhythm section and powerfully vibrant horn lines. What sounds like a 12-piece ensemble was actually mostly recorded and performed by Yacoub at his home in San Diego, featuring a few close friends from local groups Sure Fire Soul Ensemble and Boostive. The horn section is comprised of Travis Klein, Bradley Nash, and Wesley Etienne (featuring Todd Simon on "Los Muñequitos"), each with distinguished performances that send the music to higher heights. Nuanced vocalist Divina Jasso lends humanity and introspection throughout the head-nodding soul sounds of "Never Knew", latin dance anthem "Cumbia Divina", and the syncopated funk of "Empire". You'll hear rhythms from Colombia, folkloric percussion of Cuba, interlocking grooves à la Fela Kuti, 70's r&b influence, and something in between it all. Drawing many inspirations into a refreshing and unified record, we think you'll enjoy Living High in the Brass Empire.