Buscar:ac in records

Available on vinyl for the first time since 2020. The 'Someday, Somewhere' EP comprises the single 'I'll Be Fine', written and recorded by the band remotely during lockdown, alongside a selection of unreleased tracks recorded during the 'Life After' album sessions including the EP's much-loved title track (previously a live set exclusive). Originally released back in 2020 the vinyl version includes the bonus track 'Trouble On The Water' as previously released on the band's 'Hoxa Sessions' acoustic EP. Bassist William Dorey left Palace after their first album and now records under the name Skinshape. Artwork by Wilm Danby. Vinyl Track Listing: A1. Someday, Somewhere A2. I'll Be Fine. B1. Flesh to the Fallen B2. Trouble on the Water.

The Cat is jazz organist Jimmy Smith's 1964 album, a notable release that reached No. 12 on the Billboard 200. Featuring Smith on the Hammond B-3, this set has some tasteful big band arrangements by Lalo Schifrin and some other-worldly playing by the great organist on a variety of other blues-oriented material. Verve’s Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes and remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.

Interplanetary Criminal finally makes his highly anticipated debut via his own label, ATW Records.

Interplanetary Criminal is a pioneering DJ, producer and co-head of ATW Records. Hailing from Bolton, Great Manchester, Interplanetary Criminal is one of the most in demand DJ/producers of the moment. Spearheading the UK garage revival, his whirlwind rise in recent years boasts a UK number one single (B.O.T.A. with Eliza Rose), sold out headline UK tours and a slew of Boiler Room appearances. Internationally, IPC has toured the US, Australia and across Europe. Over the 2024 summer season, IPC has played already the likes of Glastonbury, Parklife, Outlook and Hideout festivals, as well as the iconic Circoloco at DC-10 and Amnesia in Ibiza.

James Johnson Jr AKA Kukri is one exceptionally talented electronic music producer, composer and DJ known across the world for his hard as nails techno sound. His calm demeanour belies the massive amounts of energy he creates in his highly technical DJ sets and from within the ethereal beauty of his live performances, with many top-flight DJs swearing by his output, dropping his tracks relentlessly throughout their sets.

Continuing with the ‘Limited As Fuck’ series of releases, on our fiercely independent techno label based in Scotland, we’ve got on our heavy duty high explosive under pants for this relentless detonator of a release comin’ at you all the way from across the pond in Ohio, USA. There’s more ruthless techno dynamite in this one release than if you strapped twelvty grenades to a set of decks and pulled all the pins out simultaneously, the roofs are all gonna blow off wherever this one goes KABOOM in clubland. And along-with the three original blast shattering tracks, Lee Holman, making his RIOT Radio Records debut, is on remix shenanigans for the fourth with an aggressively merciless Detroit infused mangling to ignite the crowds even further.

The full digital release also features the original version of ‘Detection’ which Lee Holman accepted an unceasingly intense RIOTous mission to reconstruct.

WARNING: AFTER DETONATION THE RIOT SENTINEL SHALL APPEAR

Tina Records presents Cargo Cult, six tracks from the Musci archives created using an extensive collection of traditional instruments combined with synthesisers and electronics, with remixes provided by Cut Hands and Nokuit.

Italian ethnomusicologist Roberto Musci, active since the mid 80s, has experienced a resurgence in interest since the 2016 Music From Memory compilation 'Tower of Silence', receiving endorsements from disparate influential figures. His music featured in a playlist Ryuichi Sakamoto curated for his favourite Japanese restaurant in New York, as well as in a 2019 Yung Lean playlist for The Opioid Crisis Lookbook.

Cut Hands is the alias of William Bennett, most well known as the originator of the Power Electronics genre with his project Whitehouse. Inspired by Haitian Vodou, under the Cut Hands moniker, Bennett has been exploring rhythm and percussive instrumentation since 2007 with releases on Blackest Ever Black and Downwards.

A film composer by day, Nokuit has developed a distinctive cosmology over a mutating series of releases on underground labels such as wannamarchi.club and NKT. He has performed internationally, including at Cafe OTO as part of a lineup curated by Flora Yin-Wong.

“this is the one I want at my final farewell, couldn’t find a better way of saying my final goodbye”

“italian music for the soul. life affirming”

“one of the greatest house tunes ever. bliss”

These are just some of the laudatory comments about ALONE on YouTube.

Recorded by the near mythical Don Carlos (Carlo Troja) in 1991 in the middle of Italian house fever it was instantly acclaimed as a classic.

Its’ dreamscape appeal has proved timeless and the enduring demand makes it perfect for ANORAX (#eatsleepcollect) to release on limited edition 10” single.

The original masters have been supplied by IRMA Records to ensure top notch sound quality as befits such an iconic gem.

Italian House Music for the Body & The Soul

Singer Andy Stokes, billed as the 'Northwest King of Soul Music', may have recently worked with such industry luminaries as Snoop Dogg but, way back in the late 70s, he was fronting a hopeful Jazz-Funk group struggling to break into even just the Oregon circuit. Despite boasting members from internationally successful acts like Fantasy Records' own Pleasure, Lights Out never saw their one demo – cut in 1982 for the well-established Solar Records – even get a promo pressing. Two of the tightest and busiest of their dancefloor wreckers from the session now grace their only 7" to date.

First time ever on 7" 45rpm vinyl, dinked centre hole with picture sleeve, 500 numbered copies only.

Drasii is the duo of Chris Kalis and Lisa Armstrong. Since emerging as an offshoot of Chandeliers, denizens of Chicago’s loft party scene, they have been exploring more dance-oriented tempos and song structures equally suited for a large sound system or a pair of headphones.

Influenced by the American midwest electronic music scenes that they came out of, their new 12-inch record, Spirito Celeste (ETC Records, November 15th) combines deft melodic interplay and sublimely danceable rhythms conjuring everything from dreamy ambient, moody acid, and synth pop, to classic house and techno.

D3 Classic Edition proudly presents its debut release, shining a light on an unsung hero of Detroit's electronic music scene: Nathaniel Killins IV. Active from the mid to late 1990s, Killins was an underrated talent who operated under the radar during a pivotal era of Detroit's musical history.

Under the alias Naquil, he released his debut EP in 1996 on Perception Records, a short-lived yet significant Detroit House/Techno
label. Krem de la Krem is a deep melancholia and obscure Detroit deep house EP, beyond qualification, like only a few Detroit records can attain.

"We’ve taken a selection of the most in-demand and asked-for titles in our Brazil 45’s catalogue and given them a loving repress. Marking the third release in our now signature series, we shone the light on two sought-after tracks from Noriel Vilela and Juca Chaves.

On the A side, originally released in 1971 on Copacabana Records, Noriel Vilela's 1971 cover of Tennessee Ernice Ford's '16 Tons'. Ford’s 1955 original was a classic American pop-country-folk song, that Noriel masterfully flipped it into a low-slung, deeply toned samba groover.

On the B side Juca Chaves classic 'Take Me Back To Piaui' was released on 7"" by RGE In 1970 and features on his album 'Muito Vivo' from 1972. Sublime orchestration, velvety vocals and the instantly uplifting cuica tones, make this a must-have Brazilian cut. Chaves was an active critic of the Brazilian military dictatorship, and like Veloso and Gil, was exiled in the early 1970s, to Portugal and later Italy."

London based label Natural Selection present their forthcoming release in the form of a 4-track 12" EP, courtesy of Annie Hall, entitled "Atomic 20", ft. remixes from label affiliates Plant43 & Kodah. Mastered by Dadub Studios, Berlin and cut by Simon at The Exchange Vinyl.

Born in Madrid, Annie Hall has been heavily active on the Electronica, IDM and Detroit circuits since 2007 and has seen her music released by the most highly esteemed of Electro labels such as Central Processing Unit, Delsin Records, 20/20 Vision, Detroit Underground, Semantica & more. She returns to Natural Selection, after releasing on 3 previous occasions since the label's inaugural release in 2021. Her track 'Panax Ginseng' (NS001) gained support from some of the most respected DJ's and producers worldwide, inc. Dave Clarke, The Advent, NULLPTR & more.

Atomic 20 is a beautifully crafted Electro release that maintains venomous aggression, amidst breathtaking textures and ambience. Hypnotic pads spiral into the ether, contrasted alongside heavy kicks, deep bass and meticulously programmed percussion patterns. Annie's eclectic and uniquely experimental style is fully evident throughout, taking the listener on an unpredictable, emotional journey, whether at home or on the dance floor.

The B side of the release features 2 well-placed, club-focussed remixes of each original A side tracks; B1 courtesy of Electro legend Plant43, with his immaculate remix of 'Goji Berry'. B2 courtesy of Natural Selection label head Kodah, with his power driven remix of 'Atomic 20'.

1993 progressive acid house produced by the prolific and elusive Will Brunner. To date the only release from Shimmer records and almost impossible to find second hand. Features four diverse mixes which have been remastered by ManMade.

Clair Obscur, the new sub-division of Diki Records, is proud to unveil the latest gem from the duo Made On Sofa, formed by the talented Manu Kenton and Max Walder. These artists, well-known in southern Belgium for their impactful productions and residency at the famous Lagoa club, are back with an explosive track.



"I Love You So Much" is set to be a true anthem, built on a dynamic and captivating rhythm. Its hypnotic and majestic gimmick is sure to ignite dance floors and leave a memorable impression in the minds of the audience.



In addition, the second track, "Masterpiece," brings formidable effectiveness, enhanced by an emotional touch that will resonate with all hearts.



Clair Obscur, la nouvelle sub-division de Diki Records, est fière de dévoiler la dernière pépite du duo Made On Sofa, formé par les talentueux Manu Kenton et Max Walder. Ces artistes, bien connus dans le sud de la Belgique pour leurs productions percutantes et leur résidence au célèbre club Lagoa, nous reviennent avec un titre explosif.



"I Love You So Much" s’annonce comme un véritable hymne, construit sur un rythme dynamique et captivant. Sa gimmick hypnotique et majestueuse saura enflammer les pistes de danse et laissera une empreinte mémorable dans l'esprit du public.



En complément, le deuxième titre, "Masterpiece", apporte une efficacité redoutable, rehaussée d'une touche émotionnelle qui touchera tous les cœurs.

Signing off 2024 in style, Berlin’s Pure Hate Trax brings you PH008 Execution Style EP by DJ Speedsick. The Wisconsin-born Chicago based recording & visual artist who also owns and operates as Snake Eyes & Sevens and Escalationist has previously released on labels such as Ophism Records, Bank NYC, Psychic Liberation, Psy X Records & Techno Is The Devil’s Music. Described as taking Techno to uncompromising places he delivers five hardware tracks direct out of the box implementing harsh instrumental industrial noises alongside Acid and Techno to create a signature Speedsick EP. PH008 is available in stores from 4th December 2024, distributed by Ready Made Distribution, Berlin. Mastered by Joe Farr. Artwork by Slave To
Society. Tracklist:

Disrupt Records presents DJ Chromz - Love & Unity EP, featuring DJ Stretch & Double O!

Following the blueprint established in the first two releases by again providing the platform for the debut EP of one of the hottest new producers around, DJ Chromz!

DJ Chromz brings us four tracks of sublime 94 influenced jungle that take you on a nostalgic journey via the dancefloor to the scene's golden era whilst keeping the sound fresh and dynamic.

Featuring a colab with AKO Beatz General DJ Stretch, plus a remix from Rupture's very own Double-O!

Lush pads, crisp drums, dubbed out sounds that reflect a love of soundsystem influences, analogue sampling and drum programming, big vocals and slamming amens all wrapped up across 4 huge dancefloor tracks.

This EP from The Brothers Grimm is a bona fide classic - but what else would you expect from the legendary combination of two of the best producers in the scene, Dyce and Acen?

Both sides are incredible, but Exodus is the track that really took off to become one of the first jungle anthems. The EP is famous for its clever use of an absolutely killer breakbeat, and a unique vocal that showcased all the best elements of old skool rave and jungle. This is mixed with many audio elements that were brand new back then, but have since become standard in the jungle scene.

Now beautifully remastered from DAT, this is an EP that every collector and raver must have in their collection!

Following the release of Co-Accused's VA006 EP this summer, the Glasgow promoters and label heads pick out one of the last release’s heady talents for his own solo EP. UK wonky techno and jacked-up-riff master Luke’s Anger presents Corporate Hell EP for release this December, busting out with bare back to basics raw jam energy. Known for bringing an edge of fun and funk to techno, Luke’s been a big feature of Jerome Hill’s much respected Don’t Records, also released by Sunil Sharpe’s Earwiggle and high-spec club trax imprint Sneaker Social Club.

‘Corporate Hell’ opens the release with a bumping four four stomper, driven by a screaming melody line that lifts the dancefloor energy from the off. ‘The Sentinel’ follows with yet another big dancefloor moment made up of super slick machine funk, hammering away with grimy distortion.

Over on the B Side, the rawest of the raw ‘UFOh No!’ drives up the intensity in classic wonky techno style, off kilter melodies riff beside a shuffling beat lifting the levels another notch. To close out the EP the heady peak time pace of the EP stays lifted with bleep techno mover ‘Haffa Bar Jack’ in what’s a pure and relentless-to-the-end banger. This is classic Luke’s Anger material, made for the DJ and dance floor at its core.

Repress.

The Italo dance classic that Carl Craig sampled for the legendary 69 track 'Rushed'

Finally available again on Dark Entries


We are honored to announce the next 12 in Dark Entries Editions is one of the all time Italo Disco club classics: My Mine - 'Hypnotic Tango'. My Mine were the trio of Stefano Micheli (vocals, keyboards), Carlo Malatesta (vocals, keyboards), and Danilo Rosati (drums, keyboards) formed from the ashes of Italian New Wave group Ipnotico Tango in 1982. They shifted focus from the experimental post punk sounds towards something more commercial with which to try and enter the market, namely to make a record. At that time Carlo was studying in Bologna and he had heard about producer and arranger Mauro Malavasi famous at that time for the many hits produced for Macho, Peter Jacques Band, Change, Luther Vandross, Ritchie Family. The group handed Malavasi a demo tape and four days later they were invited to Fonoprint Studios to record their first single, 'Hypnotic Tango'.

Utilizing new electronic instruments like the now legendary Roland TB-303, Danilo improvised a simple but effective synthesizer bass line and passed it through the Roland Echo until something magical came out. 'Hypnotic Tango' was released on Progress Record in 1983 and became an international hit across Europe and US dance clubs in New York, Detroit and Chicago, capturing the imagination of House and Techno producers. In 1987 the legendary Frankie Knuckles remixed 'Hypnotic Tango' at Seagrape Studios in Chicago, with assistance from studio engineers Tommy White and Brett Wilcotts. Originally released on Danica Records as the 'Powerhouse Mix' paying tribute to the Windy City club atmosphere and adding his own "sighs" in the track as well. The Hypnotic Remix This reissue presents 4 mixes of 'Hypnotic Tango' including the 'Hypnotic Mix' only appearing together once before in 1990 on Rams Horn Records. All songs are remastered for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. The vinyl comes housed in a jacket with original artwork and includes an insert with photos and liner notes by Stefano Micheli. 'Look on the floor and all is spinning round, Someone told me this was just a dance And take a chance I ain't met before..Do you think I really have a chance"

S-Tone Inc., one of the most acclaimed artists on Schema Records, with +300.000 monthly listeners and millions of plays on Spotify, is back with a full rework of his previous full-length "Body & Soul", a homage to the late '70s / early '80s disco music that the artist used to immerse in during those adventurous years. Early '90s British acid jazz, '70s soul, Brazilian and jazz music are here reworked in a nu-disco key, with the exception of the downbeat tracks "Flying Away" and "Midnight Sun" and the 'spacey' "Odoya", rearranged by The Invisible Session without mining the overall mood of this release.

The last couple of years have seen a renaissance for West Coast singer-songwriters. LA-based youngsters such as Drugdealer and Sylvie have attracted considerable attention releasing warm and mellow records tonally reminiscent of the early 70s. Most fans of this new/old sound are unaware of Bart Davenport's early explorations in the same sonic territory. His now 20-year-old "Game Preserve"album should gain an appreciative new audience with its first ever vinyl release.

In the year 2000, Bay Area troubadour Bart Davenport and several other musicians were recruited by a major tech corporation in Seattle to work on an algorithm-based music matching/search engine. It was what looked like the beginning of a promising career. After a year, however, the project was shelved. Bart and his colleagues were laid off with a healthy severance package... on the 12th of September, 2001. Not only had the musician's life changed, so had the world. Rather than blow the money on a holiday or new car, Bart knew he had to make a record. A proper album that meant something.

Back in Oakland, he entered Wally Sound Studios with former Kinetics bandmate Jon Erickson at the controls, and a swathe of talented local musicians. "With Game Preserve," Bart explains, "Jon and I really wanted to knock it out of the park. I wanted to utilize people from my old bands like Loved Ones drummer John Kent. I also invited my newer indie-pop friends from Call & Response, and a young Nedelle Torrisi. Harmony singing by The Moore Brothers was an essential ingredient on Game Preserve as well."

Both Erickson and Davenport fondly recall growing up in households where the music of The Carpenters, Joni Mitchell and The Eagles soundtracked their young lives. By the early 00s they were ready to reconnect with what is often referred to as the "Laurel Canyon" sound. "I'd buy used tapes at garage sales and play them in the car. "Ladies Of The Canyon" by Joni and Jackson Browne's first album were both in heavy rotation. Jon Erickson was getting deeper into the Steely-Mac-Doobie yacht-rock sound in earnest. A certain amount of childhood nostalgia led a lot of us back to that part of the 70s. I'd flirted with classic soft-rock on my first album, but that record was pretty scattered esthetically. I wanted my next one to be more focused. Jon and I made some ground rules: no electric guitars (except on 'Bar-Code Trees'). No synths. Most importantly, all the songs have an air-tight, super dead, close mic'd drum sound. Putting these sorts of limitations on the sessions will give your record a specific quality. In the case of "Game Preserve"it's mostly about tight drums, acoustic instruments and analog production. We used a 24-track, two-inch tape machine for tracking, then ran the mixes through an analog board straight to a 1/4 inch master tape."

While the album's sonic palette may be firmly planted in 1970, Davenport's songwriting covers a sizable landscape of moods and reflections. From the quasi-flamenco intro of 'Sweetest Game' to the somber Wurlitzer of 'Nowhere Left To Go', to the 12-string shimmer of 'Intertwine', "Game Preserve" tells a story of young love, lost innocence and redemption, crossing borders and oceans along the way.

Released in 2003 on family-run Oakland label Antenna Farm, the ultra-analog sounding "Game Preserve" was only made available on digital formats, including CD. Copies were later pressed by labels in Germany and Spain; the latter being one country the album actually did well in, establishing Bart Davenport with a small but loyal fanbase he still enjoys today. Two European tours as support for Kings of Convenience also helped gain a foothold on the continent. Back in the US, however, Davenport and his sophomore album remained quite obscure.

Limited promotion meant it did little, but for the music lovers that heard it, the album undoubtedly remains a classic of the era, deserving far more. Twenty years on, it now finally receives its vinyl debut. "I personally think it holds up well," says Bart of the album two decades later. "The idea was to make something that could be an homage to late 60s/early 70s West Coast pop but hopefully timeless as well. Years on, I hear it as just that. It was a colorful and brief period of my life that felt at times like it could last forever. I discovered the joy of working in a proper studio with a perfect cast of characters. I'm still very close with all these people and still play music with many of them."

Way back in 2008 Soul Junction released a 45 on Duane Williams “Yes My Love Is Real” with Duane being one half of the Detroit husband and wife singing duo Beverley and Duane. The duo under the guidance of their lifelong friend Will Hatcher recorded six songs of which two “ We Got To Stick Together” and “Glad I Got You Baby” were picked up by local Detroit label president Woodrow ‘Woody Wilson for release as a 45 single on his Fee label. The popularity of the 45 was to attract attention from the major Ariola label, who picked it up for national distribution during 1978 leading to the subsequent Ariola album ‘Beverley & Duane”. As the 1980’s dawned Beverley and Duane recorded a solitary 45 single for the independent Detroit Brown Bomber label “Love/You Belong To Me”. The label was owned by John L. Barrow a nephew of former heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis, (Brown Bomber being Louis’s nickname). Beverley and Duane later moved to the west coast until their amicable divorce which led to Duane returning to his native Detroit to reacquaint himself with his former mentor Will Hatcher. This meeting of old friends led to the creation of Duane’s first solo project which Will brought to Soul Junction in late 2007. Hot on the heels of Duane’s hugely popular Soul Junction 45 came his subsequent CD album “These Songs Are For You” (SJ5001) released in 2009. Contained within this album was the very pertinent gospel/social commentary song “Father We’re Having Trouble” a song which two very close and knowledgeable friends of mine the late John Anderson and Bill Randle claimed had all the right ingredients for a potential hit record. Over the ensuing years this song has always remained in my thoughts until a few years ago I broached the idea with my good friend Jesse James recording a cover version of it, Jesse upon hearing the song was very receptive to the idea. Another period of time elapsed before we again reignited the idea. A decade or so on from Duane’s original version and the lyric’s of this particular song still remain as pertinent as ever, if not more so! During early 2020 Jesse entered, Con Funk Shun multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Felton Pilate’s Felstar Studio in Atlanta to lay down the basic tracks with Felton acting as co-producer on this project. Everything was progressing nicely until a worldwide pandemic intervened. With Jesse locked down in his new home on the West Coast and Felton in Atlanta the project unfortunately came to a holt. During this enforced period of inactivity further racial and political upheaval occurred which only added more poignance to the project. Eventually with the lifting of lockdown restrictions Jesse finally made it back to Atlanta to finish the project, the fruits of which you have before you now.

BRAND NEW VINYL PRESSING ON GREEN VINYL FOR FIRST TIME

Recorded in 1996, the second album from this NYC quartet featured a new line up & sound. Clean, warm, spacious guitars paired with repetitive, hypnotic songs showcased the band reaching a new peak. Beloved by those initiated, it continues to find new devotees.
RELATED TO: The Lapse, Native Nod, Blonde Redhead, Enon, Jets to Brazil, Vague Angels

90s NYC indie heroes The Van Pelt have had a lasting power far greater than so many of the other once bigger bands of that era have had. The sort of interest that has neither waxed nor waned over the decades since they disbanded, yet just mysteriously continues on despite their discography being out of print since the end of the last millennium. So what is it that sets them apart?
Too soft to have ran with the AmRep or Touch and Go crowds, not hip enough to have made sense on Matador or Merge, ernest yet not histrionic enough to make it onto the “best emo bands” lists, not weird enough to be on bills with Arto Lindsay and Thurston Moore, etc. In a sense, their outsider status comes not from the wings, but from the dead center eye of the storm. The 90s were happening all around them, they were witnesses thereof, yet they emerged transcendent of it all. You Follow? Maybe it’s worth having a listen to see what I mean.
Barcelona’s La Castanya records is treating us with the first ever rerelease of the two Van Pelt albums to mark the 20th anniversary of Sultans of Sentiment, their benchmark album. They teased us in 2014 that this might be on the docket with the release of Imaginary Third, a collection of singles and unreleased Van Pelt tracks which were originally intended to have been the components of their third album, including the alt-famous “Speeding Train”. Now we’ll finally have access to their entire discography. The first album, Stealing From Our Favorite Thieves is an explosion of anthems belted out as if the war was already lost yet they were hoisting that tattered banner anyhow until there wasn’t a shred to salvage. The momentum coming out of that album had every major label in the States salivating at the possibility of turning them into the next Nirvana. Instead, The Van Pelt followed it up by pulling the van into the garage, leaving the engine running, funneling the exhaust into their lungs, and blissfully deciding to bow out of the race with the epic Sultans of Sentiment. Of course as the story goes, their intended financial flop was the exact opus that jettisoned them into the history books. Buy both albums. You’ll need them both.

ON SAND COLOUR VINYL FOR FIRST TIME

Post-Punk? Indie-Rock? Post-Hardcore? The Van Pelt walked between all these worlds. Spoken/sung vocals, anthemic pop hooks, fiery guitars and a tightly wound rhythm section made them stand outs of the DIY basement scene they emerged from.
RELATED TO: The Lapse, Native Nod, St Vincent, Blonde Redhead, Enon, Jets to Brazil, Vague Angels.

ABOUT “STEALING FROM OUR FAVORITE THIEVES”:
90s NYC indie heroes The Van Pelt have had a lasting power far greater than so many of the other once bigger bands of that era have had. The sort of interest that has neither waxed nor waned over the decades since they disbanded, yet just mysteriously continues on despite their discography being out of print since the end of the last millennium. So what is it that sets them apart? Too soft to have ran with the AmRep or Touch and Go crowds, not hip enough to have made sense on Matador or Merge, ernest yet not histrionic enough to make it onto the “best emo bands” lists, not weird enough to be on bills with Arto Lindsay and Thurston Moore, etc. In a sense, their outsider status comes not from the wings, but from the dead center eye of the storm. The 90s were happening all around them, they were witnesses thereof, yet they emerged transcendent of it all. You Follow? Maybe it’s worth having a listen to see what I mean.
Barcelona’s La Castanya records is treating us with the first ever rerelease of the two Van Pelt albums to mark the 20th anniversary of Sultans of Sentiment, their benchmark album. They teased us in 2014 that this might be on the docket with the release of Imaginary Third, a collection of singles and unreleased Van Pelt tracks which were originally intended to have been the components of their third album, including the alt-famous “Speeding Train”. Now we’ll finally have access to their entire discography. The first album, Stealing From Our Favorite Thieves is an explosion of anthems belted out as if the war was already lost yet they were hoisting that tattered banner anyhow until there wasn’t a shred to salvage. The momentum coming out of that album had every major label in the States salivating at the possibility of turning them into the next Nirvana. Instead, The Van Pelt followed it up by pulling the van into the garage, leaving the engine running, funneling the exhaust into their lungs, and blissfully deciding to bow out of the race with the epic Sultans of Sentiment. Of course as the story goes, their intended financial flop was the exact opus that jettisoned them into the history books. Buy both albums. You’ll need them both.

DJ Support: Truncate, Steffi, Josh Wink, Tasha, Surgeon, Charles Siegling, Marcel Fengler, ANNĒ, Laurent Garnier, Gerd

3 of the best digital only tracks from the Hardgroove catalogue by HG founder Ben Sims and original purveyors, Mark Broom and Mark Williams. Plus a brand new, previously unreleased cut from Ben Sims and Mark Broom under their infamous guise of ‘Roku’

2024 Repress

Micron Audio embodies a hub for a modern and futuristic electro sound, led by its master DJ Stingray 313. The imprint beckons intense electronic sounds, roughened textures and geometries that speak to a guiding principle of making technological advancement accessible to the people. These technoid adventures of sci-fi sound design and arrays of unabating rhythm, draw its listeners through warped microworlds and wicked contortions. Behind the sounds, it exists as a display of artistic responsibility, making statements and providing solutions from socio-political commentaries.? The first Micron Audio physical release emerged in 2011, with DJ Stingray 313's Electronic Countermeasures EP, following a digital-only compilation that is no longer available. Tracks from the Micron Audio hemisphere have featured in several compilation records released by the likes of Rush Hour and Creme Organization, including Stringray's Urban Tribe project. It represents a crisply defiant and firmly electronic approach, drawing in the infective indicators of video games. Relaunching afresh in 2021, Micron Audio is working with new artists and is stepping not only further into the future but into the foreground, where its clear scientific intention and political attitude is entrenched through top-shelf sound design and pumping rhythms.

Coming off a successful transatlantic exchange, Brian Kage and his Michigander label keep the momentum, and the collaborative spirit, moving with an EP that hits closer to home. For any Detroit artist, working with Delano Smith would be on the bucket list, as one of the city's original, more influential DJs — before the D developed any of its "waves" — who would come into his own as a producer later to, once again, help mold the Techno City's sound. Make no mistakes about it, this tastemaker had a ripple effect back before techno even had a name, when it was just "progressive" music and mixing. The thing is, the feeling of admiration and respect here is mutual, from the moment Smith first stumbled across one of Kage's records and had to know who was making these sounds. This meeting of the minds happened organically and timely, with Keep 'em Movin’ as the result.

Opening the release is the title track, a driving number with pulsating synth tones and deep, call and response piano stabs. The ever so slightly pitched down vocals are modern and effortlessly cool, a style that resonates with today's dancefloors, but done tastefully, and with lyrical content that sets the record straight about what it really means to represent Detroit.

"D Spirit" takes an ancestral turn. This is spaced-out Detroit techno meets afro deep at its finest. Forward moving keys are bathed in deep, celestial pads as shuffling hats accented by light hand percussion beckon the body to move. Lively marimbas cut through the hypnotic undertones and awaken the senses with soulful appeal. A fluid bassline rumbles beneath while baroque pianos add tension and heighten the atmosphere.

The final track rounds the release out with an exclamation mark. For lovers of Delano Smith's infamous remix of "A

A hugely in demand repress (the original vinyl pressing on North Country changes hands for hundreds of pounds..) now released on Shack’s newly created own label Shack Songs.

The Shack story is one of music’s greatest legends. It incorporates hardship, bereavement and chaotic misadventure, but above all it tells the tale of beautiful music triumphing over trouble and tragedy.

‘Here’s Tom with The Weather’ boasts a majestic and fresh form. These are magical songs, psychedelic folk songs of the finest Head vintage. Sleepy-eyed, wistful and mystical, yet crafted with a cunning and acute dexterity beyond just about anybody you can think of.

The two profoundly Liverpudlian brothers Mick and John Head have made several brilliant albums together , but none as quickly as ‘Here’s Tom…’ which was completed in seven weeks at Brynderwen Studios in North Wales along with drummer Iain Templeton (RIP) , bassist Guy Rigby and producer Jay Reynolds in 2003.

In the 80’s , the two brothers from the notorious Kensington estate in north Liverpool were singer and guitarist with The Pale Fountains , an effervescent pop group which imploded under the weight of two albums in 1986. The Heads returned in ‘88 as Shack and a debut album Zilch. In 1991 , Shack made ‘Waterpistol’ , an inspirational guitar jewel that would have proved just as influential as any British album in that era had the studio not burned down, taking the master tapes with it. Four more years passed , but by the time it was finally released on Marina it had developed ‘lost classic’ status.

The Heads battled on. They toured as their hero Arthur Lee (RIP) of Love’s backing band. In ‘97 , they created a new group called The Strands and recorded the delicate, dreamy masterpiece ‘The Magical World Of The Strands’ . They spent a long time making another classic ‘HMS Fable’ , and then decided that next time they wouldn’t take quite as long recording. Enter ‘Here’s Tom With The Weather’.

Showcasing John’s slow , shy emergence as a songwriter to challenge his brother (on the sparkling, heartbreaking ‘Miles Apart’ and ‘Carousel’ , and the spun-out ‘Kilburn High Road’ ) , toasting Mick’s newest confirmation as the most unrecognised genius of his or any other generation (the ode to his bro, ‘Byrds Turn To Stone’ , the mariachi horns that break open the slow folk fog of ‘Meant To Be’ , the two lullaby bookends ..and on , and on) .

“The journey we’ve had together has been beautifully turbulent”, laughs John. “But there’s times when we glide and we’re gliding forward now”

Mick agrees. “Making this album has been frantic, chaos, carnage, intense : the normal way with us. But it doesn’t sound like that. That’s all that matters. The story is what it is. But so are the songs and so are the records. Because we’re good.”

Nobody could disagree with that.

A hugely in demand repress (the original vinyl pressing on North Country changes hands for hundreds of pounds..) now released on Shack’s newly created own label Shack Songs.

The Shack story is one of music’s greatest legends. It incorporates hardship, bereavement and chaotic misadventure, but above all it tells the tale of beautiful music triumphing over trouble and tragedy.

‘Here’s Tom with The Weather’ boasts a majestic and fresh form. These are magical songs, psychedelic folk songs of the finest Head vintage. Sleepy-eyed, wistful and mystical, yet crafted with a cunning and acute dexterity beyond just about anybody you can think of.

The two profoundly Liverpudlian brothers Mick and John Head have made several brilliant albums together , but none as quickly as ‘Here’s Tom…’ which was completed in seven weeks at Brynderwen Studios in North Wales along with drummer Iain Templeton (RIP) , bassist Guy Rigby and producer Jay Reynolds in 2003.

In the 80’s , the two brothers from the notorious Kensington estate in north Liverpool were singer and guitarist with The Pale Fountains , an effervescent pop group which imploded under the weight of two albums in 1986. The Heads returned in ‘88 as Shack and a debut album Zilch. In 1991 , Shack made ‘Waterpistol’ , an inspirational guitar jewel that would have proved just as influential as any British album in that era had the studio not burned down, taking the master tapes with it. Four more years passed , but by the time it was finally released on Marina it had developed ‘lost classic’ status.

The Heads battled on. They toured as their hero Arthur Lee (RIP) of Love’s backing band. In ‘97 , they created a new group called The Strands and recorded the delicate, dreamy masterpiece ‘The Magical World Of The Strands’ . They spent a long time making another classic ‘HMS Fable’ , and then decided that next time they wouldn’t take quite as long recording. Enter ‘Here’s Tom With The Weather’.

Showcasing John’s slow , shy emergence as a songwriter to challenge his brother (on the sparkling, heartbreaking ‘Miles Apart’ and ‘Carousel’ , and the spun-out ‘Kilburn High Road’ ) , toasting Mick’s newest confirmation as the most unrecognised genius of his or any other generation (the ode to his bro, ‘Byrds Turn To Stone’ , the mariachi horns that break open the slow folk fog of ‘Meant To Be’ , the two lullaby bookends ..and on , and on) .

“The journey we’ve had together has been beautifully turbulent”, laughs John. “But there’s times when we glide and we’re gliding forward now”

Mick agrees. “Making this album has been frantic, chaos, carnage, intense : the normal way with us. But it doesn’t sound like that. That’s all that matters. The story is what it is. But so are the songs and so are the records. Because we’re good.”

Nobody could disagree with that.

For Quiet Town, her first album of new material in 12 years, Smith called on producer and musician Neilson Hubbard, alongside engineer Dylan Alldredge. Hubbard enlisted guitarists Will Kimbrough, Megan McCormick, and Juan Solorzano, bassist Lex Price, Danny Mitchell on keys and horns, and a host of acclaimed vocalists for the background vocals, including Maureen Murphy, Nickie Conley, Jodi Seyfried, Matraca Berg, Kate York, and Park Chisolm.

Smith’s talent for expressing the most human of vulnerabilities is on full display on the new album. Beyond the title track, other album highlights include “Jericho,” co-written with esteemed artist and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame songwriter Matraca Berg, which gives voice to anticipation of impending life changes of monumental import; “I’d Rather Be a Bridge,” a plea for compassion and connection; and “Farther Than We Should Have,” co-written with Natalie Hemby and K.S. Rhoads. The latter is a song about overcoming the deck stacked against kindred spirits who together trek through a difficult journey and find footing beyond beating the odds.

Incl. Andre Kronert Remix. Nice flowing deeper shades of tunes. All tracks are written, arranged and recorded by Marco Cassanelli and Deckard. Produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Beppe Deckard Massara at Deckards Studio. Artwork by Elena Romenkova. Photo by Niki Di Corrado

Rome’s very own Electro-Psych outfit, Big Mountain County, is set to release their third LP ‘Deep Drives’ on November 29th via Sister 9 Recordings. After unveiling their latest EP, ‘Klaus’, at the New Colossus Festival in New York and SXSW in Austin, the band took a year-long studio break, honing and redefining a distinctive sound that bridges primitive Garage Rock and Neopsychedelia with Electroclash, Kraut and Disco. Stay tuned for updates as we’ll reveal more details and the release date in the coming weeks. Big Mountain County was formed in Rome in 2013 after four southern boys, two from the slopes of Mount Etna and two from the Adriatic Coast, came together. They instantly bonded over their mutual love for The Stooges, MC5, The Velvet Underground, and Joe Spencer, leading to the release of a 7-inch record brimming with raw Garage Rock & Roll. This debut propelled them into an exciting tour across Eastern Europe, hitting countries such as Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. They soon moved beyond Garage Rock to immerse themselves in the European Neopsychedelic resurgence and spent the following years carving out a reputation in the vibrant continental live scene. They dropped two LPs—Breaking Sound (Gas Vintage Records, 2015) and Somewhere Else (Porto Records, 2020)—along with two live albums. After relentlessly touring across Europe and the UK and opening the Italian tour for the U.S. band Cloud Nothings in 2019, they finally hit the US in 2023, gracing six different venues at SXSW and sharing stages with Osees and Os Mutantes. By the time they returned to Italy, they had secured summer opening slots for the likes of Brian Jonestown Massacre and La Femme. That year’s EP ‘Klaus’ marked a bold new chapter, showcasing a thrilling shift, diving into a more dance-driven and electronic sound. Featuring collaborations with electronic psych producer and LEVITATION DJ in residence Al Lover, along with the distinguished Roman producer Hugo Sanchez, the making of ‘Klaus’ provided the band with a revitalizing spark, steering them into a new musical direction

First Word Records is proud to present 'Nothing Leaves The House - The Anthology'. A vinyl-only album of 16 hip hop instrumentals from Mr Thing, kidkanevil, Tall Black Guy & Eric Lau. This is a collection of a long-out-of print series of beats from four of the most revered beat-makers in the underground scene.

This double-vinyl collection features four brand new tracks specially created for this 10 year anniversary release. The concept behind this project was originally birthed on Record Store Day 2012. First Word label founder Gilla explains "as we dipped in and out of London's Soho record shops, kidkanevil mentioned to me that he wanted to mine Mr Thing's vast record collection for samples. An idea formed to invite a couple of other beatmakers to join him and to press the resulting beats onto vinyl.

Mr Thing enthusiastically agreed to the idea with one stipulation: they could sample what they wanted, but the records had to stay within the walls of his flat. We quickly enlisted Eric Lauand Tall Black Guy to complete the quartet and 'Nothing Leaves The House' was born." The release came to fruition and was released a decade ago, for Record Store Day in April 2014. The quartet met up once again shortly after in another London record shop, to work on a follow up project.

For this one, Mr Thing brought one record for each producer from his collection for them to sample. They reciprocated by picking a record from the racks in the shop for him to use. 'Thing Leaves The House' was then released in 2015. Completing the trilogy of releases, the crew were invited to the legendary John Peel Archive to dig for samples there. After trawling the legendary Peel Acres collection, the producers individually selected sound snippets to create new beats from; this time under the stipulation that 'Nothing Leaves The Archive'. This double 7" release again landed on Record Store Day, 2016. Gilla says "10 years on from the release of the first record, and almost 9 years to the day since we were at Peel Acres, we are now releasing the 4th and final volume.

Whilst Mr Thing is still in England, the other three have travelled far and wide. Eric Lau is now in China, Tall Black Guy has returned to the US and kidkanevil has moved to Berlin. Our indie label budget didn't extend to uniting everyone from the different continents, so instead Mr Thing uploaded a folder of tracks for the trio to work from. With the previous volumes now long sold out, we've added the original beats to this anthology and have moved up from a double 7" to a double 12" LP. One side for each producer; four tracks made across 10 years." 'Nothing Leaves The House - The Anthology' is released on double vinyl, on Black Friday, November 29th 2024.

All the music in the world is at your fingertips, and it's up to you to set the vibe_ So, what should we listen to? If you're having trouble deciding, turn on the radio. It's the perfect place to discover something new, or jam along to a tried-and-true station that'll never let you down.Tune In is due out 11/1/2024 via Chiefdom Records. The second of three installments in the Terrestrial Radio series, it's a carefully curated collection of instrumental fusion, designed to serve as the perfect radio mix for fans of jazz, hip hop, funk, soul, reggae and beyond. It's the latest release from Cincinnati based executive producer Doctor Bionic (Jason Grimez). As a DJ, producer, and former member of 90s rap group MOOD, Grimez' musical career revolves around hip hop. He's always preferred to sample songs from the late 60s and early 70s because of the authentic tone. "Growing up collecting and sampling records was an education, whether we realized it or not," he explained. Grimez records and produces music using analog gear to emulate the instrumentals that he's always loved as he works with some of the best musicians in the Cincinnati area to bring his ideas to life. Among others, Jonathan Luck Spaulding and Josh "Mojo" Cole made several appearances on guitar throughout the record. Every Doctor Bionic release is accompanied by a unique, thought-provoking album cover. For Tune In, Grimez worked with Refael Idan Suissa, a painter and digital artist based in Israel.Next time you're looking for some new instrumental tunes to set the tone, you can count on the growing catalog from Doctor Bionic. Tune In is available everywhere on 11/1/24.

8/10 FULL-PAGE LEAD REVIEW IN UNCUT: “TALENTED ARTISTS SUCH AS ALDOUS HARDING , DELANEY DAVIDSON, IVY ROSSITER AND MARLON WILLIAMS REPRESENT A FRESH COUNTRY-FOLK/AMERICANA MOVEMENT IN AND AROUND CHRISTCHURCH AND DUNEDIN. NADIA REID'S IMPECCABLE DEBUT WILL MAYBE SET A WIDER ORBIT IN MOTION.”
4/5 LEAD REVIEW IN MOJO: “INSPIRED DEBUT BY A YOUNG NEW ZEALAND SINGER-SONGWRITER YOU'LL FEEL YOU'VE KNOWN FOREVER. A WONDERFUL ALBUM"

SUNDAY TIMES DEBUT OF THE WEEK: "SHE RANKS ALONGSIDE LOW AND THE COWBOY JUNKIES FOR DELIVERING SLOW-BURN EMOTION"
"It has all that well-smoked wisdom, that mingling of strength and yearning that seems to charge the work of all my favourite female artists – Laura Marling, The Weather Station, Sharon Van Etten and Tift Merritt, to name but four. Reid is just 23, and since I am loathe to run that “old beyond her years” line, let us simply say that when I hear a young artist making an album as soulful and rich and self-possessed as Listen to Formation, Look for the Signs, I feel so thrilled not only for the existence of that record but for all the music they will make over all the years to come.” THE GUARDIAN PLAYLIST
6MUSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
A richness of voice; a depth of emotion; and wise beyond her years; with Listen To Formation, Look For the Signs, 23-year-old New Zealand native Nadia Reid has claimed her place as one of the country’s most evocative and profound young songwriters. Her music traces the sharp mountain peaks, azure coastline, and mirrored images of the land and sky that pinpoint her home country’s vast open landscapes.
Whether nerding about with friends, stunning audiences into silence with her spellbinding live shows or unwinding in the tranquillity of her favourite hometown spot overlooking Port Chalmers’ harbour through her large-rimmed spectacles, Nadia Reid has achieved a gloriously fresh and eloquent new folk sound. “I’ve been in New Zealand my whole life and guess at times I take for granted the serene beauty that I live so closely with,” she says of her music’s majestic affiliation with nature. Mapping out tales of change and loss, whilst drawing inspiration from reading, writing, the human condition, falling in and out of love, death, and birth - it all lends to a superbly balanced album that moves surreptitiously between sparse and fragile melancholia to beautifully brutal lyricism with a philosophical maturity that bellies her years.
Born in Auckland, Nadia’s acoustic roots stem from an upbringing in a musical household where attending folk clubs and festivals were regular occurrences on the family calendar. “I was lucky to witness a lot of live music and theatre performances because my mum was an actress. I was encouraged to learn piano and guitar, and attended a Steiner school where we spent a lot of time in nature, singing songs.” Before long Nadia was listening to The Be Good Tanyas with friend and fellow recording artist Aldous Harding, which spurred her chosen career path. “There was something spiritual about the Tanyas’ records - I vividly remember the goose-bump feelings up my arms, a true connection to the lyrics and vocals,” she recalls. “Aldous was the first person who told me I had a good voice and I thank her for that. I admire her as an artist and writer, and we like to keep up with what each other is up to.”
Creating her own enchanting wonderworld, each of Nadia’s songs explores the elements; truly organic, her vocals ebb, flow and soar but are always ignited with fire from the gut. Her lyrics clearly reference lush landscapes but equally reflect alienation provided by the surrounding Pacific Ocean and mortality of living in such close proximity to Mother Nature’s wrath, as experienced whilst living in Christchurch at the time of 2011’s devastating earthquake. “It shook the city to its core,” Nadia recalls. “I’m sure living through it has shaped my personality and writing. My first EP was recorded just months afterwards, it was a strange time. We were all quite fragile, but I was braver somehow.”
Boldly infusing folk with full flavour, Listen To Formation, Look For The Signs was produced by Ben Edwards, owner of Lyttelton Records in his Sitting Room studios with Nadia’s band consisting bassist Richie Pickard, guitarist Sam Taylor and percussionist Joe McCallum. Whilst 'Reaching Through’s rich but unhurried nature evokes She Hangs Brightly -era Mazzy Star and intricate nuances of Beth Orton are recalled on lead single ‘Call The Days’ which talks of moving to a new town and was the first song penned after Nadia moved from Christchurch to Wellington; spurred on by a “panic attack” and being “worried about making the right choices in life”. Elsewhere ‘Runway’ and ‘Some Are Lucky’ immediately channel Nadia’s love of TBGT’s Jolie Holland and appreciation for New Zealand’s Maori music by Maisey Rika and Anika Moa, plus the inspirational narratives of Kenyan-born Somali poet Warsan Shire.

'We are thrilled to be able to bring you Yara Asmar's first two cassette releases in a deluxe remastered double vinyl gatefold package featuring all new art and design from Yara herself.

Both albums were originally released on Hive Mind Records in 2022 and 2023 and received critical acclaim around the world':

“Melancholic drifts sound through the overcast skies of synth waltzes and accordion laments, infusing ageless melodies with a sense of falling backward through time. History is stitched through gilded aural silhouettes and elegiac drones. Asmar’s music is visceral. While electronics beckon beyond the sunrise stretched through a metallic shimmer, synth waltzes and accordion laments sticks with us while we remain lost in the hazy doldrums, always crawling forward tethered to our past lives. Highest recommendation.”
Brad Rose, Foxy Digitalis

"...these tracks are a cushion against reality. Asmar creates music that unfurls in evanescent bliss, an invitation to a safe space both isolated and welcoming."
Daryl Worthington, The Quietus

"...a set that transmutes the instrument’s droning tones into a sweep of introspective, breath-catching moments of beauty"
Eric Torres, Pitchfork Best Jazz & Experimental Albums of 2023

"The combination and contrast of highly familiar and highly alien elements give Asmar's music a quality not quite like anything else I can name. The way she channels found voices into her surreal mix of sounds is particularly striking."
Byron Coley, The Wire

The experimental project Pissoff was founded in the late 60s by multimedia-artist Eberhard Kranemann and some friends who studied together at the Düsseldorf Academy Of Fine Arts. The chaotic, loud and soundwise undisciplined band took part in various events at this location and other places. Due to the intense fluctuation of band-members the performances by Pissoff were characterized by continously changing participants and variations of the involved equipment: cello, violin, clarinet, tenor saxophone, flute, vocals, electric guitar, electric bass guitar, organ and drums. In 1968 Pissoff performed together with Joseph Beuys who was professor of sculpture at the Art Academy at that time. During this incomparable audiovisual interaction Joseph Beuys staged his Hndaktion: in concentrated manner he moved his hands in front of his head while listening and visually reacting to the very loud and abstract staccato-rhythms by Pissoff. The event was recorded by Eberhard Kranemann on a Telefunken mono-tape-recorder and remains the only existing audio-material by Pissoff until today. On that night Eberhard played cello, clarinet and tenor saxophone while the other members added sounds by electric guitar, electric bass and drums. Earliest musical experimentations that can be defined as the origins of the band Kraftwerk already started in 1967 by Eberhard Kranemann and Florian Schneider-Esleben. Sometimes Kranemann invited Florian Schneider-Esleben to join Pissoff.

Maryland Death/Sludge reapers, YATRA, were born in 2018. The trio of Dana Helmuth on guitar and vocals, Maria Geisbert on bass, and Sean Lafferty on drums came out incredibly heavy with their first full length Death Ritual (grimoire rec) in 2019. With much critical acclaim, and followed with extensive touring of America and Europe, including many festivals, they proved themselves to be a relentless live touring band. In 2020 YATRA followed with their second full length, the more aggressive and heavier sounding, Blood Of The Night, also greeted overwhelming positive press and touring to follow until covid restrictions began. Not ones to remain idle or take a pause, in spite of touring restrictions, YATRA used their time to write and record another 2020 album, All Is Lost, bringing in more elements of their death metal roots and drenched in blackened intensity. YATRA have signed with Prosthetic Records, and will release a new full length in summer 2022, to be followed with extensive touring of America and Europe, crushing as many stages and festivals as possible. YATRA’s intense live performance is not to be missed.

Miles Away are thrilled to present the first-ever 7-inch vinyl reissue of the modern-soul classic "Yes It's You" now backed with the original A-Side "We're Lovers Day & Night". Officially licensed from the Smiley estate and presented in brand new picture sleeve designed by the talented Jeremy Zombie.

Eugene Smiley had soul music running through his veins. His career began with The Mists (later to be known as The Visitors), who signed to Dakar Records in the late '60s. Under the mentorship of one Carl Davis, Eugene grew into a powerful musician, who would go on to tour with the likes Rufus Thomas, Bobby Womack, Al Green, the Stylistics, Eddy Kendricks and The Chi-lites.

Released in 1978, "Yes It's You" is a three-minute, up-tempo modern soul gem that draws from the decades Eugene spent spreading quality soul music performing across America, with some of the finest cats the soul music world has ever seen. A track that wouldn't have been out of place had it been found on the Brunswick catalogue.

Jonny Tobin is a Grammy and JUNO-nominated artist based in Vancouver. His sound resides in an alternate dimension between 90's video games and 60's Blue Note records, where fat synth funk grooves playfully collide with abstract jazzy undertones. To date, Tobin has released 5 original albums, making numerous official Spotify editorial playlists to the tune of over 10 million streams. As a live performer, recently Tobin headlined the 2023 Vancouver Jazz Festival and opened for notable acts like Adi Oasis, CARRTOONS and Braxton Cook. After the success of his 2019 vinyl debut "Sunrise" on Austin Boogie Crew Records, Tobin began work on Steppin' Out, his new and exceptional LP full of catchy modern funk songs. On this magnetic album executive produced by Austin Boogie Crew (ABC), the label connected Tobin with vocalists from all over. Featured collaborators include XL Middleton, Shiro Schwarz, Maya Killtron, The Vapor Caves, Rojai and Daniel David (FKA Trailer Limon), many of whom made previous appearances on ABC. Driven by Tobin's stellar production and synth wizardry, this project is a testament to the familial strength of the modern funk community in both good times and bad.

Hailing from the West side of St. Louis, Missouri, Mikahl Anthony’s sonic roots spread far across the global Alt-Soul / Hip-Hop scene. A highly soughtafter multidisciplinary artist (who has collaborated with the likes of Mick Jenkins, Chance The Rapper, Joey Purp, Smino and more), as well as being a founding member of Chicago’s THEMpeople collective, he now prepares to unveil his masterful full-length debut Muse via R&S Records.

Accompanied by several beautiful, self-directed film pieces, Muse is a record with storytelling at its core. Interspersed with commentary from a range of sources telling their stories to Mikhal, whilst collaboratively analysing their personal experiences, it speaks a candid and honest narrative, which reinforce the heartfelt lyrics within. With the project’s name anchored around a dual meaning acronym (1. Ms. Using sensual energy and 2. Making use of seclusion every day). The record is an audio version of docufilm, that creatively interprets the idea of self-therapy, an internal/interpersonal reflection of life experiences that serendipitously connect to Mikahl’s personal romantic relationships. Mikahl explains: ‘I wanted to use a unique style of songwriting, arrangement and filming with the intention of soundtracking my self-development/maturation process’.

On the project’s lasting impression on the listener, Mikahl elaborates ’The exploration of inner truth and vulnerability is key to the future of good music. I want this project to act as symbolism that highlights the mantra that honest approaches and authenticity still has the most value. I also want people to see how important the use of community is when you can connect them to your subject matter...I'd like my audience to observe and engage in their own self-reflections, approaches by way of listening or interacting with the story.’

Drifting to an elevated state of consciousness, Muse is a deeply intoxicating and engrossing listening experience from front to back. From the sliding, kaleidoscopic shadows of opening track ‘La Flare’, via the trepidation-laced atmosphere of ‘Polyamorous’ and the hazy, reverb drenched saxophone notes of LP closer ‘Eddie Kane’ - Mikahl channels moments of joy and pain, infused with spirit enriching instrumentation and gritty textures.

Visual stimuli play an integral role within Mikahl’s music. His songs represent transparency and openness dipped in funk. Layers of soft velvety vocals emerge from jazz harmonies, trap rhythms, and social commentary sourced from voiceovers/excerpts. His creations are the musical representation of documentary films. His art is imagery embodied.