quête:awa

Plaque is a young Bristol label which knows what’s what; always worth checking.
Tiny runs so look sharp.

"Founder of KUMP and Meth.O tapes, Lyon’s Marc-Étienne Guibert (AKA Gil.Barte) awakens his new Mert Seger moniker for a shadowy Plaque excursion. Nine slow burners strike from the murk with venomous precision."

Following the release of their universally acclaimed, Mercury and Ivor Novello Award Nominated fourth studio album ‘False Lankum’, which collected Album Of The Year honours from UNCUT magazine, The Guardian, Loud & Quiet, The Quietus, as well as very high rankings from MOJO, NPR, DIY, Crack, Songlines, Music OMH, The Line Of Best Fit, Louder Than War, The Skinny and numerous other media worldwide. Rough Trade Records are excited to announce the release of ‘Live in Dublin’ by Lankum. Recorded across three sold out nights at Dublin's Vicar Street, the album features Lankum performing songs from across their catalogue including ‘The Rocky Road to Dublin’, which up until now has never been officially released.

"It may surprise some that, after two decades of silent films, when Alam Ara broke the silence in 1931, it and every South Asian talkie that followed was what we in the West think of as a "musical." Music had been integral to the culture's staged drama going back to the Gupta Dynasty — sometime between the 4 th and 6 th Century CE. Since its inception, South Asian cinema drew heavily from Marathi, Parsi, and Bengali musical theatre and silent film screenings were often accompanied by live music to mimic a live staged experience.

When sound films arrived, actors with serious singing skills became the next wave of stars. Songs were performed live while shooting, with musicians hidden off-camera, to the side or sometimes even in trees. Playback singing — the practice of dubbing a real singer's voice over a lip-syncing actor — didn't become standard until the 1940s.

Thus, the biggest stars of the 1930s were also the greatest singers, with some, like Govindrao Tembe and Pankaj Mullick, excelling as both composers and vocalists. None, however, were more beloved than K.L. Saigal, whose emotional, untrained crooning captivated audiences across the subcontinent. Saigal's voice inspired a young Lata Mangeshkar, who vowed to become India's greatest filmi singer to win his heart. Sadly, Saigal grew increasingly addicted to alcohol, unable to perform without it, and passed away at age 42, seven months before the Partition. Lata never married.

This collection features some of the earliest songs from South Asian cinema, sourced from CDs and LPs found in Jackson Heights, Queens, Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn, Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, and Oak Tree Road in Iselin, New Jersey — areas home to vibrant immigrant communities. South Asian immigration to New York and New Jersey surged after the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which lifted non-European quotas. By the 1990s and 2000s, the region's Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi media outlets flourished, especially in Jackson Heights, where such stores outnumbered the total number of regular record shops throughout the five boroughs.

The nascent period of sound film featured a limited palette of musical styles, predominantly Marathi Bhagveet, like the Ghazal, but with greater flexibility of subject matter and rhythm, and Rabindra Sangeet, the approximately 2,000 songs and poems composed by Bengali Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. But there was some evolution as well, with the success of South Asian cinema's first woman composer, the classically trained Saraswati Devi, and the introduction of Western instruments including the piano and Hawaiian guitar.

While much of the music was dark and brooding, perhaps exemplified best by Devika Rani's interpretation of Saraswati Devi's "Udi Hawa Mein" from 1936's Achhut Kannya (Untouchable Maiden), there were moments of brightness, such as R.C. Boral's "Lachhmi Murat Daras Dikhaye" sung by Kanan Devi in Street Singer, an otherwise thoroughly depressing film from 1938 that cemented Devi's and co-star K.L. Saigal's superstardom.

This selection was chosen to emphasise a range of expressivity, instrumentation and style achieved even within the decade's relatively limited scope, setting the listener up for the relative explosion of possibility in the 1940s, to be covered in the next installment of this series."

Mr Bongo proudly presents, ‘AFIM’, the second solo album by one of Brazil’s most exciting new talents, Zé Ibarra. You may be familiar with the hypnotic, entrancing tones of Ibarra’s vocals through his work with the Latin Grammy award-winning, four-piece, Bala Desejo and the band Dônica. He has also toured with the musical titan, Milton Nascimento, performing guitar and vocals, which is quite the honour and a testament to Ibarra's craft. As a solo artist, he has performed headline solo shows in Japan, Portugal and the US, as well as recently completing a support tour with the great, Seu Jorge.

‘AFIM’ is comprised of eight tracks, featuring Zé’s own compositions as well as cover versions of tracks by contemporaries and friends, Sophia Chablau, Tom Veloso, and Dora Morelenbaum. It combines elements of MPB, jazz, pop and progressive rock in a bold, authoritative style. The album represents the intersection between different facets of the artist, from the stripped-down, intimate, guitar singer-songwriter, to dense arrangements with sweeping strings sections. Writing this album allowed Ibarra "to explore sides of myself that had not yet been organized in an album: a certain darkness, a more cinematic musicality, a desire for new soundscapes.

The album features the single, 'Transe', a song with an instantly comforting tone reminiscent of classic Brazilian songs of the past (think Caetano Veloso). It is built on a rhythmic guitar that supports dynamic sound layers, opening space for Ibarra's intense interpretation. Cinematic atmospheres that lend an air of mystery come courtesy of string arrangements by Jaques Morelenbaum.

His unique cover version of Sophia Chablau's 'Segredo' is equally compelling, taking Sophia's punky-indie original in a different direction and making it feel like his own. 'Essa Confusão', a song celebrating the intensity of love and co-written by Dora Morelenbaum, is steered into epic, 70's AOR, singer-songwriter territory with wind arrangements by Ibarra, Jorge Continentino and strings by Jaques Morelenbaum.

The album is the result of the collaboration of experienced musicians and long-time partners of Ibarra. Fellow Bala Desejo and Dônica member Lucas Nunes co-produced the album. The core band featured on the record consists of Lucas Nunes on organs, Alberto Continentino on bass, Daniel Conceição and Thomas Harres on drums and percussion, Rodrigo Pacato on additional percussion, Chico Lira on Fender Rhodes and Guilherme Lírio on guitar.

The overall feel of the record is archetypically quintessential without slipping into retro mode. It is a stunning album from one of the finest musicians of his generation. A true star of Brazil’s blooming contemporary scene.

We're thrilled to announce the release of "The Mackenzie - Classics EP 2", the long-awaited follow-up to the popular EP 1 everyone was excited about. This limited edition pressing comes on stunning smoked black-colored vinyl, with only 500 copies available worldwide. Housed in a deluxe threefold sleeve, this release is a true collector's item.

The Mackenzie name is legendary in the Belgian trance scene, and this EP brings together some of their most sought-after classics and overlooked masterpieces. Each track has been carefully remastered for 2025, breathing new life into these timeless anthems. This EP 2 is spanning over more than 2 decades of hit releases, amongst of them are "Falling In Love", "Walk Away", "All I Need" and "You Got To Get Up".

Expect rich melodies, mesmerizing builds, enchanting vocals, and that unmistakable 90s spirit that made "The Mackenzie" iconic in trance. This is not just the successor of EP 1 – it's the final chapter in a tribute to the golden era of Belgian quality trance music.

As Grammy nominee, remixer for Madonna, Moby, and the Chemical Brothers, and winner of various prestigious awards and hearts on dancefloors across the globe,
Welsh DJ Sasha hardly needs an introduction. In 1999 he released the double 12" EP Xpander containing four epic progressive trance tunes each clocking in at over 10 minutes. Each track progresses slowly and takes you for a ride across numerous tense build-ups and intense releases without ever letting up Xpander EP is available as a limited edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on crystal clear vinyl and includes printed inner sleeves.

Tensal is the solo project of Héctor Sandoval, also known as half of Exium and Komatssu. Since its creation in 2014,
Tensal has become the channel for his most personal vision of Techno, blending diverse rhythms and textures with a
powerful and distinctive identity. Alongside his own imprint Tensal Ltd, he has released on some of the scene’s most influential labels, including Mord, Modularz, Perc Trax, Blueprint, Arcing Seas, PoleGroup, Float, Kynant, KR3, A.R.T.S,
Warm Up and Soma, where he delivered his first LP in 2018.

He has remixed artists such as Slam, Electric Indigo, Anthony Linell, Mike Parker, Shed, Pangaea and Shifted, while his
tracks are championed by leading DJs like Jeff Mills, Richie Hawtin, Marcel Dettmann, Ben Klock, Ellen Allien, Laurent Garnier and DVS1. His DJ sets, built largely from his own productions, have taken him to more than 60 countries
worldwide, with performances at iconic clubs and festivals including Berghain, Tresor, Awakenings and Fabrik.

Beyond Tensal, Sandoval explores different frontiers of electronic music: with Juan Rico (Reeko) he formed Komando Terrorismo Sonico (K.T.S.), releasing the album Insurrección in 2021; in 2022 he launched Syndromania on Oaks
Records, a vinyl-only project fusing Techno with Trance, EBM, Electro and Acid. In 2023 he joined BPitch Control,
releasing several EPs and performing at the label’s We Are Not Alone events, while in late 2024 he debuted on Blueprint
Records with Highland Landscapes, a collaboration with Vince Watson (Amorphic), followed by a joint EP on Mord in
2025.

Ob vor der Kamera, am Mikrofon oder jetzt im Musikstudio - Marleen Lohse beweist erneut ihr kreatives Gespür und ihre Vielseitigkeit. Bekannt ist sie aus erfolgreichen TV-Produktionen wie "Nord bei Nordwest", "Unsere wunderbaren Jahre", "Katakomben" oder Kinofilmen wie "Cleo", "La Palma" und "Happy Burnout". Nun zeigt sie eine neue Facette ihres Talents - als Musikerin. Mit "Wide Awake" veröffentlicht sie ihr erstes Album auf ihrem eigenen Label Amore Mio - ein Werk voller Gefühl, Tiefe und musikalischer Handschrift. Die Songs bewegen sich zwischen introspektivem Indie und melodischem Pop, getragen von einer warmen, atmosphärischen Klangwelt. Gemeinsam mit Andi Fins (u.a. Cäthe, Moritz Krämer) entstanden Texte und Melodien, die berühren und im Ohr bleiben. Für den Sound sorgte ein erfahrenes Team: Hanno Stick (Judith Holofernes) am Schlagzeug, Julius Hartog (Andreas Bourani) und Tim Neuhaus (Clueso, Glen Hansard) an den Gitarren. Henrik Menzel (Udo Lindenberg, Yvonne Catterfeld) verlieh dem Album durch Co-Produktion, Mix und Mastering seinen finalen Glanz. "Wide Awake" ist ein musikalisches Statement - ehrlich, emotional und eigenständig. Für alle, die Musik mit Charakter und Seele lieben.

Einem US-Metalfan die Band Griffin zu erklären hieße Eulen nach Athen tragen. Während das Debüt noch traditionellen Heavy Metal in Reinkultur bietet, tendierte die Gruppe um den außergewöhnlichen Sänger William McKay in Richtung Speed- und Thrash Metal, aber ohne dabei ihre Trademarks einzubüßen. „Protectors Of The Lair“ erschien 1986 bei Steamhammer/SPV. Musikalisch war man am Puls der Zeit, doch der Stil kann auch ebenso als kauzig und individuell bezeichnet werden. Das größte Manko war allerdings immer der dünne Sound, der sich fast nur in den Mitten und Höhen abspielte. Dies wurde nun gleich doppelt behoben!

Es ergab sich das seltene Glück, dass die originalen 24-Spur-Bänder noch vorlagen und nach einigen Reparaturen überspielt werden konnten. Somit war nicht nur ein Remaster möglich, sondern ein Remix, der von Neudi 2020 angefertigt wurde und nun die LP 1 füllt. Die zweite Scheibe beinhaltet den Original Mix von 1986, allerdings remastert von Patrick Engel (Metal Blade, High Roller, etc.).

Hammers Rule gelten als Kultgruppe des US-Metal, deren LP „Show No Mercy“ und EP „After The Bomb“ (1984/1985) heute gesuchte Sammlerobjekte sind. Man wollte sich vom Härtegrad nicht festlegen und decken dadurch ein enorm breites Spektrum des US-Metal ab. Während die ersten vier Tracks zwischen Epic-, Heavy- und Speed Metal liegen (ebenso die beiden EP-Tracks „Kamikaze“ und „Stop The World“), war die B-Seite der Original-LP etwas zugänglicher und passt auch gut zum hohen Haarsprayverbrauch der Achtziger. Doch auch diese Stücke stecken voller Energie und Spielwitz. Einer der Gründe ist die unfassbar gute Rhythmussektion aus Drummer Chuck Hohn und Bassist Shaun Henley.

Die beiden Musiker operierten auf einem Niveau wie Steve Harris und Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden). Zudem ersetzt der Bass durch das kräftige Spiel und die Präsenz im Mix auf beeindruckende Weise eine zweite Gitarre. Das Album und auch die EP wurden weitestgehend live im Studio aufgenommen. Golden Core war das erste Label, bei dem die verbleibenden Bandmitglieder einer Wiederveröffentlichung zugestimmt haben. Die Golden Core LP enthält die EP-Tracks als 7“ Single.

Legendry haben 2020 eine spannende EP mit drei Coverversionen (u.a. „Metal“ von Manilla Road) und einem neuen, eigenen Song (das titelgebende „Heavy Metal Adventure“) eingespielt, die auch optisch ins Konzept der drei Vorgänger passt. Wer auf Epic Metal steht kommt um „Heavy Metal Adventure“ nicht herum!

How To Save A Life, the debut studio album from Grammy-nominated pop-rock band, The Fray has been reissued on vinyl, featuring hit songs, “How To Save A Life,” and “Over My Head (Cable Car).” The album held the title for best-selling digital album of all time until 2010, selling over 4 million copies. The album continues to find popularity among new and long-time fans alike. A x12 trk Yellow LP Vinyl. Marketing.

" Goldie presents Rufige Kru "Alpha Omega" album.
" Rufige Kru was Goldie's collective with around him no fix members and including various drum & bass producers.
" This is the comeback & first new album of Goldie's iconic alias Rufige Kru since 2009's "Memoirs of an afterlife".
" This new album 'Alpha Omega' produced with James Davidson (Subjective)
" Rufige Kru now also features longtime collaborator Submotive alongside Goldie.
" First track collaboration with Casisdead (Best UK Hip Hope artist at Brit Awards 2024) announced & released February 26. Video for track featuring both artists.
" Goldie touring Europe & US to support album as DJ and with live band : US DJ tour in May , teaser (before the album release) dates in the UK & US + summer festivals in Europe
" 2025 will also mark 30 years of the album "Timeless" .

Ramirez returns with THA PLAYA$ MANUAL II, the long-awaited sequel to his cult classic that helped solidify his place as one of underground rap’s most distinctive voices. Steeped in Southern-fried funk, Bay Area swagger, and Memphis-style menace, this new chapter finds Ramirez sharper, smoother, and more seasoned—delivering game like a streetwise sage with a gold grill grin.

Where the original Playa$ Manual was gritty and raw, THA PLAYA$ MANUAL II sounds like a player who's leveled up. The beats knock harder, the flows glide slicker, and the game is deeper. Ramirez weaves tales of betrayal, come-ups, late-night drives, and cold-hearted reality with the same charismatic cool that made him a standout in the $uicideboy$-adjacent G59 movement—but this time with a more refined, cinematic approach.

From trunk-rattling bangers to syrupy smooth cuts that soundtrack late-night escapades, THA PLAYA$ MANUAL II feels like a ride through Ramirez’s world with tinted windows up and the bass on max. It’s a record for the hustlers, the heartbreakers, the loners, and the legends in the making.

This is more than a sequel—it’s a statement: the playa’s still active, and the manual’s been updated.

The Lemonheads tease new material with this super limited 12" single. Rekindling the near-perfect pop for which they're famed, the single focuses on the light and dark balance of their impending new album Love Chant that will be released on Fire Records this Fall. Beautifully ill-balanced, `Deep End' and `Sad Cinderella' traverse the highs and lows of life, perfectly illustrating Evan Dando's esoteric musical taste. `Deep End' is a churning riff monster with light-the-blue-touch-paper guitar breaks by J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr, a compulsive fist-in-the-air piece of timeless punk pop, the perfect soundtrack for bumming a cigarette. Co-written with Australian sparring partner Tom Morgan of Smudge, featuring J. Mascis and Juliana Hatfield! Meanwhile, the exclusive flipside is straight out of the Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris songbook; a cover of the late, great Townes Van Zandt's `Sad Cinderella', it's a song for the romantics, a tearjerker that could have made its way onto Neil Young's `Harvest', or any aching George Jones opus; filled with regret and remorse, it's a beautifully brittle duet between Evan and Erin Rae. So, two slices of the born-again Lemonheads - a mature phoenix rising from the ashes of this legendary band who've been away way too long.

Comes with DL card, wrapped in shrink + a sticker. EN/JP liner notes. ** High grade experimental computer music that deserves a check - tip! **

The first LP release to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the release and to honor the late composer.

This collection, featuring seven pieces from 2011 to 2015, celebrates Noah Creshevsky's 70th year with a fittingly life-affirming and masterful verve. An award-winning composer who has studied with Nadia Boulanger and Luciano Berio, he began composing electronic music in 1971, using the power of circuitry, tape and then digital technology to create a "hyperreal" musical world in which recordings of human performers, both vocalists and instrumentalists, are juxtaposed and recombined in compositions which span eras, cultures and genres. His use of expanded musical palettes arises from an aesthetic of inclusion, guided by an open spirit and an expansive musical sense. The combination of the emotional power of human performances with the precision of computers create real-beyond-real super-performances of surprising control and virtuosity, resulting in a hypothetical and yet very real music, full of drama, humor, and tenderness. This album, Creshevsky's second release on EM, following the 2004 "Tape Music" compilation, gives ample evidence of both his mastery of digital technology and his profound, empathetic musical instincts. His ability to use the computer to highlight the gifts of human performers is displayed on every track, including a piece which focuses on Japanese vocalist Tomomi Adachi.

Auf "Describe" lernt Hannah Jadagu auf die harte Tour, dass Entfernung relativ ist. Nachdem ihr Debütalbum "Aperture" aus dem Jahr 2023 von Medien wie der New York Times und NPR mit begeisterten Kritiken bedacht wurde, führte Jadagus aufblühende Karriere sie weg von ihrer aufblühenden Beziehung in New York. Auf ihrem expansiven zweiten Album setzt sie sich mit dieser Trennung auseinander, findet Verbindungen, die über das Physische hinausgehen, und stärkt dabei ihre eigene Stimme. "Describe" schwingt diese Spannung zwischen dem Wunsch nach Verbindung und dem Verlangen nach Freiraum mit. Wie schon auf ihrem Debütalbum sind die Texte von einer emotionalen Präzision geprägt, die nur aus gelebten Erfahrungen stammen kann. "I've been five thousand miles away", singt sie über hallende Hi-Hats in "More" - "Why does three thousand feel like more?" Aber diese Distanz hat Jadagu auch dazu gebracht, neue Dimensionen ihres Sounds zu erkunden. "Ich stehe total auf Künstler, die Analoges mit Modernem mischen können", sagt sie, und der Umzug nach Kalifornien für den Sommer gab ihr die Möglichkeit, neue Kollaborateure kennenzulernen und mit analogen Synthesizern und Drum Machines zu experimentieren. Während das warme Summen ihrer Gitarre ihr Hauptinstrument für "Aperture" war, begann sie zu spüren, dass ihre Muskelgedächtnis sie zurückhielt. "Es war befreiend, an einem Synthesizer sitzen und eine Note spielen zu können, während ich meine Stimme erkundete", sagte sie. "Das empfand ich als etwas befreiender als das Spielen auf einer Gitarre." In Zusammenarbeit mit dem Produzenten Sora Lopez in seinem Studio in Altadena und aus der Ferne mit dem Co-Produzenten und Kollaborateur von ,Aperture", Max Baby, aus Paris, schuf Jadagu einen Sound für "Describe", der unverkennbar ihr eigener ist und sich völlig von den verzerrten Gitarrenmelodien ihres Debüts unterscheidet. Ein Großteil von "Describe" handelt jedoch von dem, was ungesagt bleibt: ,In diesem Album versuche ich vor allem, Ideen auszudrücken, die nicht immer so konkret sind", sagte Jadagu. ,Es ist einfach ein Fluss von Dingen, die ich fühle, durchlebe und ausdrücke." Passenderweise endet "Describe" mit "Bergamont", einem Song, in dem Jadagu einige ihrer bisher ehrlichsten Texte zu einem vielschichtigen Synthesizer-Sound singt, der die Anspannung und Entspannung eines langen, reinigenden Atemzugs nachahmt. "I hope you find something true to you ", singt sie. Auf "Describe" sucht Jadagu nach Worten, um die Wahrheit zu beschreiben, nach ihren eigenen Vorstellungen, und genießt die Ungewissheit dieser Reise.

Limited edition DARK TEAL vinyl 1000 copies worldwide. Remastered by Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering Service. Originally released as a 6-song ep in 1983 vinyl reissue includes 8 bonus tracks. "The long- awaited NAKED RAYGUN EP has finally been released, and musically it's a beauty. The songwriting is extremely imaginative, the vocals are unbelievably catchy, and the unique fuzzed-out guitar work sounds wonderful." - MaximumRockNRoll, October/November 1983 - // Naked Raygun were an extraordinary staple in the Chicago music scene - beginning in the early 80's and continuing until their quiet demise in the early 90's. Their music showed the world that punk rockers could play and be really good at it. Founded in Chicago in 1980, by Marco Pezzati, Jeff Pezzati and Santiago Durango, Naked Raygun released six albums during their eleven year career that would change the sound of punk rock indefinitely. The band is widely recognized as being one of the most influential punk bands of the 80's. Their anthemic style incorporated politics in a uniquely accessible way, melding pop and hardcore into one cohesive sound, that would later be dubbed, "The Chicago Sound". Shortly after their first release, Basement Screams, Durango left to join Big Black permanently, and was replaced by John Haggerty, whose unique style of buzzsaw guitar would define Raygun's sound for their next four albums. Additionally, Pierre Kezdy replaced Camilo Gonzalez and Eric Spicer took over drums for Jim Colao. In 1990, Haggerty left the band to start Pegboy. Bill Stephens joined the band for their final studio release entitled, Raygun...Naked Raygun.

Limited edition BROWN & BLACK SWIRL vinyl 1000 copies worldwide. Remastered by Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering Service. Originally released in 1989 vinyl reissue includes 2 bonus tracks. "...one of the best examples of melodic hardcore just a step away from emo. The album is excellently played and is full of breathtaking anthems that, from time to time, even wink at metal soundscapes." - Debaser - // Naked Raygun were an extraordinary staple in the Chicago music scene - beginning in the early 80's and continuing until their quiet demise in the early 90's. Their music showed the world that punk rockers could play and be really good at it. Founded in Chicago in 1980, by Marco Pezzati, Jeff Pezzati and Santiago Durango, Naked Raygun released six albums during their eleven year career that would change the sound of punk rock indefinitely. The band is widely recognized as being one of the most influential punk bands of the 80's. Their anthemic style incorporated politics in a uniquely accessible way, melding pop and hardcore into one cohesive sound, that would later be dubbed, "The Chicago Sound". Shortly after their first release, Basement Screams, Durango left to join Big Black permanently, and was replaced by John Haggerty, whose unique style of buzzsaw guitar would define Raygun's sound for their next four albums. Additionally, Pierre Kezdy replaced Camilo Gonzalez and Eric Spicer took over drums for Jim Colao. In 1990, Haggerty left the band to start Pegboy. Bill Stephens joined the band for their final studio release entitled, Raygun...Naked Raygun.

Reissue von Weezers Erfolgsalbum "Hurley" (2010) zum 15-jährigen Jubiläum. Produziert vom sechsfachen Grammy-Sieger Shawn Everett (The Killers, Beck, The War On Drugs, Adele, Julian Casablancas), erreichte es weltweit die Charts (Top10 USA, Top50 UK, Top75 DE). Opener und Hitsingle zugleich ist der Track "Memories".

The Spice of Life, released in November 1969, stands as Marlena Shaw's second--and final--studio album for Cadet Records, produced and arranged by the renowned Richard Evans and Charles Stepney. From the opening, Shaw's voice--both playful and powerful--cuts through the lush yet tight-knit arrangements, weaving together a vibrant tapestry of soul, proto-funk, jazz, gospel, and blues. The album features two defining classics: her deeply resonant original of 'Woman of the Ghetto' and a signature take on Ashford & Simpson's 'California Soul', both staples in sampling culture (you'll probably find that you're more familiar with Shaw's material than you thought.) Evans and Stepney's arrangements are far from mere support--they're panoramic and inventive. You'll hear kalimba flourishes, psych-tinged guitar accents, and bongo-fueled organ textures that elevate each track, keeping the atmosphere rich but never overwhelming. Moments like the Bacharach-styled 'Looking Through the Eyes of Love' or the dramatic flair of 'Stormy Monday' showcase their widescreen sensibility and Shaw's versatility. Beneath its musical elegance, "The Spice of Life" carries a weighty current of social commentary. Tracks such as 'Woman of the Ghetto' and the succinct, fierce 'Liberation Conversation' bring political and feminist themes into a soulful, expressive framework--adding unexpected depth to the sophisticated sonic palette. This album offers an immersive journey through soul-jazz mastery, one that rewarded listeners with sampling gold for decades to come. Reissue on 180g vinyl.

Irish techno producer, Kerrie, returns to Tresor Records on the 24th of October 2025 with her second EP for the label. Entitled Echoes Of The Live Wire, this collection captures the beauty and essence of live performance; a moment in time never to be repeated.
This fixing of time is also given a different meaning as the EP explores the ways in which intense moments in our lives, both joyful and painful, are crystallised into memory, both beautiful and haunting, lingering long after they've passed.
Layered meanings are employed throughout as Kerrie explores this idea: Live Wire draws connections between circuit boards and the human nervous system, whilst also toying with multiple meanings of the word “live”.
Echoes Of channels classic Detroit techno influences, resonating with the distant hum of memories that refuse to fade, while Moment To Memory is a beatless, floating piece which slowly builds to an ecstatic crescendo.
Digital bonus tracks Recircuit and Reclaim add further depth to the core metaphor: the former a driving, minimal yet building techno work-out, and the latter a cathartic and emotionally open track that delivers intensity with vulnerability.
Echoes Of The Live Wire reflects on memory as a complex, dual-sided force where joy and pain coexist with equal weight. Her creative process becomes a form of meditation and emotional processing, using machines to process, reflect, and let go. The result is a body of work that loops back on itself, telling a story of fleeting moments and their lasting emotional imprints.

The anticipation is there in Elizabeth Stokes’ solo guitar riff under the opening lines of “I’m Not Getting Excited”: a frenetic, driving force daring a packed Auckland Town Hall to do exactly the opposite of what the track title suggests.

As the opener of The Beths’ Auckland, New Zealand, 2020 expands to include the full band, the crowd screeches and bellows. It’s a collective exhalation, in one of the few countries where live music is still possible.

The album title, and film of the same name, deliberately include the date and location, lead guitarist Jonathan Pearce says. “That’s the sensational part of what we actually did.” In a mid-pandemic world, playing to a heaving, enraptured home crowd feels miraculous.

In March 2020, everything seemed on track for another huge year for The Beths. Home after an 18-month northern hemisphere tour, they had just finished recording sophomore album Jump Rope Gazers and were primed for more extensive touring. But within days, New Zealand’s lockdown split the band between three separate houses. All touring was cancelled.

“It was existentially bad,” Stokes says. As well as worrying about economic survival, they lost something crucial to the band’s identity: live performance. “It's a huge part of how we see ourselves... What does it mean, if we can't play live?”

The band found an outlet through live-streaming, returning to the do-it-yourself mentality of their early days to connect with a global audience. The album and film have their genesis in that urge to share the now-rare experience of a live show, as widely as possible.

The fuzzy-round-the-edges live-streams pointed the way aesthetically. Native birds, wonkily crafted by the band from tissue paper and wire, festoon the venue’s cavernous ceiling while house plants soften and disguise the imposing pipes of an organ. The presence of the film crew isn’t disguised: much of the camerawork is handheld; full of fast zooms and pans.

With much of the material still fresh, the band was less focused on re-invention than playing “a good, fast rock show”, Pearce says. The tempo is up on crowd favourites “Whatever” and “Future Me Hates Me” (released as a live single on its third anniversary) as both band and audience feed off the mutual energy in the room.

Certain songs have taken on special resonance post-Covid. Pearce has found “Out Of Sight”, a tender rumination on long-distance relationships, hits particularly hard with live audiences.

Album closer “River Run” visibly brings Stokes to tears as a mix of achievement and relief kicks in. “You can finally relax at that point … You play the last note, breathe out a sigh and look up - and you’re in a giant room full of people happy and smiling.”

Los Angeles-based duo LUCKYANDLOVE are back with their third album, evoking a new sense of art school originality, following their critically acclaimed “Transitions” album. The duo defines 'Humaura' as the atmosphere that emanates from the feelings of the human spirit void of technological control.

Blending raw analog synth sounds with driving punctuated percussion and punchy analogue bass, LUCKYANDLOVE’s music is shaped by the embers of Siouxsie and The Banshees and Bauhaus, resonant spectres carry over from synth-laden galaxies, where the needle hits the vinyl groove and Doc Martens marched to basement dance floors.

LUCKYANDLOVE is the raw sonic experiment of Loren Luck and April Love, whose music transcends genres. Their live analogue synth beats, Moog instrumentation and beautiful, harmonic vocals trigger an immediate download of fuzzy sunset synthgaze, blue-black neon darkwave, and tigerprint electro punk.

“‘Humaura’ is an action-packed, cinematic, entertaining and soulful electro-dance record full of fresh air and wide-open roads where there is more freedom to party, to be in nature, and to be our wild selves,” says April Love.

Fusing together pulsating molten kicks, abrasive fuzz-laden analog synths and sensual vocals, the anti-tech angst anthem ‘I Am Human’ is a call to take back our lives, underlining the need to reconnect with being Human before it’s too late. ‘Lonely at Night’ is a "last call" bar track about the desperate, frantic desire for human connection, building from a haunting sense of isolation to a fast-paced, climactic reunion with a crush. Elsewhere, this album features enchanting lyrics rooted in emotions from melancholy and sorrowful glom to a state of blissful trance.

This album was recorded, mixed and mastered for digital release by Grammy award-winning engineer Be Hussey (Modern English, Twin Tribes, Boy Harsher) at Balboa Studio and Catwater for the digital music, and mastered for vinyl and lathe-cut by Grammy-nominated engineer Nicholas Townsend (Weezer, Grimes) at Townsend Mastering.

Their 'Lucky + Love' and 'Transitions' albums having earning them a global fan following, US and UK tours, multiple tracks featured in the indie hit film 'Tiger Within' (Ed Asner's final performance), and wide acclaim, noting their “soulful, synthesized sound" (LA Weekly), “spectral synths and dazed-dreamy feeling” (Big Takeover Magazine), not to mention their "uncompromising and inventive sonic experiment” (The Spill Magazine) and sound that “oscillates between the asphalt synth streets & interstellar outer realms” (Impose Magazine).

LUCKYANDLOVE’s visceral, dark electro-pop appeal continues to stretch through time and space. Praise for the album’s lead track ‘I am Human’ have poured in from over a dozen countries. ‘Humaura’ promises to cement the duo’s reputation as one of America’s most vivacious electronic / synthwave acts, positioning them firmly within the lineage of artists like Phantogram, Ladytron, The Soft Moon, Twin Tribes and ACTORS.


‘Humaura’ Press:

“...In contrast to its synth-laden darkwave and electropunk sound, the song presents lyrical themes of championing the human spirit and emotions over the technological void" ~ Regen Magazine

“Moog textures and distorted synth tones weaving together like electric currents. An industrial edge that carries a dreamy undercurrent, nodding to darkwave, punk rock and post-punk influences without sounding dated" ~ Myth of Rock

"Every second and note is a meld of lava-esque incitement and beguiling melodic fixation and a breath to unpredictability and stirring fuzz hued uniqueness… a thrilling encounter" ~ The Ringmaster Review

"Layers fall into place and give rise to soaring vocals. The beautiful timbre of her voice sits over the landscapes of sound and reveal poignant lines that hit home." ~ Sound Read Six

Villain of the Story sind zurück... Mit „Convergence: Two Minds In One“ präsentiert die Band ihr bislang persönlichstes, künstlerischtes und kompromisslosestes Werk. Das Album erscheint am 26. September und markiert ein neues, kraftvolles Kapitel: Eine Wiederauferstehung voll emotionaler Tiefe, gesanglicher Entwicklung und einer Geschichte, die den Breakdowns an Intensität nichts nachlässt. Die Platte steht sinnbildlich an einem Wendepunkt; zwischen Licht und Dunkelheit, Heilung und Zerstörung. Mit dem Einstieg des neuen Sängers Cody Crook meldet sich Villain of the Story eindrucksvoll zurück und liefert ein Album ab, das messerscharfen Metalcore, mitreißende Melodien und schonungslos ehrliches Storytelling vereint, auf eine Art, wie es nur wenige Bands wagen. Klanglich geht die Band dabei so weit wie nie zuvor, jeder Song ist emotional aufgeladen und bis ins Detail durchdacht. Doch „Convergence“ ist mehr als nur ein Album. Es ist eine Geschichte über Schmerz, Liebe, Verlust und den inneren Kampf. Erzählt wird das Leben eines Mannes, der von seinen Traumata und einem dämonischen Wesen – sei es real oder sinnbildlich – verfolgt wird, das sich von seinem Leid nährt. Eine Geschichte über Erlösung, die zur Tragödie wird: Liebe hat ihn einst gerettet, doch der Verlust droht alles zu zerstören. Im finalen Titeltrack „Two Minds In One“ kulminiert das Drama mit der alles entscheidenden Frage: Wer hat am Ende die Kontrolle? „Das übergeordnete Thema des Albums ist, dass nicht jede Geschichte ein Happy End hat. Am Ende haben wir die Wahl: Werden wir zu den schlimmsten Versionen unserer selbst, wenn alles zerfällt, oder nehmen wir den Schmerz an und versuchen, neu anzufangen?“ –Villain of the Story Egal ob du Villain of the Story von Anfang an verfolgst oder gerade erst entdeckst, „Convergence: Two Minds In One“ beweist, dass diese Band Veränderungen nicht nur überlebt, sondern daran wächst.

Recorded in Switzerland and mastered in Madrid, on Deságua Mello blends classical harp training with experimental techniques, creating a rich sonic journey that pushes the boundaries of the instrument. Brazilian harpist and composer Marina Mello presents Deságua, her solo debut released by the Peruvian label Buh Records. Based in Zurich, Mello has developed a unique and expressive approach to the harp, combining her classical training with a deep exploration of the instrument's sonic possibilities. Deságua is the result of this process: an intimate and expansive work that traverses sonic landscapes rich in contrast and texture. In the artist's own words, this album is a synthesis of material developed through her musical practice. The title refers to the Portuguese word that describes the moment a river flows into the sea. This concept guides the album's sonic narrative, in which each piece functions as a tributary flowing into an immersive and unexpected listening experience. From bittersweet whale-like sounds to destructive, unsettling, and shattering noise provocations, she explores, senses, and transcends the musical boundaries of her instrument. The album presents a wide range of sounds and styles, yet maintains a strong internal coherence through its technical and conceptual exploration of the harp. Mello performs on both lever and pedal harps, employing a range of non-traditional techniques: preparing the instrument with objects, using guitar effects pedals, detuning the strings, and using close mic recording to capture the subtlest sounds and the shifts that lie between them. The result is a collection of pieces that move between the melodic and the dissonant. Deságua does not shy away from repetition, noise, or raw textures. Instead, it embraces them fully, situating the album at the crossroads of contemporary music, improvisation, and electronic experimentation.

Heavyweight Dub album by Alien Trackers, a new project by cosmic trumpet specialist Pablo Volt (STA) and Jahtari space ship mechanic disrupt, landing right in the sweet spot between soulful Black Ark-warmth, digital Firehouse dancehall hitters and Jahtarian Dub psychedelics.

A lazy day at a beach, in a galaxy far, far away... Feel the sand between your tentacles and splash in the emerald acid sea. Snorkel with plasma squids and shock eels. Marvel at the double suns during the magic twilight cycle and bask in their glorious gamma rays. Gaze into the depths of the local Vortex...

Coming on alien-green vinyl, with hand drawn art by David 8000 Farris, additional bass & guitars from Dubsworth, and an all four thumbs up-rating, 'Dubs from Vortex Beach' is landing in your orbit right now!
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Amsterdam label Spectral Bounce recruits French club stalwart Chris Carrier for SPEC06 — Perfect Encounter. Active since 1994, the Parisian artist has released a wellspring of records on Robsoul, Slapfunk and his own Sound Carrier recordings, parallel to his longtime career as a DJ. Characterised by swirling delays and progressive arrangements, Perfect Encounter shows the producer exploring the mesmeric corners of tech house, ideally fitted to the Spectral Bounce aesthetic.

Opener “XLR8” starts with rolling toms that make way for fluid, modulated tones; each bar ebbs and flows to the sweeping synths set in motion by Carrier. Processed with a multitude of delays, rhythmic FX boldly swish above the drums, making for an immersive soundstage. Second track “Light Side” retains the billowing echoes but moves more nimbly, cutting things back to make for a spacious and breezy number. Its croaking synths hop around the stereo field, accompanied by tight percussion and a walking bassline.

The hallucinogenic “Third Moon” sees Carrier step further into trance-inducing territory. The track’s pulsing, syncopated bass note thrums underneath an arpeggio that evolves into a heady prismatic drone. While the chugging beat is ever-present, melodic refrains rise up and evaporate like wisps of vapour, alongside a vocal that fades away as quickly as it appears. The EP’s eponymous “Perfect Encounter” dials up the tension and closes the record with a mysterious touch. Speedy 16th note patterns propel the beat, creating shifty rhythms that rattle and hiss. A rasping, gelatinous synth and squeaky detuned tones resemble extraterrestrial signals — alien morse code for an enraptured dancefloor.

Credits:

Originally released in 2009, Céu"s Vagarosa is a landmark of 21st-century Brazilian musicc- a lush, genre-blurring journey that weaves samba, dub, psychedelic soul, and electronic textures into a sound cboth timeless and futuristic. Now reissued on vinyl, this essential album invites listeners to rediscover its warm, analog charm. From the opening track "Sobre o Amor e Seu Trabalho Silencioso," with its cavaquinho and vinyl crackle, to the dub-infused "Cangote," where organ swells and basslines intertwine, Vagarosa showcases Céu"s ability to blend traditional Brazilian rhythms with global influences. Her reinterpretation of Jorge Ben"s "Rosa Menina Rosa" transforms into a psychedelic swirl of reverb and phasing effects, maintaining its breezy essence. The album"s closing track,"Espaçonave," features rainforest sounds and multi-tracked vocals layered over fuzzed-out guitar, reminiscent of the art-pop sensibilities of artists like Natalia Lafourcade. Critically acclaimed upon release, Vagarosa reached No. 2 on the US Billboard World Music chart and was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Best Brazilian Contemporary Pop Album in 2010. Its innovative production and Céu"s ethereal vocals have cemented its status as a modern classic in Brazilian music. This vinyl reissue captures the album"s rich textures and sonic depth, offering both longtime fans and new listeners an opportunity to experience Vagarosa in its full analog glory. Remastered by Colorsounds Paris.

A record born of insurmountable joy and simultaneous profound loss; World Maker marks a time of great change for Psychonaut, both personally and musically, as the band burn away the philosophical narrative complexities of previous offerings with a searing, panoramic clarity that implores us to savour the beauty of the now as a means of leaving a legacy for the future. The traditional, three-piece line up of Belgian, psychedelic post-metal collective Psychonaut has long belied the compositional prowess, captivating narrative depth and crushing live presence of a band now operating at the forefront of forward-thinking, contemporary heavy music. Having sent a shockwave through the post-metal and prog scenes with their three times repressed Pelagic Records debut Unfold The God Man in 2020 before following it up with the transformative metaphysical complexities of 2022's Violate Consensus Reality, Psychonaut have played prestigious Belgian open-air festivals like Alcatraz, Rock Herk and Boomtown Festival as well as boutique events such as Soulcrusher, Roadburn Redux and A Colossal Weekend whilst sharing stages across Europe with the likes of Amenra, Brutus and Pelagic labelmates The Ocean and PG.Lost. The seed of World Maker took shape just as the campaign for Violate Consensus Reality came to a close, with the news that guitarist/vocalist Stefan De Graef was to become a father. This tilting of life's axis led De Graef, like most fathers-to-be, to re-assess what was really important. As such, the music he was inspired to write felt free of the band's previous philosophical and spiritual foundations and instead took the form of life lessons for his unborn son, a legacy of love in case something were ever to happen. This hopeful euphoria shines keenly throughout World Maker as an uncharacteristically optimistic warmth; from the reverberating Rhodes organ on the titular opening track and the meandering, free-jazz inspired guitar solo that introduces `Everything Else is Just The Weather' to elements of world music, electronica and the otherworldly voice of Dutch multi-instrumentalist and old friend Anthe Huybrechts (Anthe/Helion Creek) most notably on tracks like `Origins' which also features tabla, a pair of indian hand drums, as its propulsive heartbeat. Whilst Psychonaut's giant riffs, punishing polyrhythms and guttural vocal rage are more resplendent than ever, there is a wider dynamic spectrum to World Maker that sees the band proudly exploring their more delicate, intimate extremes as well as their most aggressive and abrasive. Not long after the birth of De Graef's son came the devastating news that both his own father and Psychonaut bassist/vocalist Thomas Michiels' father had been diagnosed with advanced cancers. Living day-to-day and torn between joy and grief, the band found themselves shedding the grand scope and world-shattering agenda of Violate Consensus Reality to focus on the here and now. Lead single `Endless Currents', the first full track on the album, explodes in a barrage of staccato guitar tapping but mellows to let the powerful, newly pared back lyrics ring out as a call to embrace the flow and follow joy. The song's final few words `Lead the way. / Soar. / Everlong.' double as both a greeting and a goodbye as the trio build their formidable post-metal might to a thunderous breaking point. Similarly, the pulsing, propellant `Stargazer', named so for De Graef's son being born in stargazer position, pairs delicate guitar motifs and folk-inflected optimism with huge and sprawling breakdowns as some of the band's most genre-pushing work to date; asking difficult but important questions of what happens next. It is `And You Came With Searing Light' though that most immediately exemplifies Psychonaut's redirected ambition on World Maker, as euphoria collides with blinding fury. The first track written for the album, `_Searing Light' is easily the most complex and initially wouldn't sound out of place on Violate Consensus Reality. Originally meant to be the new album's opening track; the decision to defer its impact, not to mention its compositional and dynamic gravity, speaks of a fundamental change to the band's very core. The words "Discover the world with wide eyes" recurring throughout speak as much to those having lost a part of their world as they do to those seeing it for the first time. Amidst such turbulent times, the band found strength and support within their Post-Metal community. The album was recorded and produced by the band alongside their longtime collaborator and close friend Chiaran Verheyden (Hippotraktor) with help and advice from Psychonaut's live engineer Victor, who will no doubt make this album sound just as awesome on stage. Even the artwork for World Maker was a family affair, being designed by close friend Sam Coussens of Belgian cosmic sludge metallers Pothamus. In the face of life's soaring highs and desolate lows, World Maker is direct and brave without sacrificing any of Psychonaut's raw power, creative innovation or inimitable musical depth. Where their previous full-length offerings have charted grand introspective courses through time and space, World Maker is breathtaking in its uncompromising clarity: a father singing to his newborn son as a son bids his own father farewell. FOR FANS OF Mastodon, Russian Circles, Tool, Gojira, The Ocean, Pelican, Hypno5e, Cult Of Luna, Amenra

This festive vinyl brings together the best of blues and R&B holiday spirit! From Sonny Boy Williamson's soulful "Sonny Boy's Christmas Blues" to Carla Thomas's sweetly nostalgic "Gee Whiz, It's Christmas," each track adds a unique flavour to the season. Detroit's wild Nathaniel Mayer shouts out in "Mr. Santa Claus (Bring Me My Baby)," while Chuck Berry gives us a laid-back "Merry Christmas Baby." The set captures raw teen R&B from the `50s with Cleveland's Hepsters and their catchy "Rock 'n Rollin' with Santa Claus," plus California's Youngsters spinning a cautionary tale with "Christmas in Jail." The classic Penguins bring warmth with "A Christmas Prayer," and Jimmy McCracklin's "You're the One" adds a bluesy, downbeat edge. Closing with the Ronettes' lush "Sleigh Ride," Big Dee Irwin and Little Eva's spirited duet on "The Christmas Song," and Babs Gonzales' jazzy New Year's ode "Watch Them Resolutions," this collection is the ultimate groove for a holiday celebration that lasts right through New Year's. Perfect for any record player, it's a swinging, soulful holiday feast!

Green vinyl. This festive vinyl brings together the best of blues and R&B holiday spirit! From Sonny Boy Williamson's soulful "Sonny Boy's Christmas Blues" to Carla Thomas's sweetly nostalgic "Gee Whiz, It's Christmas," each track adds a unique flavour to the season. Detroit's wild Nathaniel Mayer shouts out in "Mr. Santa Claus (Bring Me My Baby)," while Chuck Berry gives us a laid-back "Merry Christmas Baby." The set captures raw teen R&B from the `50s with Cleveland's Hepsters and their catchy "Rock 'n Rollin' with Santa Claus," plus California's Youngsters spinning a cautionary tale with "Christmas in Jail." The classic Penguins bring warmth with "A Christmas Prayer," and Jimmy McCracklin's "You're the One" adds a bluesy, downbeat edge. Closing with the Ronettes' lush "Sleigh Ride," Big Dee Irwin and Little Eva's spirited duet on "The Christmas Song," and Babs Gonzales' jazzy New Year's ode "Watch Them Resolutions," this collection is the ultimate groove for a holiday celebration that lasts right through New Year's. Perfect for any record player, it's a swinging, soulful holiday feast!

"Dubrovnik Blues" on Vinyl: The Australian Super-Band That Changed Everything! Attention all lovers of raw, unfiltered rock'n'roll! Bang! Records proudly presents the vinyl reissue of "Dubrovnik Blues", the celebrated debut LP from The Dubrovniks - the Australian super-group born straight from the beating heart of the country's punk underground. Formed in Sydney in 1986 (originally as The Adorable Ones), The Dubrovniks brought together true icons of the Aussie scene: James Baker, legendary drummer for Beasts of Bourbon, founding member of Hoodoo Gurus, and a driving force in The Scientists; Roddy Radalj, co-founder of Hoodoo Gurus and veteran of The Scientists; and Boris Sujdovic, who also played with both The Scientists and Beasts of Bourbon. Far from being "just another debut," Dubrovnik Blues was an instant statement of intent - a wild blend of garage rock grit, glam swagger, punk attitude and classic rock'n'roll hooks. Think The Troggs and T. Rex colliding with the spirit of the New York Dolls. Originally released in August 1989 on Timberyard Records, the album went on to earn a nomination for Best Independent Release at the ARIA Awards in 1990. Now, Bang! Records brings this cult gem back to life on vinyl - a must-have for collectors, vintage-sound purists, and anyone ready to relive (or discover) the raw, electric energy of late-80s Australian rock at its finest.

After much anticipation, Dave has returned to announce his eagerly awaited third album – The Boy Who Played the Harp to be released on October 24th

Widely regarded as the most exciting storyteller of his generation, the announcement marks the first taste of a new chapter from the multi award-winning musician behind the critically acclaimed No.1 albums Psychodrama and We’re All Alone in This Together.

The Boy Who Played the Harp will be the first release from Dave since 2023, when self-produced Central Cee collaboration ‘Sprinter’ broke the record for the longest running #1 rap record in UK chart history, succeeding his 2022 single ‘Starlight’ which set the record for longest-running No.1 solo UK track, and the first UK No.1 by a sole writer and producer in 8 years. The record-breaking release of We’re All Alone In This Together in July 2021 confirmed Dave as one of the most established artists of our time, with the biggest first week sales across all genres for

Der GRAMMY Award ausgezeichnete Alt-R&B-Künstler aus Toronto Daniel Caesar, kehrt mit seinem
vierten Studioalbum zurück.
Mit mehreren Milliarden Streams, gewährt Daniel Caesar einen unverfälschten Einblick in seine Gedankenwelt, während er sich mit Spiritualität, Erwachsensein und seinem eigenen Wachstum auseinandersetzt. In
den 12 Tracks des Albums thematisierst er, wie er die Beziehung zu seinem Vater aufgebaut hat. Daniel
hat sich als genreübergreifender, produktiver Künstler etabliert, der seiner Zeit voraus ist und kann nun
eine weitere außergewöhnliche Veröffentlichung vorweisen.

Clarence Carter, blind from birth, was a blues singer with lascivious wit, a talented guitarist, a songwriter with a twinkle in his eye, and a champion of down-to-earth soul grooves who taught himself to play the guitar.

He sang in a gospel choir, completed a degree in music, and grounded the duo Clarence & Calvin but was not however very successful.

After a car crash involving Calvin Scott, Carter started on a solo career and signed a contract with Rick Hall and the Fame label as a soloist.

Among the earliest singles recorded at the Muscle Shoals studio were a few hits. After leaving Fame for Atlantic, he managed to enter the Top 20 of the R & B charts with "Looking For A Fox". His breakthrough came with "Slip Away", which sold a million copies and was awarded a Gold Record.

The legendary Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals remained the home basis, as it were, for Carter during his career with Atlantic. "This Is…" begins with a contemplative, soft sound. "Do What You Gotta Do", written by Jim Webb, is a lovely, melancholic mid-tempo ballad, saturated with Barry Beckett’s keyboard and smothered by lush, plaintive winds.

But the man is primarily funky here … as three danceable, finger-snapping tracks prove; "Wind It Up", with further witty improvisations and a fervid organ solo, the highly syncopated, playful "Thread The Needle", and the smoky, irresistible "Funky Fever" – all written by Carter himself.

Dan Penn’s and Spooner Oldham’s "Slippin’ Around" has an unorthodox bossa nova-like beat that is reminiscent of Ray Charles’s "What’d I Say", while Carter’s unmistakable chuckle is to be heard for the first time on the riotous funk-rock number "I’m Qualified", which has the very same unique, infectious groove as was to be heard on Wilson Pickett’s "In The Midnight Hour". "She Ain’t Gonna Do Right", composed by the same man, brings more Alabama Country to the mix, whereby Beckett contributes a catchy, persistent organ riff in the refrain.