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The Fluid are arguably the great unsung band from the fertile underground rock scene of the late '80s and early '90s. The Denver five-piece - John Robinson (vocals), James Clower (guitar), Matt Bischoff (bass), Garrett Shavlik (drums), and the dear departed Ricky Kulwicki (guitar) - fused the fire of '80s hardcore with crunching Detroit protopunk, '60s garage rock, and '70s rock swagger. Think MC5, Faces, '70s Stones, all cranked up and really high on Sex Pistols and Black Flag singles. Rising from the ashes of early-'80s Denver bands Frantix (whose "My Dad's a Fuckin' Alcoholic" is a true gem of American punk) and White Trash, The Fluid were the first non-Seattle band to sign to Sub Pop, and Clear Black Paper was the second full-length album the label ever released. The label honchos were fans of Frantix, and happily got involved with The Fluid when the opportunity arose via the label's European licensing partner, Glitterhouse. Witnessing The Fluid's dominant live presence helped - a particularly fiery early show at Seattle's Central Tavern featured The Fluid, Mudhoney, Mother Love Bone, and Soundgarden all trying to outdo one another on stage. The band fit right in on Sub Pop's nascent roster of acts who, wherever they stood on the spectrum of punk/rock/metal, shared a commitment to thunderous riffs and explosive live shows. Legendary for their ferocious stage presence, The Fluid toured all over the US and Europe, holding their own and then some on bills with Mudhoney, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Dinosaur Jr., and other powerhouses of the era. From 1986 to 1993, The Fluid put out four albums and a number of EPs and singles, including a split 7" with Nirvana in 1991, before doing one album for a major label and promptly disbanding. Yet, while their partners-in-crime bulldozed into the mainstream, The Fluid remained something of a cult band, their audience confined to those who got hip during the band's existence, and crate diggers who nabbed original vinyl or CDs, which had quickly become rarities after selling through their original runs. Why? Record industry machinations? The fickle finger of pop culture? Being from Denver, not Seattle? Who the hell knows_ and who cares! The point is the band ripped, and the world deserves to hear them again. The Fluid took influences they shared with their contemporaries and ran in their own direction, focused on ass-shaking grooves more than misanthropic sludge. Rock anthems like "Cold Outside" sit alongside Stooge-oid rhythmic poundings ("Black Glove"), bluesy romps ("Leave It"), the occasional grungy dirge ("Wasted Time"), and raw punk bangers ("Is It Day I'm Seeing?" from the seminal 1988 Sub Pop 200 compilation). The band wasn't shy about their inspiration, either: scattered through their catalog are covers of The Troggs, The Rolling Stones, MC5, Iggy Pop and James Williamson, and Rare Earth. The Fluid stand out as champions of a feral, urgent, exuberant approach to rock 'n roll. As it turns out, that wasn't a recipe for stardom in the era of hyper-slick pop, boomer dinosaurs crying tears in heaven, and hair-metal power-ballads. But someone had to do it. To set things right, Sub Pop, The Fluid, and producer Jack Endino (Nirvana, Soundgarden, High on Fire, Mudhoney) teamed up to refresh and reissue The Fluid's entire indie-label catalog: their 1986 debut, Punch N Judy; 1988's Clear Black Paper; 1989's Roadmouth; the 1990 Glue EP (produced by Butch Vig, of Nevermind fame); and a treasure trove of rarities and previously unreleased material. All the music has been remastered from original tapes by Endino and JJ Golden, and the bulk of it has been meticulously remixed by Endino and the band, righting some sonic quirks that diminished the impact of the original records. Now, with their definitive material sounding better than ever, it's high time The Fluid get their due.

Cinthie steps up to Aus Music's 200 series with Rave Baby EP.
The popular underground mainstay offers three effective and emotive house weapons Cinthie has been at the heart of the European underground for many years. The Berlin-based artist heads up her cultured 803 Crystal Grooves label and the well-respected Elevate.Berlin recordstore. She has a vast vinyl collection and a deep understanding of house that makes her a favourite all around the world. She has long been a key part of the Aus family and has recently branched out into playing live, all while continuing to serve up timeless sounds that range from rave-ready to deep and driving.
This EP is the third in a run of four releases from different artists to mark the 200th outing of Will
Saul's influential Aus Music. It is an era-defining label that has platformed some of the scene's
brightest stars way before they broke out. Since launching in 2006, the label has remained dedicated to releasing club-ready music with a cultured edge from deep and melodic house to the earliest bass-driven post-dubstep fusions.

Cinthie pushes herself into a more ravey fast-paced direction with her lead single 'Rave Baby'. The well swung kicks are full of warmth as a nimble bassline phrase gets hands in the air and crisp percussion cuts up the beats. It's peak-time fun that completely takes off with the raved-up piano stabs and a steamy female vocal. 'I Warned You Baby' sinks into a deeper groove that harks back to 90s New Jersey with diffuse chords, Nu Groove style vocals and punchy drum programming full of good vibes. Closer 'What's Poppin'' is passionate house music with depth and drive. Raw percussion, turbo-charged retro stabs and another standout bassline make it a high-class weapon.

Frontman Neige comments: "ALCEST's 6th album is called 'Spiritual Instinct' and will be released on Nuclear Blast. The recording of 'Spiritual Instinct' has been a long and challenging process, but we feel really proud of it and can't wait to share our new music with all of you. The artwork has been made by the Parisian duo Førtifem and represents a sphinx, as a reference to the symbolism art movement. The sphinx is the ultimate figure of the enigma, which embodies both the spiritual and feral sides inside us.“ Founded in 2000 by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Neige and joined by drummer Winterhalter in 2009, ALCEST have become the pioneers of blackgaze, a unique and virtuosic mixture of post (black) metal and shoegaze. With a dreamy, otherworldly sound full of contrasts mixing rough darkness and soft melodies, the band forged five full length releases and went from black metal beginnings to the eerie pop on »Shelter« and further on to 2016’s »Kodama« inspired by the Japanese anime 'Princess Mononoke'. ALCEST’s fans always expect the unexpected from a duo that never ceased to explore new worlds, dive into their own imagination and create a truly magical universe through each played note.

The Norwegian indie-pop super-group with members from Making Marks, The Little Hands of Asphalt, Mildfire, Flight Mode and Elva return with a third album of original Christmas songs.

Get into that alternative, Nordic Christmas spirit! Christmas III at its heart is an alt-Christmas album: the songs are firmly rooted in December’s festivities, albeit not usually relying on the season’s traditional reference points. The songs hone in on the more ambivalent sides of Christmas - family, customs and the passing of time - with a keen eye towards the holidays’ most obvious function in countries close to the Artic circle: getting through the cold and dark times to celebrate the winter solstice and the turning of the sun. Drawing from Sufjan Stevens’ epic indie Christmas compendium and Phil Spector’s wall of sound classic A Christmas Gift From You, Christmas III is built on shimmering guitars, snow filled piano lines, gentle strings, springy vocals and dynamic drums - all steadily conducted by Sunturns’ own Sjur Lyseid (Flight Mode, The Little Hands of Asphalt) in the producer’s seat at his Globus studio in Oslo. With 3 songwriters (Ola Innset, Einar Stray & Sjur Lyseid) contributing to Christmas III, there’s an ever shifting sense of reflections. Parenthood and the struggles of the dark Norwegian winter is behind Ola’s track First Winter. “Sometimes I feel bad about bringing children into such a difficult world. Not so much with respect to daylight and the seasons, they’re just going to have to learn how to live with it, but with many other things – like war, poverty, climate change and even just death.” Back In Town might have been inspired by a discussion over whether Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back In Town” is a Christmas song or not, but it’s written about his youngest daughter Klara, to his elder daughter, about taking holidays with your family in a town you once lived. Einar pulls in Phoenix and Mew by the way of Jesus and Mary Chain on Crash Course Christmas, resulting in a seasick wave of a pop tune. “It’s a song about the guilt of not prioritizing your relationships. It’s been year of rainchecks and Christmas finally gives you some time to reflect. You’ve experienced so much and changed so much as a person that you almost forget your origins. Coming home for Christmas can then be a ritual of finding your way back to what you left behind." Drawing on the knitwear from the film Love, Actually, Turtle Neck, taps into the Backstreet Boys by way of Mac Demarco, with a sneaky reference to the legendary Norwegian Christmas hit En Stjerne Skinner I Natt. Album closer This Christmas / Next Christmas leans in on the hook for the Norwegian Christmas TV show Jul i Blåfjell, a multi-generational seasonal staple (essentially a daily children’s advent calendar kids show). “The song is about your parents ageing and needing your help – possibly really far away - while at the same time having your own children to take care of”. The cover artwork is a homage to Christmas dress codes for Norwegian men. Suits and shirts are a rarity in day to day life, but there are a handful of occasions that require some form of formal attempt at a suit: New Year’s Eve, National Day, weddings & funerals, and Christmas Eve: resulting in various degrees of sartorial elegance on the day (and on this instance, a hot summer’s day stifling the Christmas vibes, with ambiguous apparel instructions ahead of the photoshoot!).

Merry Christmas! Sunturns are Ola Innset – vocals, guitars, banjo. Sjur Lyseid – vocals, guitars. Einar Stray – vocals, keyboards, guitars. Eivind Almhjell – guitars, bass. Simen Herning – guitar. Jørgen Nordby – drums.

Breve is the new album by Stefan Paul Goetsch aka Hainbach.

"After a ceaseless amount of work and family struggles, 2023 had left me empty and tired. Instead of the many hats I usually wear, I shifted my focus exclusively on my music. For two weeks every day I sat down behind a few modular synths, a toy piano and an Ondioline, recording tape after tape. I did not lock myself in though - my kids were playing around me, commenting, touching knobs, adding oscillations. What in „deadline times“ can be disrupting, became restorative. I was with my family, just drifting on waveforms. I hope some of that atmosphere shines through, and the album can help you to find peace as it did for me.

Thanks to Forgotten Futures for the loan of the Ondioline and technician Daniel Kitzig for the beautiful restoration work." - Hainbach

Based out of Berlin, Germany, electronic music composer and performer Hainbach creates shifting audio landscapes THE WIRE called "One hell of a trip". His music has been released on Opal Tapes, Seil Records, Spring Break Tapes, Limited Interest and Marionette. He has been fascinated with sine tones, noise and FM since he discovered the dial on the radio. Never losing his childhood wonder, he still searches for the sounds in between on modular synths and other devices.

Na de comeback plaat van 2021 'Is er iets?', is Madou terug met de EP, 'Engel', net op het moment dat Vera Coomans 75 jaar wordt.
De afgelopen 3 jaar speelde Madou op vele mooie plekken en is de band ook uitgebreid: Mattijs Vanderleen (Marble Sounds, Tommigun) op drums en Marc De Maeseneer (Lady Linn etc...) maken nu ook deel uit van de band.
Hoogtepunten waren Dranouter in 2022 en de uitverkochte AB 'Rewind' show in september 2022 met de re-release na 40 jaar van de eerste Madou plaat op vinyl.

Al die concerten gaven goesting en Vera begon Wiet en Thomas naar nieuwe songs te vragen.
Die nieuwe melodieën leidden tot nieuwe verhalen die nieuwe liedjes werden. Een beetje zoals Randy Newman deed op 'Little Criminals'. Filmische verhalen, muzikale kortfilms, als je wil, een beetje zoals Randy Newman deed op 'Little Criminals'. Maar hier heeft elke song een verhaal met een vrouw als hoofdpersonage.

In november 2023 kreeg Vera telefoon van Gorik van Oudheusden, aka Zwangere Guy.
Hij was op zoek naar muziek voor de TV-serie, 'Putain' waaraan hij werkte, en hij vroeg ons of hij wat nieuw materiaal kon horen. Vera en Thomas speelden in de ICP studio in Brussel een akoestische versie van 'Engel' voor Zwangere Guy en Chuki Beats en die reageerden meteen enthousiast. 'Engel' staat ook op de soundtrack van 'Putain' in een prachtig strijkersarrangement van Wiet Van De Leest.

In mei 2024 trok Madou een paar dagen naar de Jet studio in Brussel en namen ze de EP 'Engel' op onder leiding van Peter Van Laerhoven.

De EP:

Engel:
Gaat over de onvermijdelijkheid van de dood. Vera Coomans:' Als je 75 bent, dan probeer je je in verloren uren wel eens 'de overkant' voor te stellen en wie je op een dag zal komen halen. Of je hem zal herkennen ook. En of het spannend wordt.

Waar het beter was:
Een vrouw wordt wakker uit een nachtmerrie in een nog bangelijkere realiteit.

Koude Voeten:
Waar maanziek zijn toe leiden kan, of hoe je verloren kunt lopen in je eigen hoofd.

Myanmar:
Hoe troostend en het kan zijn om verloren te lopen in je eigen hoofd.

Mooie Dag:
Een mooie dag maar met weerhaken.

Gebroken Glas:
Wat eerst 'Bovary' als titel had, werd uiteindelijk 'Gebroken Glas'.

Madou:
Vera Coomans: zang
Wiet Van De Leest: piano, viool, altviool
Thomas Devos: gitaar, bas, zang
Louis Van De Leest: keyboards, synths, beats
Mattijs Vanderleen: drums, percussie, beats
Marc De Maeseneer: saxofoon

Madou speelt ook live:

RSD 2024

First time ever release on vinyl format. 180 GRAM BLACK VINYL. After The Sabres of Paradise split in 1995 Andrew Weatherall underwent one of many reinventions. He began working with Keith Tenniswood as Two Lone Swordsmen which released several records on the Warp label, set up a new electronic imprint under the Rotters Golf Club banner and fully explored new DJ personas departing from his house-based sets into dub, electronica and rockabilly. Renowned for unconventional sets where he’d raise the roof dropping an unexpected but exactly right track into the mix, he’d push the audience to new heights by introducing them to music they’d never even thought of exploring. The experiments went down especially well in Japan where he’d tour playing solo sets as well as performing alongside pioneers like Underworld, Adrian Sherwood and The Orb. In 2003 his new label, Rotters Golf Club, was approached by the Italian fashion house Emigliano Zegna to create some music to help launch their first foray into Japan. Andrew always had a keen eye for quality and agreed to provide some music. At the time it wasn’t envisaged as an album. He’d just grabbed some tracks he and Keith had been working on, polished them up and swapped them for a small advance and a large raid on their Bond Street store. He then let them get on with the release and turned his attention to the next TLS album proper. This was Double Gone Chapel where rock and psychobilly were mixed in with electronica and controversially Andrew added his own vocals. The Zegna album ‘Still My World’ was sidelined by a live band and a whole new direction. Andrew’s untimely death refocused attention on his historical recordings and ‘Still My World’, previously only released on CD in Japan, now sees the light of day in the rest of the world.

To celebrate the first anniversary of "EARQUAKE: Wolfgang Voigt 1991 - 1999", a limited double vinyl series is starting in December 2020. With each release one EARQUAKE year is honoured with a kind of "Best Of". For the loyal vinyl fans and all those who want to become one. The first strike, the double 12inch “EARQUAKE 1991“ with a total of 7 tracks, includes "Love Inc.: Trance Atlantic XS" and "Mike Ink: Dialogue E.P." - two absolute cult classics of the early nine-zero-nine and three-zero-three acid-hysteria era. As a kind of "original sound commentary" on the music of that time, there is also a new interpretation of the interview-based art piece "Wolfgang Voigt - Du musst nichts Sagen", which is combined with a Wolfgang Voigt hit that has been out of print for a long time and which the connoisseur will immediately recognize.

This piece is only available on the vinyl version of “EARQUAKE 1991“!

Zum einjährigen Jubiläum von “EARQUAKE - Wolfgang Voigt 1991-1999“ im Dezember 2020 startet eine limitierte Doppel-Vinyl-Reihe auf Profan, mit der jeder EARQUAKE-Jahrgang durch eine Art “Best Of“ gewürdigt wird. Für die treuen Vinyl-Fans und alle, die es noch werden wollen. Der erste Streich, die Doppelmaxi “EARQUAKE 1991“ mit insgesamt 7 Stücken, beinhaltet die beiden, seit fast 30 Jahren nicht wieder aufgelegten Maxis “Love Inc.: Trance Atlantic XS“ und “Mike Ink: Dialog E.P.“ – zwei absolute Kultklassiker der frühen Neun-Null-Neun und Drei-Null-Drei Acid-Hysterie Ära. Als eine Art “O-Ton Kommentar“ zur Musik dieser Zeit, gibt es außerdem eine Neu-Interpretation des, auf einem Interview basierenden Kunst-Stückes “Wolfgang Voigt – Du musst nichts Sagen“, welches in der vorliegenden Version mit einem sehr lange vergriffenen Wolfgang Voigt-Hit kombiniert ist, den der Kenner sofort heraushören wird.

Dieses Stück gibt es ausschließlich auf der Vinyl Version von “EARQUAKE 1991“!

Self-released in 1969 ‘Our Thing’ is the debut album of the performing Houston unit known as Kashmere Stage Band. The Texas student band came together at the Kashmere High School and under the direction of musical director Conrad O. Johnson, released a series of cult album on Kram Records, before disbanding in 1978. Raw funk, that’s basically what they’ve been playing and clearly there was a blacksploitation feel all over the place, but their drive was quite unique. Rediscover the myth.

The Other Sound of Music is Edition Hawara’s first compilation of forgotten Austrian treasures from the 1980s. Plucked from dusty basements, flea markets and bespoke stores across the small Alpine country, it features eight quirky and charming pieces that afford a glimpse into largely unknown but surprisingly rich musical subcultures. The lovingly curated selection brings to light early soul, boogie and proto-house productions, as well as some of the most balearic tracks that have ever been made in a landlocked country. Finally giving this music the stage it deserves, The Other Sound of Music is the definitive guide to the outer limits of the Austrian underground.

For Greg Mendez, reflection doesnüft mean a static image in a mirror, or even a face he recognizes. Itüfs more a kaleidoscopic mirage, where paths taken shapeshift with the prospect of paths untread, and the subconscious merges with the intentional. On his self-titled new album, the Philadelphia-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist investigates the shaky camera of memory, striving to carve out a collage that points to a truth. But there isnüft a regimented actuality here; instead, Mendez highlights the merit in many truths, and many lives, and how even the hardest truths can still contain some humor. While this is technically Mendezüfs third full-length album, his back catalog boasts an extensive range of EPs and live recordings. Heüfs a prolific and thoughtful songwriter, understanding the joy in impulse, and shying away from the clinical sheen of overproduction. 2017üfs ügüP/ _(c)_ /üPüh and 2020üfs Cherry Hell garnered acclaim for their quiet, lo-fi urgency, exploring themes of addiction and heartbreak with an intentional, authentic haze, and itüfs this approach that has solidified Mendez as a staple in the DIY community for years. Greg Mendez was written in fragments, some stretching across more than a decade, with Mendez reworking old ideas and arrangements, and others blossoming much more recently. The weight of time..and perhaps the anxiety in running out of it..clouds the album, as Mendez prods at some painful experiences from his childhood and early adulthood. The common thread connecting the characters is their evident imperfections, and the various degrees of damage they cause, both knowingly and unknowingly. But where do we draw the line between a good person and a bad person? For Mendez, itüfs never been that easy. Greg Mendez is an intimate dialogue between the chapters weüfve experienced, and how they can inform the reality we perceive. Itüfs a reminder that we are constantly shifting, ever-changing selves and that if we ruminate too long, we may find ourselves stuck in the seriousness of it all. Here, Mendez allows us to take the time to notice what happens outside of the framework we may have built for ourselves, and the beauty that can occur when we finally do.

'Lucinda Williams Sings The Beatles From Abbey Road' features 12 Beatles songs that include classic hits such as “Can’t Buy Me Love”, “With A Little Help From My Friends” and “Something”. Williams and her band also take on beloved deeper tracks such as “I’m So Tired”, “I’ve Got A Feeling," and “Yer Blues”. Being raised on the blues in the South, the latter is a song Williams was clearly meant to sing. Recorded at The Beatles' legendary studio in London, the new collection serves as Vol. 7 of her celebrated 'Lu’s Jukebox' series and is the first new volume in almost four years. While many great artists have recorded in the hallowed Abbey Road Studios, as it turns out, Williams is the first major artist to actually record Beatles’ songs there aside from the Fab Four themselves. As an acclaimed, award-winning singer/songwriter for more than four decades, Williams’ music has been highly influential and covered by a multitude of artists. Williams is also an extraordinary interpreter who, like all great interpreters, has the ability to inhabit a song and make it her own. She does just that throughout this selection of Beatles tracks, as she has done on each 'Lu’s Jukebox' volume.

In celebration of its 30th anniversary, Plastikman, aka Richie Hawtin, has remastered his groundbreaking second album, Musik, from the original tapes for a new limited bio-vinyl edition.

The record was first released in November 1994 through NovaMute and Plus 8, following the debut Plastikman album, Sheet One (1993). A masterclass in minimal techno, Musik quickly propelled Hawtin to new levels of success. The release followed Plastikman's first-ever live performance in a black vinyl-encased room at a semi-derelict Packard Plant in Detroit, where Hawtin was central to the burgeoning underground scene.

Before the full album hit the shelves, the track 'Plastique' (which was later described by Q as "...the flipside to Hawtin's early singles, all ticking percussion, feline acid tweaks, and cushioned sub-bass") set the stage for a more dance floor-friendly album, albeit one with an unsettling and sinister side.

The album, described by The Guardian as "music as you've never heard it before" and by The Wire, who made it one of their Albums of the Year, as "... a masterpiece", defined a moment in techno that still echoes today.

Now, 30 years later, the album has been remastered from the original tapes, reminding us why Plastikman is a name that still resonates and that the album's intensity - on and off the dance floor - has lost none of its potency in the intervening years.

Available on limited edition double bio-vinyl from Mute and NovaMute.

British Funk Renegades - Baker Brothers: A Legacy of Groove and Innovation

Since 2001, British funk luminaries the Baker Brothers have been at the forefront of the UK funk scene, consistently redefining the genre while staying true to its roots. Their groove, deeply embedded in soulful nostalgia, draws inspiration from legendary acts such as Steely Dan, Sly and the Family Stone, The Doobie Brothers, D'Angelo, The Roots, The Meters, and Prince.

Renowned for their electrifying live performances, the Baker Brothers deliver an "in-your-face" experience that takes audiences on a journey through their extensive back catalogue, spanning eight studio albums and four live albums. These albums feature collaborations with notable artists, including Hamish Stuart of the Average White Band, Snowboy, and soul divas Vanessa Freeman, Hannah Williams, Acantha Lang, and Katie Holmes.

With over ten tours in Japan and numerous European tours under their belt, the Baker Brothers have proven their enduring appeal. They continue to navigate the challenges of band life with unwavering creativity and passion, using music as their vehicle to overcome life's hurdles.

As they forge ahead with new creations, the Baker Brothers' signature sound—characterised by tight horns, a driving rhythm section, and irresistibly funky guitar riffs—remains as killer as ever. Their journey is a testament to their longevity and their unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of funk.

Bass music OG Jeremy Sylvester returns to Shall Not Fade sister label Time Is Now for his second full EP on the label.

Jeremy again shows on The Lights EP why is highly regarded as one of the OG's of bass music, having been a producer of non stop consistent releases for the last 20+ years. The Lights EP has everything from dreamy synths, bass warpers, choppy breaks and infectious vocals, all merging together to create a truly unique take on bass music. All topped off with a weighty remix from artist of the moment Soul Mass Transit System on the B-SIDE. BIG TIP!

The Lights EP drops December 6th via Time Is Now.

Kein Handynetz, Telefonkabel über Land, eine Straße durch den Wald, auf der sich kaum zwei Fahrzeuge begegnen können. Ruhe, Refl exion und das schnelle Ziehen der Wolken beeinfl ussten den Dinkelsbühler Gitarristen bei seinem neuen Album. In einem raumeinnehmenden Kompositionsprozess entstanden Solo- und Trio-Stücke, die auf der klassischen Nylon-String Gitarre interpretiert werden. Im Zusammenspiel mit Sieverts und Jütte entsteht ein spannendes, voller Spielfreude steckendes Programm.

Recorded by Grammy-winning producer Chris Dugan (Green Day, Weezer), this LP is a triumphant return after 7 years for the Cincinnati-based quartet Introducing "80/20," the highly anticipated new album from the acclaimed punk rock band, The Dopamines. Recorded by Grammy-winning producer Chris Dugan (Green Day, Weezer), this album marks a triumphant return to the scene after 7 years for the Cincinnati-based quartet, renowned for their raw energy, blistering melodies, and unapologetically honest lyrics. "80/20" perfectly encapsulates the true sound and character of The Dopamines. Each track is a testament to The Dopamines' evolution, blending their signature breakneck tempos with refined songwriting and complex arrangements. Chris Dugan's masterful production highlights the band's musicianship, capturing every nuance of their performance with clarity and intensity. Lyrically, "80/20" delves deep into themes of alienation, addiction, and the search for meaning through the lens of a chaotic punk band. Each song is a vignette of personal struggle and societal critique, written with the brutal honesty and sharp wit that fans have come to expect from The Dopamines. Chris Dugan's involvement brings a polished edge to the album without sacrificing the raw energy that defines The Dopamines. His expertise in capturing live performances translates into a recording that feels immediate and authentic, immersing listeners in the band's world. "80/20" is more than just an album; it's a declaration of The Dopamines' place in the punk rock pantheon. With its potent mix of aggression, melody, and emotional depth, this record is set to become a staple in the collections of punk enthusiasts worldwide. Don't miss out on this landmark release from one of the most compelling bands in contemporary punk rock

Groovadelica is a New Zealand-based record label that comes through now with its third offering in the form of this 7" from young and fast-rising new artist Soul Prophet. His 'Back To Dilla' features the buttery tones of UK soul sensation Omar and pays tribute to the great beat maker that was the late J Dilla. It's a jam full of dusty beats and jazzy key samples with a laid-back and late-night feel. The lush flute sounds come from Nathan Haines with extra tabla for even more musical richness. This one has already been getting plays from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Patrick Forge and Mr. Thing so expect to hear it plenty more this winter.

"Am 6..12. veröffentlicht das Duo ZWEILASTER ihr nunmehr drittes Album "Wieherd", das zweite davon beim Berliner Geschmacksgaranten Tomatenplatten. Auch diesmal zusammen mit Hunderttausendsassa Julian Knoth(Die Nerven). Was man auf dem Erstling noch mit (be-)rauschend geringer Klangtreue über den Äther jagte, wird auf "Wieherd" druckvoller denn je dargeboten. Unweigerlich fragt man sich einmal mehr, was zur Hölle nur die da unten in Stuttgart dem Wasser beimischen... Es ist für mich jedes Mal schwer beeindruckend, wenn Musik auch ohne üppige Instrumentierung intrinsische Größe hat. ZweiLaster spielen minimalistischen (Pop- & Post-)Punk bar jeder Effekthascherei, nähern sich hie und da gar dem No Wave. Lieder wie der Auftakt "Allein" oder das gellende "Everywhere" sind eingängig, ohne stumpf zu werden, "Berge", "Angerufen" und "Graureiher" schürfen tief, ohne sich großem Gestus bedienen zu müssen. Ehe man sich allzu wohlig wähnt, wechselt sowieso schon das Tempo und ZweiLaster ver- und zerfällt in dissonant charmantes Chaos. "Wieherd" wirkt nie gekünstelt, nie schablonenhaft, immer wie eine Momentaufnahme. Mut braucht es, so ein schonungslos ungeschöntes Abbild in die Welt zu entlassen. Oder vielleicht muss es dann einfach nur gut sein und das hier, das ist gut. Sind Taylor Swift Fans Swifties, dann bin ich Lasti." - Drangsal

Habibi Funk is excited to announce the release of Samh Almea'ad, a new 7" record by Libyan artist Cheb Bakr, hitting the shelves on December 6, 2024. Recorded in the early 2000s, Bakr’s music fuses the pulse of Libyan pop with R&B and hip-hop influences, bringing the energy of Benghazi to the dance floors of New York in the early 2000s. Cheb Bakr’s sound is a unique blend of styles that captures the essence of two worlds and includes production and vocals by Ahmed Ben Ali.

Our journey with Cheb Bakr’s music began when Yousef Alhoush, whose father Najib Alhoush led The Free Music from Libya, generously lent us boxes of cassettes to digitize. With the help of a journalist traveling from Tripoli to Cairo, we brought the tapes and a high-quality deck to Egypt. For three days in a hotel room on Zamalek island in Cairo, we sifted through nearly 100 tapes, finally landing on several from Cheb Bakr that dated back to the late 1990s and early 2000s. His albums stood out for their fresh, genre-defying sound—Bakr’s vocals flowed effortlessly over R&B and hip-hop beats with touches of jungle and drum and bass percussion, creating a fusion that crossed cultural and musical boundaries.

Returning to Berlin, we took a deeper dive into the digitized tapes, identifying bands, singers, and producers that excited us. In the process, we noticed familiar rap verses on a few of Bakr’s tracks—verses by none other than Ahmed Ben Ali, who was about to release an album with Habibi Funk. When we asked Ahmed about his connection with Bakr, he explained that they’d collaborated closely at Jamaica Studios in Benghazi, with Ahmed even producing some of Bakr’s songs.

Despite having lost touch for years, Ahmed helped us reconnect with Cheb Bakr through mutual friends. Their reunion took place in Bakr’s living room, where we joined them on a video call to discuss Bakr’s career and his influences. He explained how he sought to reinterpret eastern Libyan folk sounds for a new generation, blending them with contemporary genres.

This 45 marks the beginning of our work with Cheb Bakr, offering a glimpse into his unique musical style, with a full album to follow at a later date. The release includes two standout tracks that showcase Bakr’s dynamic range. Side A features “Samh Almea'ad,” a reinterpretation of a 2003 New York classic with Bakr’s signature spin. Since our first listen in that Cairo hotel room, it’s been played at every Habibi Funk set without exception. Side B, produced by Ahmed Ben Ali, features “Rjana Lamta,” a track that hints at American influences alongside a nod to Ahmed’s “Dameek Majeb.” Bakr’s artistry ties these contrasting elements into an original, dancefloor-ready track that remains as captivating today as it was two decades ago. As always, this 7" release comes with a booklet detailing some of the Cheb Bakr story. Samh Almea'ad will be out on vinyl December 6th.

Licensing info: These songs were licensed from Cheb Bakr. We pay the licensing partner 50% of the profits of this release. Only project related costs are deductible from the gross income, research and travel costs come out of our own share. Publishing was not included in our agreement (We feel it’s important to be transparent about these deals, therefore we will include these infos in all future releases).

Control Freak is delighted to present Medici Daughter's ‘113’ – an exercise in expansive musical worldbuilding from a uniquely talented & multifaceted artist.

Medici Daughter has been a close CF collaborator since the earliest days of the label. Now, the new album-length continuous piece ‘113’ sees them expanding their musical focus, exploding the constraints of any boundaries set by the titular BPM into a myriad of possibilities.

With a sound palette influenced by dub techno, minimalism & outsider house, the release is anchored in a series of continuously evolving rhythmic motifs, washed out in a sea of hazy texture – engineered for deep home listening & late-night ambient-room sessions.

The digital release of ‘113’ is accompanied by a highly limited run of tapes, presented in a clear case & sealed with a holographic RFID sticker.

For Fans Of: Actress, Huerco S., Loraine James

Campus Christy is a collaboration between Stones Throw Records’ founder Chris Manak aka Peanut Butter Wolf (vocals) and Brian Ellis (instruments).

Nearly 25 years after his 1999 release of ‘My Vinyl Weighs a Ton’, Manak has formed a brand new musical project, reinterpreting lesser-known tracks from the late 1960s to early 1980s. Campus Christy revives Manak’s high school garage band moniker, a niche ode to the past. Campus Christy marks a new direction for Manak, who for decades has been closely associated with underground hip-hop. ‘Very Complex’ features Piya Malik of Say She She, and ‘Candles’ also features Say She She.

LP with gold foiled jacket and embossing.

For fans of Say She She, Vulfpeck, Daniel Johnston.

A fairly short-lived yet influential in San Jose. They released two demos, one which was recorded by Bart Thurber, and they are both featured on this album. Band members later moved to Operator Generator, Burn Thee Insects, High On Fire and Bliss The Triple Six.

Wewantsounds is delighted to announce the release of the sought-after soundtrack for cult 1980 French film "Clara Et Les Chics Types," featuring Isabelle Adjani, Daniel Auteuil and the Splendid troupe actors. The Jazz-Funk soundtrack, composed by Michel Jonasz and featuring Manu Katché and Sylvin Marc has never been reissued since 1980. ). Together they weaved a mainly instrumental blend of Jazz funk, reggae and pop which matched the narrative perfectly. Although all the ingredients were there for a success, the film unfortunately stalled and so did the soundtrack. Jonasz went on to become a huge star in France shortly after, but strangely, the Clara soundtrack was never reissued, not even on CD. Remastered from with original master tapes, the release includes two never-released bonus tracks and a 4-page booklet with liner notes by French music expert and musician Guido Minisky (also a member of Acid Arab) who interviewed Michel Jonasz and actor Christophe Bourseiller for the occasion.

Dixie Dregs' private press debut album / Original recordings of Dregs classics that would be re-recorded for their Capricorn and Arista albums / First-ever LP reissue / White Vinyl - STEVE MORSE - Guitars / ANDY WEST - Bass Guitar / ALLEN SLOAN - Violin / ROD MORGENSTEIN - Drums - The Great Spectacular is Dixie Dregs' original 1975 demo debut album, recorded at the University of Miami as a class project, pressed independently by the band, and distributed locally in limited quantities. Yet The Great Spectacular also functions as a greatest hits of sorts, debuting tracks which would later be re-recorded across Dixie Dregs' classic 1977-1980 Capricorn and Arista albums, as well as during guitarist/band leader Steve Morse's stint in Kansas. It includes the first recordings of key Dregs tracks including "What If," "Leprechaun Promenade," "Holiday," "Refried Funky Chicken," "Country House Shuffle," and more. Original copies of The Great Spectacular are rare collectors' items. For its first-ever LP reissue, the album has been pressed on white vinyl.

Tori Amos has long been renowned for never playing the same show twice. As The Guardian noted in 2022, she "is famous for her eclectic setlists peppered with fan favourites, B-sides, and covers." Now, these unique live performances are captured in a new live album entitled Diving Deep recorded across Tori's 2022-2023 Ocean to Ocean tour, which spanned 93 dates around the globe.

"For the first time on coloured vinyl is a reissue of iconic British 80’s band Culture Club’s second album ‘Colour By Numbers’, originally released in October 1983. Having sold in excess of 10 million copies – this long out of print LP features the huge hits ‘Church Of The Poison Mind’, ‘Miss Me Blind’ and global number one hit ‘Karma Chameleon’.

The album is certified triple Platinum in the UK, Diamond in Canada, and 4× Platinum in the U.S. This reissue has been remastered at Abbey Road and is available on light blue coloured vinyl."

Motion I is the debut album from Out Of/Into, the collective formerly known as The Blue Note Quintet, featuring pianist Gerald Clayton, alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, vibraphonist Joel Ross, drummer Kendrick Scott, and bassist Matt Brewer. The band was formed in celebration of Blue Note Records’ 85th Anniversary and embarked on an extensive U.S. tour earlier this year during which they honed a distinctive, progressive sound that is the perfect embodiment of the Blue Note ethos. “Blue Note has been such a wonderful home for the community, for incredible musicians, for creativity, for all these years,” says Clayton. “You can’t help but think about all those masters, all those heroes that you’ve grown up listening to. To get a chance to pay tribute and try to carry some of that essence forward is truly just an honor.”

Indilas einzigartiges Album ”Mini World” zum allerersten Mal auf Vinyl. Dieses Album enthält ihre
weltweiten Hitsingles „Dernière danse“, „Tourner Dans Le Vide“, „Love Story“ und „Ainsi bas la vida“, die
alle in den letzten Jahren einen beeindruckenden Aufschwung erlebt haben.

Recorded quickly between John Cale producing Patti Smith's Horses and his going out on an Italian tour, Helen of Troy became Cale's third and final studio album for Island Records - This re-issue faithfully replicates the original 1975 Island Records UK release and is pressed onto high quality 180g vinyl. Helen Of Troy is a raw, fascinating listen. The title track with its horns and spoken word is one of Cale's best: after the sweet bubblegum of "China Sea", the album gets increasingly stripped down the acoustic guitar and piano of "Cable Hogue" and the punkish cover of The Modern Lovers' "Pablo Picasso" have long been favourites on the album. "Leaving It All Up To You" in which Cale becomes increasingly disturbed garnered controversy at the time and was actually removed from later pressings of the album because of its references to the Manson murders. Cale never lost his ability to shock. Taking its title from the opening line of Johnny Cash's "I Walk The Line", "I Keep A Close Watch", a track Cale would record again several years later, with its Robert Kirby-arranged strings and horns, is the closest Cale has veered toward a power ballad. It is a work of great beauty among all the jagged edges of Helen Of Troy.

"Austin-based funk/prog/rock 10-piece collective GRANDMASTER present their self-titled 15 song debut. produced by fellow Austinite Nolan Potter, the record channels the sounds of inspirators Earth Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, John Williams, Parliament Funkadelic, The Bee Gees, & Potter’s own Nightmare Band, while also blending in elements of jazz, prog., and classic Nintendo scores.

The record has already garnered praise and heavy airplay from Austin tastemaker station KUTX, who named them Artist Of The Month back in summer."

Formed in 2020 in Silkeborg, Denmark, NECKBREAKKER, consists of Christoffer Kofoed (Vocals), Sebastian Knoblauch (Bass), Anton ’Hajn’ Bregendorf (Drums), Joakim Kaspersen (Guitar) and Johan Lundvig (Guitar). Despite not having released a single song up until this point, NECKBREAKKER have found themselves at the forefront of the underground metal scene, thanks to their growing reputation of delivering blistering live shows. The young death metal band have already found themselves touring alongside the likes of Crypta, BAEST and Left To Die, as well as claiming slots on festivals such as Hellfest, Resurrection Fest, Bloodstock Open Air, Summer Breeze, Copenhell, Mystic Festival, Dynamo Metal Fest, Roskilde, Sweden Rock Festival, Tuska Festival and Inferno festival, as they rip and tear their way across the continent. Now, having caught the eye of metal titan Nuclear Blast Records, NECKBREAKKER are gearing up to release their hotly anticipated debut album, Within The Viscera, on December 6th. On the release of their debut album and their signing to Nuclear Blast Records, the band comments: “As we were creating Within The Viscera it is fair to say we felt a certain amount of pressure. A pressure to deliver an album that could live up to the hype this band has been building since we started playing shows, a pressure to not lessen the raw impact of the songs by finally putting them in a studio setting, and most importantly to make a debut album we could be proud of. We had the vision set, and we know we wanted to do it right. And we believe we have. Produced by Andreas Linnemann and mixed/mastered by Josh Middleton, Within The Viscera is our strongest material, and we hope the joy we had creating it shines through.

Global icon ROSÉ has announced her first studio album rosie - arriving December 6th via Atlantic Records. The 12-track collection marks ROSÉ’s most personal and candid release to date, with her co-writing and co-producing the project in its entirety.

As a member of BLACKPINK, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time, ROSÉ has shattered records, performed on the most heralded stages, and amassed millions of fans around the world. On her own, the Korean-New Zealand superstar’s 2021 single “On The Ground” debuted at #1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart and became the highest-charting song by a solo K-pop female on the Billboard Hot 100. Simultaneously, ROSÉ has been an unstoppable force in fashion as global ambassador for renowned brands including Saint Laurent, Tiffany & Co, Rimowa and Puma. Her influence in music, fashion and philanthropy has led to her having over 79M followers on Instagram as she is a testament to the growth of Korean influence in music and fashion on a global scale.

Obscure & outstanding free jazz album reissued for the first time since it’s original release in 1969. Old-style gatefold sleeve LP, with liner notes by Ed Hazell.

In the late 1960s, young jazz musician Bobby Naughton, a keyboardist and vibraphonist, faced significant challenges as he sought to record his first album. With major record labels and jazz clubs catering only to big names, Naughton and other creative musicians of his generation found themselves sidelined by the mainstream music industry. They turned to self-reliance and self-production, becoming part of a movement of independent musicians. Naughton’s debut album, Nature’s Consort, was a DIY effort in every sense—recorded on home equipment and featuring a hand-printed woodblock cover. The album was distributed independently at concerts and by mail, receiving little attention initially, but over the years it gained a reputation as a rare, sought-after artifact of the period.

Though recorded during an outdoor concert in Connecticut, Nature's Consort reflected the "loft jazz" scene in New York City. This avant-garde jazz movement centered around musicians who lived and played in loft spaces in lower Manhattan. Naughton commuted from his home in Southbury, Connecticut, to play with his bandmates Mark Whitecage, Mario Pavone, and Laurence Cook in New York's lofts. These musicians regularly performed at venues like Studio We, a key gathering spot for free-form jazz, where musicians could experiment and develop their sound, often with no audience present.

Naughton’s journey into jazz was a winding one. Originally from Boston, he played rockabilly and blues-rock before transitioning into free jazz. Inspired by avant-garde artists like Carla Bley and Paul Bley, Naughton sought to explore new forms of music that went beyond traditional jazz structures. His bandmates, Mark Whitecage and Mario Pavone, were both deeply affected by the death of John Coltrane in 1967, which prompted them to quit their day jobs, attend Coltrane’s funeral, and move to New York to pursue jazz full-time.

Nature’s Consort was a collective project, with band members sharing equally in any profits. However, Naughton was the driving force behind the group’s creative direction. He composed much of the original material and selected pieces by Ornette Coleman and Carla Bley for the band’s repertoire. Jazz critic Nat Hentoff praised the album for its “high-risk improvisation” and the musicians' ability to anticipate each other’s moves. Though Nature’s Consort received little press at the time, it has since been recognized as a significant early document of the loft jazz era, representing Naughton’s disciplined, improvisational approach to music.

'If We Land On Water' is the first album from Spiral Wrack, a duo of Ali Wade (Frequency Domain) and Ralph Cumbers (Bass Clef / Myriad Myriads). Although the two have been good friends for decades and appeared on some of the same labels, this album marks their first musical collaboration, following a one-off appearance on Frequency Domain's 2023 compilation, 'Partials III'. Previous solo work from Ralph and Ali has appeared onPunch Drunk, Idle Hands, Pan, Trilogy Tapes and Werk Discs.

Here they present a full-length work of woozy, heavily processed guitar and synth duets, where beachcombed melodies wash up on unknown shores and strange flowers bloom at the high water line. Robin Guthrie meets Laurie Spiegel with Neptune at the controls. Rum and reverb, if you will.

Limited Edition Pressing of 200 Copies on Neon Yellow Vinyl. 2022's "Land of Kali" album was the first under the Essential Logic moniker for over 40 years and was released alongside a career-spanning boxset "Logically Yours".

Now Essential Logic head honcho and former X-Ray Spex member Lora Logic has compiled an eclectic and ambitious remixed version of "Land of Kali" entitled "Rekalibrated" featuring reinterpretations from noted artists across a multitude of genres and styles including Grammy award winners, living legends and UK Singles Chart toppers. Lora's work with Essential Logic and X-Ray Spex while Punk in DNA and spirit has always pushed at boundaries. Rule-breaking from the start by bringing the sax into Punk while the jerky, irresistible post-Punk Funk of Essential Logic's "Beat Rhythm News" and Lora's solo album "Pedigree Charm" sit comfortably alongside more contemporary records with one ear on the cerebral and the other on the dancefloor. "Rekalibrated" highlights the many strands that intertwine to make Essential Logic and how they may be unfurled. The lead single will be "Alien Boys" remixed by Dave Audé. Dave is a Grammy Award winning remixer and producer, famed for having more number ones than any other producer on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. He is responsible for a staggering 132 No.1 remixes on this chart and has worked with artists as varied as U2, Beyonce, Yoko Ono, Faith No More and Madonna among many others. He won his Grammy for his remix of "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars. Youth, legendary bassist of Killing Joke and producer of The Verve, Pink Floyd and The Orb lends his vastly experienced ears to "Mother Earth" while there are further interpretations from Rave-pop legend Adamski, Scottish Kandy-poppers bis and New Order/Duran Duran collaborators Daybreakers who put their own stamp on the Poly Styrene-penned "Prayer For Peace". Lora has recently been in the spotlight thanks to the recent re-release of X-Ray Spex's lost second album "Conscious Consumer" which features her trademark saxophone lines alongside typically acerbic lyricism from the dear departed Poly Styrene.

The first pressing reaches the Official Record Store Chart No.1 position over Christmas 2023 and quickly sold out. Favourable reviews in Uncut, Mojo and Record Collector alongside a Vive le Rock cover feature helped raise public awareness as well as radio features on Woman's Hour and Craig Charles' 6 Music show. Fans who missed out on the first pressing patiently wait the arrival of a repress.

Prairiewolf make easy listening music for an age of fracture. They almost do it in spite of themselves. No one can seriously question the head music bona fides of the members of this Colorado-based trio.

Guitarist Stefan Beck has already assembled a formidable discography of jewel-toned guitar zone-outs under his Golden Brown moniker. And keyboardist and guitarist Jeremy Erwin and bassist Tyler Wilcox have both made their reputations as chroniclers of the vast world of out-music. Erwin helms the indispensable Heat Warps blog, a performance-by-performance archive of Miles Davis’s labyrinthine electric period. And Wilcox has been covering the ragged edges of psychedelia and experimental rock at Aquarium Drunkard and other publications, not to mention his own virtual basement for heads, the great bootleg blog Doom and Gloom from the Tomb.

These guys come by it honestly. And yet, given their backgrounds, Prairiewolf’s self-titled debut last spring was remarkably free of face-melters, brown acid blowouts, and ascendant spiritual jazz odysseys. Instead, they dropped a record of beautiful, elegant, low-key cosmic groovers that sounded like the piped-in background music to a resort hotel on Jupiter. It was an unlikely psychedelia, brocaded with mid-twentieth century sonic threading from the hi-fi era: vintage synthesizers, smears of spaghetti western, luxe tropical details, the faint schmaltz of space age pop. Imagine something like a Harmonia residency in the airport lounge. And yet somehow it all worked brilliantly. Prairiewolf became last summer’s cool-down standard. After a year woodshedding around Colorado’s Front Range region, the Prairiewolf boys have fired up their trusty Korg SR-120 drum machine for another outstanding collection of suborbital exotica. The appropriately titled Deep Time operates in its own chronology, unspooling at its unhurried pace. All its incongruous period and stylistic references—the new age pulses, Hawaiian steel, shaggy hippie rambles, lysergic guitar spirals, and orchestral synthesizer flourishes—float atop the album’s own singular temporality. Deep Time makes its own time.

From the moment Beck folds his slide guitar, origami-like, into a sound resembling the call of gulls on the tranquil album opener, “Peach Blossom Paradise,” there is a sense of departure from everyday life. The shimmering “Lighthouse” has a similar sunbaked nonchalance, like an afternoon passed day-drinking in a seaside bar. That they named their lush, kaleidoscopic downtempo track “The Meander” pretty much says it all. The ranging, propulsive “Saying Yes to Everything” seems like a nod in the direction of Rose City Band’s brand of wookie krautrock. And the motorik noir of “Demon Cicadas in the Night” also goes hard. Beck and Erwin’s intertwined guitar jam on the eerie album standout “The Cold Curve” evolves into something that sounds like primitive computer music. A genteel bassline from Wilcox on another album highlight, “Revisionist Mystery,” sets the stage for a loopy space jazz turn from guest clarinettist Matt Loewen of Rayonism. The title of post-rock cowboy tune “Another Tomorrow” might refer to the alternative future that so many critics heard in the music of Prairiewolf’s first album. Or it might simply refer to the persistence of time, however deep. Either way,

I’m thankful for the way Prairiewolf make each of their tunes a little oasis or sanctuary, each subsisting according to its own crystalline little logic for a few minutes. It is no simple task to filter out the omnipresent anger and anxiety of everyday life these days. But Prairiewolf are out here making it seem easy.

Brent S. Sirota

Kumio Kurachi is a Japanese singer-songwriter who has been active since the 1980's.

This is his 11th solo album and only the second to be released outside of Japan following ‘Sound of Turning Earth’ (2018) on bison. Though his songs are written and performed primarily on guitar, “Open Today” is a return to Kurachi’s full, multi-instrumental recording style - featuring drums, bass, strings, keys and Kurachi’s rich, distinctive vocals in multiple voicings. Incredibly, all instrumental performances and arrangements were performed and recorded by Kurachi himself - marking a brilliant return to the fully fleshed out visionary world we fell in love with on Supermarket Chitose (Enban, 2006). The super fine detail and dense landscapes of ‘Open Today’ should come as no surprise really - Kurachi is an illustrator by trade and it bleeds right through to his music. Even to the non-native speaker Kurachi’s vocals hold centre stage - at times enormous and thundering over urgent guitar and toms, then switching to softly spoken words amongst keys. Frequently Kurachi multiplies, whether multitracking himself or summoning voices for the characters he writes from sightings on train platforms or supermarkets. His lyrics - translated to English for both formats - are more like poetry, and though written about the mundane they quickly become surreal, bringing the quality of dreams into the everyday. The hours spent on buses, trains or walking home towards a cheap flat - familiar to us all - are catalysts for microcosms of detail.

Again, we shouldn’t be surprised - Kurachi is well known in Japan for winning the national championship of NHK's "Poetry Boxing" in 2002, which also might explain his amazing Discogs photo. Poet, illustrator, multi-instrumentalist - Kurachi is thought of by many as a genius. He’s worked with Jim O’Rourke, Tori Kudo, Eiko Ishibashi and Taku Unami (who did the mastering on this LP). There are lines to be drawn between Kurachi and Kazuki Tomokawa or Kan Mikami, but also Francis Plagne and Fairport Convention.

Ultimately though there is nothing else like it - it’s a brand of strange songcraft that’s totally captivating.

"Waxwork Records is honored to present the release of the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to George A. Romero’s horror classic, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. Written, filmed, and released in 1968 by a rag tag group of Pittsburgh based misfits, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD is an American independent horror film that follows the story of seven people trapped in a rural farmhouse that is besieged by a large and growing group of living dead ghouls. The film is regarded as a cult classic by critics, film scholars, and fans and has garnered critical acclaim. The film has been selected by the Library Of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry and is deemed “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant”.

Filmed and released on a shoestring budget, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD became a smashing success earning over 250 times its budget. The film is a first of its kind and ushered in a new way of writing, directing, and filming horror films. The overused script of romantic, fantastical tales of otherworldly monsters and creatures was completely flipped and tossed aside by visionary George A. Romero. As the film’s writer and director, Romero created a new, obvious threat, and one that is universally recognizable - Our very own neighbors. Due to an unseen force beyond man’s control, the recently deceased arise from the dead in seek of living human victims. These ghouls kill and feast upon the flesh of their victims, and the only way of stopping them is by destroying their brains.

From 2015 to 2018, Waxwork Records worked closely with the remaining members of the independent production company that made NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, Image Ten, to produce a definitive soundtrack album featuring all music from the film. Much of the film’s music was thought to be lost or destroyed but was located in its entirety and faithfully restored and re-mastered for vinyl. This special release of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD features the complete soundtrack, double LP “Black & White Hand Poured” colored vinyl, all new artwork by Robert Sammelin, a booklet featuring never before seen production photos, liner notes by Daniel Kraus (co-author of THE SHAPE OF WATER with Guillermo Del Toro), liner notes by Night Of The Living Dead’s dialogue recorder and sound engineer, Gary Streiner, and deluxe packaging."