Suche:calling

Stirring, snaking riffs, set closer to Josh Homme’s sun-bleached Joshua Tree compound, than the English Channel-lashed grin-and-bear-it character of Cleethorpes, sound the return of Lincolnshire teen-trio, Revivalry as they get set for 2025. Rushing and rattling into 2025, targeting fresh terrain as last year’s land grab of main stage festival and support slots becomes yesterday’s news, most recent single "Lost"'s three-and-a-half minutes of abandon pushes at the door of another sunny season of big shows and wild memories. School was out in 2024 as the teenagers took off from their hometown to first tackle the festival fields of Kendal Calling last summer, becoming the youngest ever band to play the Main Stage, having been hand-picked by bookers who spotted them mid-flow at one of their earliest shows. With trailblazing single, The Town, accompanying them on their way as thousands of new music-hungry gig goers caught the band on stages of increasing scale, their online listeners kept pace. Touring from sweaty venues to major outdoor support slots, their impressive run included a first, major Manchester headline, playing at Deaf Institute as the year met it’s festive close. Delving into record collections and distinct individual tastes, the three members of Revivalry refer with comfort to Rage Against The Machine and Bring Me The Horizon, as easily as fellow documentarians of youth, Arctic Monkeys or Supergrass, when discussing their beyond-years writing.

Ride bassist Steve Queralt’s debut solo album Swallow is a beautifully brooding nine-track collection that combines the darkly textured soundscapes of early M83 and Sigur Rós with an electronic sheen reminiscent of Boards Of Canada. It also features guest vocals from Sonic Cathedral labelmate Emma Anderson (formerly of Lush and Sing-Sing) and Verity Susman (Electrelane, Memorials).Swallow has been slowly but surely pieced together between Ride albums and tours over the past five years and, perhaps as a result, has a slightly dystopian, Blade Runner feel that reflects the liminal spaces in which it was created.Despite the fact that the majority of the album is instrumental, there is plenty of power and emotion poured into these moody, moonlit soundtracks. When words do appear, an underlying anger and political slant emerges and amplifies the album’s dark intensity. This is most notable on the closing track, ‘Motor Boats’, where he overlays words from Julie Sheldon’s polemic poem The Same Boat (“We’re all in the same boat they say, but I would disagree”). According to Steve, these simple words of rejection “capture the reality of our times perfectly”. However, it was the collaborations with the two guest vocalists that tied the whole thing together and paved the way to the finished album. “After a few false starts, I had started to doubt the project altogether. It was going nowhere,” says Steve. “Then, out of the darkness, Emma got in touch to tell me that she’d found her voice and could I send her some tracks. A few files back and forth and an afternoon in the studio later and we had ‘Lonely Town’ and ‘Swiss Air’.”In the meantime, Verity from Electrelane had added vocals to the song ‘Messengers’ and transformed the track. Matthew Simms, now her bandmate in Memorials, would go on to mix the finished album.“Swallow has turned out so much better than I had hoped,” enthuses Steve. “I’d fallen out of love with it so many times I was thinking of calling it Loveless. But then, that wouldn’t be the whole story.”

In 1966, Oscar Agudelo recorded this elusive and lesser-known collector's gem called "Pa' mi muñeca" for Discos Fuentes. It is a rarity where the artist took an unexpected musical turn and performed several porros, paseaitos, gaitas, and cumbias, evoking the swaying motion and rolling waves of Colombia's Caribbean sound. It resonates with the echoes of a romantic minstrel laced with an unexpected richness of nuance, a hallmark of the cumbia sound. It's exactly the kind of music that lights up a tambó or a fandango circle on carnival night. A dozen tracks, none of them new, but suffused with a consciousness that can be understood within the context of their time and with the personality of the artist bold enough to bring them to life. 'Madre cumbia' opens the album with a festive, nostalgic mood, infused with the simple beauty and the electrifying beat of the tropics that immediately makes you want to get up and dance. It's a fantastic example of how to perform a song with passion and make the listener fall instantly in love with an album. 'Pa' mi muñeca', the title track, is a fast-paced paseaito that explores new paths that took a shortcut to the dance halls. A showstopper on the dance floor. 'Está como mango' is a porro-cumbia that charms with a rich tapestry of compliments, the calling card of many old-school tropical songs. 'Cumbia de recuerdo', 'Cumbia suave', 'Cumbia de Santa Marta', are back-to-back cumbias. This is an album devoted to recreating the strength of a musical genre that's been the soundtrack of Colombian life for decades. It's a record dedicated to capturing good times, filled with simple dreams, steeped in joyful energy, and shining with the uninhibited flair, or better said, the quality of the sixties. This album represents a milestone on the route cumbia had taken, both for Discos Fuentes and maestro Agudelo. First time reissue. Includes liner notes by genre expert Don Alirio.

Born from a virtual encounter in lockdown between two Parisian neighbors, the DJ/producer Prosper and saxophonist Le Marabout, this new playful and joyous project is pulling freely from the Afro, Funk, Disco, Hip-Hop, Oriental and Electro influences of the two artists.
The iconoclastic DJ Romain “Prosper” Coolen, fervent purveyor of no holds barred euphoria on the dance floor, and the versatile saxophonist, composer and jack-of-all-trades Johann “Le Marabout” Guihard offer us a lavish, eclectic, uninhibited, coherent and furiously groovy listening experience.

First single “C’est Vrai“, from their forthcoming album ‘Le Moustache Conspiracy’ (released October 2022) is a banging Electro Afro Funk joint featuring Fou Malade and Niagass, two luminaries of the Senegalese Hip-Hop scene.

Over the bouncing beat and snarling horns, these two juggle lyrics back and forth in Wolof (Senegal’s most widely spoken language), calling out those fake friends who smile in your face before stabbing you in the back.

The recipient of the 2023 American Piano Awards and Steinway Artist, pianist/composer Isaiah J. Thompson has become the first call for the greats such as John Pizzarelli, Steve Turre, Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride and more! For his Mack Avenue debut, The Book of Isaiah: Modern Jazz Ministry, Thompson enlists legendary pianist Cyrus Chestnut to produce his 8-song autobiographical musical statement exploring faith, musicianship, race and humanity.

Brand new studio album from BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winning singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist, Sam Kelly - His second album for Navigator, the first, the hugely acclaimed 'Pretty Peggy' (with The Lost Boys) in 2017 - available on CD & Ltd Edition Vinyl.

'Dreamers Dawn' features Sam's signature eclectic arrangements of traditional folk songs, seamlessly interspersed with stunning original music from the pen of Sam and his Lost Boys band collaborator and banjo virtuoso, Jamie Francis. The album takes the listener on an eclectic journey, all the way from fantastical moonlit adventures of privateering and poaching, to introspective reflection & solemnity, as centuries old folk songs sit alongside modern themes of mental health and exploration of the inner self.

Sam and Jamie have gained a reputation as one of the most innovative and important partnerships to come out of the UK folk scene in recent years, and 'Dreamers Dawn' is a suitably groundbreaking addition to their impressive portfolio.

Single Sided Repress!
We've watched the movies, seen the photos, heard the stories. As in all of New York City, crime was as rampant in the subway as it was on the streets. Thefts, robberies, shootings and killings were a frequent reality throughout the 1970s. In 1979, a group of angered residents led by Curtis Sliwa began taking crime prevention into their own hands, donning red berets - looking very much like a gang and calling themselves the Guardian Angels. This funky track produced by the Legendary Patrick Adams and uptown empresario Peter Brown is an ode to what was hapenning at the time. Like many of the P&P records of the time, this wasn't dance music for flashy downtown clubs, it was the real uptown funk! With bass as heavy as rolling stock, and field recordings from the subway tannoy echoing along almost empty train carriages late at night, Margo Williams's vocals supply the inner city funk menace with some almost ethereal soul.' At a crossroads between funk, soul and an emerging Hip Hop culture this track apealled to both the disco crowd and the bravado of the uptown b-boys.

Green Sonic Opaque w/ White Ink Cassette. Limited to 150 copies.


Minecraft is a dreamscape, a limitless world where anything is possible. Minecraft is a tool, a means of bringing the imagination to life. Minecraft is a community, a platform on which inventive minds of all ages can share their creations and ideas. Minecraft, of course, is also a game, the most popular and best-selling video game of all time. Created in 2009 by Swedish programmer Markus "Notch" Persson, this cultural phenomenon speaks volumes of our current zeitgeist's love for virtual spaces, but its unprecedented success couldn't be pinned on one factor alone. Countless layers of thoughtful artistry flow through Minecraft's singular experience, not the least of which is its transportive soundtrack by C418, the project of German composer and musician Daniel Rosenfeld. Minecraft Volume Alpha, the first installment of a two-part OST, helped breathe life into the game's voxel-based universe. Upon release, fans and critics were universally enamored with C418's beatless, nuanced electronic pieces. Popular gaming site Kotaku named it among The Best Game Music of 2011, calling the music "remarkably soothing." The Guardian compared Rosenfeld's delicate piano and sparse ambient motifs to legendary artists Erik Satie and Brian Eno. Polygon distilled Volume Alpha to its essence: "It's not bound by the retro aesthetic of Minecraft's graphics. It transcends them. The album is an attempt to uplift the combined game/music experience into the sublime."

Green Sonic Opaque w/ White Ink Cassette & Red Opaque w/ White Ink Cassette. Minecraft is a dreamscape, a limitless world where anything is possible. Minecraft is a tool, a means of bringing the imagination to life. Minecraft is a community, a platform on which inventive minds of all ages can share their creations and ideas. Minecraft, of course, is also a game, the most popular and best-selling video game of all time. Created in 2009 by Swedish programmer Markus "Notch" Persson, this cultural phenomenon speaks volumes of our current zeitgeist's love for virtual spaces, but its unprecedented success couldn't be pinned on one factor alone. Countless layers of thoughtful artistry flow through Minecraft's singular experience, not the least of which is its transportive soundtrack by C418, the project of German composer and musician Daniel Rosenfeld. Minecraft Volume Alpha, the first installment of a two-part OST, helped breathe life into the game's voxel-based universe. Upon release, fans and critics were universally enamored with C418's beatless, nuanced electronic pieces. Popular gaming site Kotaku named it among The Best Game Music of 2011, calling the music "remarkably soothing." The Guardian compared Rosenfeld's delicate piano and sparse ambient motifs to legendary artists Erik Satie and Brian Eno. Polygon distilled Volume Alpha to its essence: "It's not bound by the retro aesthetic of Minecraft's graphics. It transcends them. The album is an attempt to uplift the combined game/music experience into the sublime."

After recent excursions on X-Kalay and Craigie Knowes, Melbourne's Escape Artist follows on from his excellent 'Energy Breakthrough EP' on Phonica's main label with another special release, the 'Forgot Who I Was / Remembering' 12".

As ever, euphoria and energy are his production calling cards, with A-side 'Forgot Who I Was' gradually building and releasing its intensity, all delicately programmed melodies underpinned by a potent shapeshifting bassline.

B-side 'Remembering' is almost a flipside of the same coin, maintaining aspects of the previous track's two-step-esque drum pattern yet slowing and gliding along in a more uplifting direction, touching on ambient techno with flourishes of acidic breaks.

After over 50 events of Bristol's beloved Club Blanco, the city's anointed high priest of night, Chez de Milo, is crystallising his party's dimension-hopping hedonism into a label, calling on an extended family of esteemed producers and musicians to make it happen.

First up is Johnny Aux, aka Quinn Whalley (Paranoid London, Sworn Virgins, Decius), delivering two offerings accompanied by remixes from Jamie Paton and Chez de Milo himself.

Supersonic blends a hyperspace bassline with euphoric 90s synth elevation that delivers us to a blissful dance floor crescendo, where you've been dancing for hours—maybe days— when the sun appears over the horizon and pierces through the club's blacked-out windows. Chez de Milo's re-rub wraps you up vines of a living, breathing forest, where all your favourite flora and fauna summon you to the dappled light of a clearing, front left of the booth.

On The Train locks you into a rolling groove, and electro slaps and smacks. It feels covered in equal parts space dust and the dust of an old crate of records, where this forgotten banger has been buried deep for 25 years, waiting for the right hands to pull it out. Jamie Paton veers off down a stranger track, conducting a driving Italo beat with eerie soundscapes dissected by lasers and a brooding bassline.

High Roller Records, black vinyl, ltd 250, 425 gsm heavy cardboard cover, insert, 2 sided poster, alternate cover art

High Roller Records, marble vinyl, ltd 250, 425 gsm heavy cardboard cover, insert, 2 sided poster, alternate cover art

After a three year hiatus, Mutual Response returns for its long awaited second release, by talented artist and close friend of the label, Dockett Eddy.
Moving through fresh yet familiar combinations of drum patterns and melodies, his first EP displays the beginnings of a unique, honed style.

Calling on a varied palette of reference from the last 30 years of electronic music, the atmosphere of the release is established somewhere between the skipping, dream-like rhythms of ’00:04’ and the rough, driving drums of ‘Delayed Response’. The gritty awkwardness of the title track, Monofly, builds to an unexpected, ethereal moment, in what is the worthy climax of all four tracks.

The record sets an ominous tone, consolidating itself as a recognisable contribution to the label’s evolving output, but at the same time demonstrating a sound which is entirely the producers own.

Crack the coffers, Oh Sees have spawned another frothy album of head-destroying psych-epics to grok and rock out to. Notice the fresh dollop of organ and keyboard prowess courtesy of Memory Of A Cut Off Head-alum and noted key-stabber Tom Dolas, while the Paul Quattrone / Dan Rincon drum-corps polyrhythmic pulse continues to astound and pound in equal measure, buttressed by the nimble fingered bottom end of Sir Tim Hellman the Brave and the shred-heaven fret frying of John Dwyer, whilst Lady Brigid Dawson again graces the wax with her harmonic gifts. Aside from the familiar psych-scorch familiar to soggy pit denizens the world over, there’s a fresh heavy-prog vibe that fits like a worn-in jean jacket comfortably among hairpin metal turns and the familiar but no less horns-worthy guitar fireworks Dwyer’s made his calling card. Perhaps the most notable thing about Smote Reverser is the artistic restlessness underpinning its flights of fancy. Dwyer refuses to repeat himself and for someone with such a hectic release schedule, that stretching of aesthetic borders and omnivorous appetite seems all the more superhuman!

Zig Zags have been an L.A. institution for over a decade, never veering from their hard-riffin punk/metal mission statement. They’ve gigged all over the globe with underground luminaries such Mike Watt, Neurosis, Pig Destroyer, Oh Sees and Feral Ohms and recorded collaborations with icons like Iggy Pop. Now the power trio is set to release their fifth incendiary full-length album, Deadbeat At Dawn, named in honor of the beloved B-movie, a no-budget action revenge flick set in the mean streets of suburban Ohio. Cult cinema is an enduring Zig Zags inspiration, with the band frequently calling out exploitation films in their lyrics, odes to teen-delinquent classics like “Over the Edge” and dystopian sci-fi such as, “Terminator” and “Total Recall”. The new album sticks to this obsession with the cultural underground, riffing on everything from demonic minions to apocalyptic visions and alien attacks. The result is the most focused, intense, and catchy Zig Zags album yet, with the timing perfect for their distinctly melodic and maniacal call to arms. Finalizing recording and mixing just as the catastrophic fires hit their hometown in L.A., Deadbeat At Dawn is the perfect soundtrack for a city rising up from the ashes of destruction. “I feel lucky that we got to put out this record when we did,” Maheu said, “It’s heavy and gnarly and kind of fucked up, but it’s also a lot of fun—which is how we feel about Los Angeles.”

Destiny of Illusion is a 24-track full length debut from Pretty V (aka. Voldy Moyo, v7backin2007, #Smokesito), a prolific artist from Wakefield, UK who has been frequently performing and releasing music & videos online for the past 9 years, building notoriety for his unique sound and prolific output and gaining support from artists such as MIKE & King Krule, both of which have brought Voldy out for many shows, and for collaborations.

The album will release on the 24th April 2025, along with a release show the same day at Ormside Projects.

The album is produced entirely by aloisius, a prolific artist & producer, as well as the founder of life is beautiful records). ‘Destiny of Illusion’ is a landmark album for both Pretty V & aloisius, being their first full-run vinyl release. The album will be available exclusively on Vinyl, Cassette & CD.

This album also holds additional historical significance being that it is the first official/ full-run vinyl release for life is beatiful records.

The first pressing of ‘Destiny of Illusion’ will be limited to 397 copies.

Denmark's premiere outlet for forward-thinking modern jazz, April Records proudly presents the debut of a brand new quartet featuring some of Scandinavia and the UK's most celebrated instrumentalists: Mathias Heise, Anton Eger, Rasmus Sørensen and Conor Chaplin. Meeting for the first time on a spring day in 2023, the quartet quickly discovered a natural synergy.Their debut performances that summer were met with resounding acclaim, with Politiken music editor Thomas Michelsen calling them a "supergroup" and awarding their concert at Balders Plads five hearts. Buoyed by their success, the group headed into the studio to record their eponymous debut album. THE ACTION 4s thrives at the intersection of jazz, rock, funk, fusion, and electronica. Their music is a dynamic interplay of raw energy and masterful artistry, seamlessly blending the acoustic and the electronic. The chromatic harmonica's soulful tone meets the rich textures of piano and synthesizer, while the foundation laid by the electric bass and dynamic drumming creates a playful arena for ever-evolving spontaneity. Their compositions pulse with rhythm, melody and interplay, pushing the boundaries of genre and tradition to forge an exciting new direction for Danish jazz. The quartet brings together four internationally acclaimed musicians, each a master of their craft: Mathias Heise: Chromatic Harmonica, Synthesizer Anton Eger: Drums, Percussion Rasmus Sørensen: Grand Piano, Synthesizer Conar Chaplin: Electric Bass

Three LPs packed in a trifold jacket. Pressed on Deep Ocean Pearl, Gold & Dark Green Vinyl. Take up your sword, channel your magic or board your Mech. Chained Echoes is a 16-bit style RPG set in a fantasy world where dragons are as common as piloted mechanical suits. The game is set on the continent of Valandis during the time of a multi-generational war between three kingdoms, Taryn, Gravos and Escanya. After a great catastrophe caused by Grand Grimoire shakes the continent, the kingdoms agree to sign a peace treaty. One year later, an unknown force strives to begin a new war. A group of unlikely heroes joins forces and eventually becomes the clan of Crimson Wings in order to stop it. The outstanding soundtrack for Chained Echoes was passionately composed, arranged and recorded over four years by Eddie Marianukroh as well as many other musicians who worked under his direction. It includes 50 tracks at two hours in length. Even the game has been out for a while, Marianukroh's admiration and enthusiasm for the game and his addition to it remain undiminished: "It has been over two years now since the release of Chained Echoes, which is rather difficult for me to believe. Time really flies, and it's honestly a bit frightening when I think about it. But, despite that, when I listen to the music I've written for this game, I still very much remain proud of what I composed. I really did give my all for this soundtrack. I will forever be grateful to Matthias for trusting me with the music for his game. I can vividly remember how I felt when I first came across his project, and how I nervously reached out to him about the composer position. I truly, truly cannot thank him enough for giving me this memorable experience that I will always hold dear. Thank you, my friend."

There are bands that you feel you have known forever -- recent ones, new
ones even -- because you are already so familiar with what you know they are
going to offer, familiar with the anticipation and the need, with the pleasure
you expect them to, quite rightfully, provide the masses (by which I mean
people who have once considered calling their first-born Kang)
VERDICT is such a band. It has members of MEANWHILE, NO SECURITY,
WARCOLLAPSE, 3- WAY CUM, TOTALITAR, and too many other bands, and even
though I have never actually met any of them, I still have had more interactions with
them through (over)playing and rocking to their records than I have had with some
members of my family, which, to be honest, is definitely for the best. VERDICT is a
rather new (but experienced in the things of the D) kang hardcore band, and they know
exactly what they are doing and how to do it. Had they produced something different,
that would have completely taken me aback -- something horrendous like ska- punk
would have made so little sense that I would have had to quit punk altogether. Alright,
what about The Rat Race, then. This is the follow-up to last year's Time to Resign, and
this one has even more punch, fury, and pummeling power than its predecessor.
Unoriginal, in a good way, and thoroughly checking all the correct boxes: the
drumming is pure and relentless, the riffs' efficiency is religiously executed in a
"Scandicore 101" way, the vocals are angry, direct, and raspy. Think a joyous orgy
between NO SECURITY, UNCURBED, and TOTALITAR.
This is the kind of record that makes the world a better place to rock. Thank you
Phobia Records. Kang up your life.

In 2005, the Grand Rapids band Still Remains dropped their first studio album Of Love and Lunacy, and since that time its reputation has only grown as one of the great lost classics of the metalcore genre. Now, with full support of the band, we at Real Gone are releasing Of Love and Lunacy on vinyl for the first time to celebrate its 20th anniversary. It’s not just the musicianship that sets this record apart, though this band’s ability to punctuate pummeling passages with fantastically progressive melodic interludes is definitely one of its calling cards. It’s also the impassioned poetry of the lyrics, which often employ startling, spiritually-tinged imagery to express extreme states of emotion. Too sensitive for some? Maybe. But it also rocks like all get-out, especially in this remastered-for-vinyl (by Mike Milchner at Sonic Vision) edition. Jungle swirl pressing at Gotta Groove Records, limited to 750 copies, complete with a color printed inner sleeve with lyrics.

Calling Mattheis a pillar of Nous'klaer Audio would be an understatement. Founded in 2013, the label was at the time solely created to put out Mattheis' Isms EP. Now, twelve years on, we present his latest album: Waiting for the Silhouette. The forty minute LP full of dreamy techno bliss explorations starts out, and is glued throughout, with ethereal modulating synths. Dreamscapes fuse into scattered drums and shifting patterns briefly usher in changing phases. It's in these moments when the unworldly contours take form and are built upon by other emerging elements. Waiting for the silhouette is a record about things coming to life, outlines that start to appear and shapes evoking memories that could as well be premonitions. Minimalism and maximalism become indistinguishable on this album, through the trip in between. Artwork by Frederic Dumoulin. The record is cut inside-out and comes with a downloadcard.

Spincycle records presents the second imprint on their label – a two track split EP from Neil E & Big City Bill on 180g heavyweight vinyl.

Bill and Neil met deep in the mountains 20 years ago.
With work drying up in the mountains, they tobogganed into the city to find their calling.

For years in dim garages, they studied with diligence strange hieroglyphs projected on the wall by the reflection of fluorescent lamps through emptied vessels.
At first, none of it made sense. All they knew was that it was important.

They began posting their findings online, and after a time of thinking they may have gone crazy, they began to receive anonymous messages: “Click here to join a guild of amazing artists: link redacted.”; “Follow me, and I’ll follow you back. Let’s grow together!”; “Do you want 10k+ follows? We can help!”
This was the encouragement they had been waiting so eagerly for. And so on they went. They joined a few guilds and continued to hone their practice, mining their depths, searching for that ineffable thing, whatever it was, wherever it was locked away.
After years of deep contemplation, the breaking of sacred tools, fiddling around, and the collection of various bevelled talismans, a revelation struck.

Two fantastic thoughts struck them both simultaneously.
These are those thoughts.

Daryl Systems: The Wall Street Investor Turned Synth Maestro_
Daryl Systems, a former Wall Street stockbroker, found his true calling in music after a successful career in finance. Born and raised in the heart of New York City, Daryl made his fortune in the high-stakes world of stocks during the booming 90s. By the mid-90s, he had amassed significant wealth, allowing him to retire early and turn his attention to his lifelong passion: music.
Daryl relocated to Sweden, a country known for its rich history of electronic music, and began amassing a vast collection of vintage synthesizers. Inspired by the analog sounds of 70s and 80s synth music, Daryl became deeply immersed in the world of electronic production, creating lush, nostalgic melodies with a modern edge. His music blends the warmth of classic synths with innovative soundscapes, capturing a sense of retro-futurism.
Daryl's work is rooted in the tradition of vintage synth music, drawing influences from early electronic pioneers, while adding his own contemporary twist. He quickly gained a reputation within the underground scene for his impeccable taste in synthesizers and his ability to weave intricate, atmospheric tracks. His unique background and sound have made him a sought-after producer within the global electronic music community.

Mr. Fantasy: The Latin Italo Lover and Synth Collector
Mr. Fantasy is a true embodiment of the Italo disco movement, with a deep love for the genre and a keen passion for synthesizers. Hailing from Latin origins, Mr. Fantasy’s music is a vibrant tribute to the golden era of 80s Italo disco, blending nostalgic melodies with rich, rhythmic layers. With a particular obsession for collecting vintage synthesizers, Mr. Fantasy's music brings the analog warmth of the past into the present, creating a captivating blend of melodic hooks and captivating synths.
He grew up listening to the Italo disco classics, developing a fascination for the genre's distinctive sound, which he now incorporates into his music. Mr. Fantasy’s tracks are filled with pulsating beats, dreamy synths, and smooth basslines, all influenced by the golden age of Italian disco and electronic music.
His passion for synthesizers is matched only by his dedication to creating the perfect track. By blending his Latin roots with the shimmering sounds of Italo disco and the energy of modern electronic dance music, Mr. Fantasy has carved a niche for himself in the underground electronic scene.

The Collaboration: "Sensazione Elettronica" EP
In a highly anticipated collaboration, Daryl Systems and Mr. Fantasy have teamed up to release a new EP for the Italian record label Maledetta Discoteca. This collaboration brings together their shared love for vintage synthesizers, the Italo disco influence, and a passion for deep, atmospheric electronics.
Sensazione Elettronica features four electrifying tracks that blend retro vibes with fresh, forward-thinking production. Drawing from their unique backgrounds—Daryl's transition from the world of finance to full-time music production, and Mr. Fantasy’s deep connection to Italo disco—they have created a sound that is both nostalgic and innovative.
The EP showcases their mastery of classic synthesizers, with catchy melodies, driving basslines, and smooth, atmospheric textures that transport listeners to a world of neon-lit discos and timeless electronic rhythms. It’s an exhilarating project that marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in both of their musical journeys.

The Dutchman drifts through the curtain of time with sonic depth and hits with clarity and force. A profile of both unidentified sounds copied from the internet and reworked happy accidents, results in his 'Tonal Raid EP'. Despite the title, raid is not the standard here.

The Crippled Flower was a post-punk band from Düsseldorf - and they arrived late. However, unlike many young, unsuspecting, hairsprayed hopefuls from that time, in 1985 they could sense that the end of their era was approaching. They knew too much to want to take the world by storm. They were four individualists searching their own way. Each of the band members only found their calling after the time that they had spent together – but that's exactly what makes The Crippled Flower still seem really interesting today, this static energy that does not discharge, but is simply there.

Searching dreamers should sound like that and that's what they were. Singer Phil Elston, for example, had brought his love of Kraftwerk from England to Düsseldorf. Even his bandmates found this strange, but they were also entangled in their own longings. This is because the times were still so crazy and these searchers were "on fire". A fire that glows in the band's recordings.

Listening to the songs today, The Crippled Flower sound like they are hugely at the height of their game; think of Wire, Felt, Scritti Politti or Minimal Compact. The variety of musical themes, as well as different soundscapes, which the band created can only be listened to in amazement. Often, it is only Phil Elston's Sprechgesang that confirms that this is really the same band. However, it was back in 1985 when, importantly, the catalyst that brought the musicians together - the short lived eclectic record store "Heartbeat" in Düsseldorf Bilk - occured. It was there where post-industrial and pop, melodic minimal music and sound attacks awaited those who wanted to discover music by artists and bands they did not yet know.

Cassette releases. All recorded on 4-Track. The Crippled Flower succeeded in this medium. Firstly, with a cassette just entited The Crippled Flower, working from project-like studio recorded sketches. Four more tracks from the short-lived band appeared in 1986 on "A Heartbeat Rendezvous“. A demo tape submitted to Les Disques du Crépuscule, however, did not lead to a worldwide career and so, unfortunately, it was soon over.

Stefan Krausen moved on to the follow-up project Deux Baleines Blanches with Stefan Schneider, which, in 1994, gave rise to the band Kreidler. Krausen was already drumming with the I-Burnettes on AtaTak and much later he studied painting in Munich. Nina Ahlers moved from Düsseldorf to Paris to study art, because in the 80s it was still the case that Paris was the destination of choice for those really wanting to become an artist – and that's what she did. Her work is characterized by a non-academic minimalism focusing on everyday objects. Stefan Schneider remained connected to music. Only Phil Elston, who helped sabotage fox hunts in England and wrote these observant lyrics about environmental destruction and time travel, seems to have escaped the social-media world. Whether he found Kraftwerk-fulfilment in Düsseldorf or moved on disillusioned remains a mystery to us. And somehow this also fits in with that peculiar, special band. - Oliver Tepel, Köln 2025 (Translation by Philipp Elston)

Annie and the Caldwells are a family that plays a powerful disco soul from West Point, Mississippi, led by Annie Caldwell (who sings) and her husband of the last fifty years Willie Joe Caldwell, Sr. (who plays guitar). Can"t Lose My (Soul) is their new album 40 years in the making ... and it"s already gotten rave reviews in MOJO and The Guardian, even before it"s been announced!

The debut album from CEM, 'FORMA' was developed as a soundtrack to Mauro Ventura’s series of "action painting performances" and uses various bell sounds (cowbells, doorbells, Shinto bells, singing bowls) to pick out anxious giallo sequences and heaving Dadaist formations.

CEM's best known for pneumatic DJ sets that have propped up Berlin's queer underground for a decade at this point, but don't expect to find any vaped darkroom tek on 'FORMA'. Each of the six compositions were commissioned for Ventura’s performative installation at Volksbühne in 2022, and CEM opted to represent the piece's themes of labor and repetition by sampling an arsenal of bells and metal objects that anchor his varying widescreen vignettes. 'The Calling' is a relatively subtle introduction, establishing the space with double bass drones and ratcheting digitally altered chimes - it's 'Bells Corrupt' that cements CEM's concept more righteously, harking back to Goblin's iconic 'Suspiria' score without pastiching any of its Italo-prog themes. Cycling ritualistic bell loops with squashed, industrial-strength thuds and granulised laptop belches, CEM silhouettes the tension and the vivid color of Argento's film, chrome plating the result.

'An Industrial Satire' is even more convincing; this one takes its cues from legendary German sound artist Limpe Fuchs, and the first part integrates scraped, alien resonances with CEM's loping industrial rhythms and squelchy EBM bassline. The real shift occurs in the second part, when CEM's choppy electroacoustic minimalism falls away to unlock his rolling hand drum performance, that he matches with a ghaita sample lifted from the Master Musicians of Joujouka's 1971 album with Brian Jones. With the future-facing deconstructions a memory, 'Statue Garden' beds reedy organ drones in eerie gallery ambiance, and closer 'The New Sincerity Test' finds Lithuanian performance artist Gertrūda Gilytė skewering the wellness industrial complex over nauseous subsonic oscillations and scratchy noise.

Jan Akkerman (b. 1946) stands apart as a singular figure in the realm of rock and beyond. A Dutch guitarist of unparalleled versatility, he earned international acclaim in 1973 when he topped the prestigious Melody Maker readers’ poll, surpassing icons like Eric Clapton (2nd), Jimmy Page (5th), and Carlos Santana (10th). His fame, however, has never defined his artistry. For Akkerman, it’s always been about the music—any genre, as long as it resonates. He’s a lifelong improviser who approaches each performance as a new adventure. Akkerman first rose to prominence with Focus, a band that embodied the grandiose instrumental rock spirit of the 1970s. Long compositions, dazzling technique, and adventurous arrangements made them a cornerstone of progressive rock. Despite the accolades, Akkerman remained true to his calling. When asked about his success, he has always brushed it aside, preferring to let his guitar do the talking. Side 1 of this record captures Akkerman’s stunning performance on July 10, 2011, at the Nile Hall in Rotterdam. Here, he showcases his ability to take listeners on a sonic journey. The mellow “Tranquilizer” offers a relaxed groove, followed by the heartfelt ballad “You Do Something to Me,” unfolding emotion without words. In “Piétons”—a gospel-tinged blues—trumpeter Eric Vloeimans delivers a fiery solo before the leader propels the piece into uncharted territory. Side 2 brings us back to an earlier moment, recorded in July 2005 at the Paul Acket Paviljoen in The Hague. “Streetwalker” delivers a funk-driven explosion featuring alto saxophonist Benjamin Herman, while “The Zebrah” sends Vloeimans soaring into the musical stratosphere, only to have Akkerman reignite the piece with blistering guitar lines, his band driving forward like a well-tuned Mercedes on an open highway. Akkerman’s live performances are as unpredictable as they are electrifying. Whether sharing the stage with legends or newcomers, his spontaneous creativity makes every concert unique—a master class in musical freedom. Jan Akkerman remains a touchstone for guitarists and fans alike, an authentic improviser whose name still elicits one universal response from any seasoned Dutch rock enthusiast: “He’s the best guitarist in the world.” The North Sea Jazz Concert Series includes officially licensed releases that will be released as standard on 180-gram white vinyl in a sleeve of heavy paper and printed on reversed board. The records are captured in mainly black-and-white artwork by Hans Pol in his signature style of the festival with inspiration from the covers of classic older jazz releases from the Blue Note label, for example. The liner notes are written by journalist and jazz expert Jeroen de Valk. For all recordings it’s a first time ever release on vinyl!

The 20th installment of Saddle Creek’s Document series features Dean Johnson, the Seattle-based singer/songwriter whose heartfelt storytelling and undeniable charm have been quietly building a devoted fanbase across the globe.

For years regulars at Al’s Tavern might murmur to each other about Dean Johnson behind the bar. There were nudges and whispers that he might just be the best songwriter in town. They spoke of his talent like a family secret –Seattle folklore. How many times, and for how many years, did Dean elusively reply to some variation of the question, “When will there be a record?”

In May of 2023, there finally was. Nothing For Me, Please, Dean Johnson’s debut album, was released on his 50th birthday.

Calling him a “hidden gem” doesn’t quite fit, because there’s nothing hidden about him—he shines in plain sight. It was only a matter of time before people stopped to take notice.

Dean’s music feels like a conversation with an old friend—warm, honest, and deeply human. His songs bridge the past and present, weaving modern sensibilities with a timeless appeal. With razor-sharp wit and an uncanny ability to make you laugh and cry in the same breath, Dean’s songwriting reminds us why music matters, offering proof that a song can be more than the sum of it’s parts. Hear just a phrase of his melody, catch even a moment of the sobering depth in his voice, and you’ll feel it—like a letter written, signed, sealed, and delivered just for you.

Go see him live, and you’ll understand. That’s how he won us over—one song, one story, one unforgettable moment at a time.

The Great Sea wurde 2022 von JR (Long Distance Calling) und SH (Ordeal & Plight) mit dem Ziel gegründet, eine Atmosphäre zu schaffen, die mit der Majestät der Berge und den schrecklichen Tiefen der Meere mithalten kann
Um dem Sound das zu geben, was er verdient, luden sie Phil Jonas (Crone, exɞ Secrets Of The Moon) und Azathoth (Gràb, exɞDark Fortress) ein, dieser Platte ihren Stempel aufzudrücken und eine Verbindung zwischen dieser Welt und den Sphären zu schaffenɎ von der man nie sprechen kann
Beide Songs sind mit einem Maximum an schwarzem Klebstoff in den Rest der Platte integriert und geben dem Hörer die Erfahrung von Tiefstrom

Destiny of Illusion is a 24-track full length debut from Pretty V (aka. Voldy Moyo, v7backin2007, #Smokesito), a prolific artist from Wakefield, UK who has been frequently performing and releasing music & videos online for the past 9 years, building notoriety for his unique sound and prolific output and gaining support from artists such as MIKE & King Krule, both of which have brought Voldy out for many shows, and for collaborations.

The album will release on the 24th April 2025, along with a release show the same day at Ormside Projects.

The album is produced entirely by aloisius, a prolific artist & producer, as well as the founder of life is beautiful records). ‘Destiny of Illusion’ is a landmark album for both Pretty V & aloisius, being their first full-run vinyl release. The album will be available exclusively on Vinyl, Cassette & CD.

This album also holds additional historical significance being that it is the first official/ full-run vinyl release for life is beatiful records.

The first pressing of ‘Destiny of Illusion’ will be limited to 397 copies.

Released in late 2012, Odes was the fourth studio album from The Flowers of Hell. It is a covers record and the first release from the group to feature vocals and verse-chorus-verse song structures. Never available on vinyl until now. Greg Jarvis, front man of The Flowers of Hell, has created something very special; the artwork features a die cut outer sleeve, revealing the printed inner sleeve and when removed, revealing more artwork on the inside of the 300gsm outer sleeve. The music has been remastered for LP by Odes co-producer Peter Moore.Pressed in a red 180g heavyweight vinyl, the whole package is stickered and poly bagged, a real show stopper!

"STEPS AHEAD" ist eine der markantesten und einflussreichsten Instrumental- gruppen der 80er Jahre
Nun erscheint das Klassiker-Album N.Y.C. als remasterte Version in der INTUITI- ON-Master-Series auf 180g-Vinyl

This is the northeast calling, with songs of stillness, reflection, renewal, defiance, hope, classic melodies and, at certain perfectly judged moments, furniture-shifting riffs. With a powerful album shaped by pandemic-era loss (of momentum, and of a band member), and by the wins brought by what singer/songwriter/guitarist Adam Hope describes as a “weight lifted off my shoulders”. With a fresh, front-footed, fired-up approach that owes everything to a band returning to their roots in Wallsend and Newcastle – and, for the first time, making their music entirely on their own independent terms: self-produced and self-confident. “The Big Sad: an album born from the ashes of dark times but representing a beacon of light for the future. An album of honesty and purity, one that our current fanbase sonically may not be expecting. The sound of a band that got tired of slamming on the fuzz pedal to tick the ‘rock’ box and dares to try something new, dares to shock, dares to be great.

ver the years, Andreas O. Hirsch has shaped a distinctive sound, exploring the possibilities of the electro-acoustic instruments he const- ructs. The Carbophone as well as the Electrified Palm Leaf are plucked instruments akin to the African Kalimba or Mbira. In combination with effects and loops, Hirsch creates an experimen- tal space, influenced by early electronics, Asian and African music as well as the possibilities of editing and collage. The majority of the pieces on The Salamander Treaty were made using the Carbophone Jr., a small traveling version of his original Carbophone which was the basis of the previously released Early Carbophonics. Shaped by the joy of discovery, the eight tracks traverse peculiar worlds of sound, carried by a warm downbeat and analogue vibe. Alongside the Car- bophone Jr., other instruments come into play: a vibrato-soaked guitar leads through the slowly evolving ‘Rise’, marked by a recurring Shepard tone and sounds made by striking the bars of an antique wall clock. In the straightforward yet sub-aquatic ‘Te- atime Unlimited’, a pitch-shifted Morse key wanders erratically in the background. Tape-delayed har- monicas serve as a flying carpet for ‘Drifting Newts’, and rubber bands make their melodic-rhythmical appearance through ‘Back Door Minimal’.

The Salamander Treaty refers to War with the Newts, a prophetic and black-humoured science fiction novel by Karel Čapek from 1936, which tells the story of the rise of the salamanders, who become in- creasingly intelligent and eventually begin to compete with mankind. The album is a pacifist response to this dark scenario: Hirsch’s salamanders prefer to hang out under the stars (‘Drifting Newts’), drink tea (‘Tea Time Unlimited’) and — as illustrated on the back cover — write conspiratorial-pacifist demands instead of calling for war (e.g., ‘Teaoism International’, ‘White Lilies’, ‘For Congress’). In image and word, the album invites looking at the term ‘treaty’, which phonetically contains the words ‘tree’ and ‘tea’, as a friendly reminder that the drafting of every treaty and agreement on this planet should be accompanied by a peaceful spirit.

Music, mix and artwork by Andreas Oskar Hirsch. Mastered by Volker Hennes. Pressed on BioVinyl by Optimal, who state that their manufacturing process reduces CO2 emissions by approximately 90% for the PVC component. 12“ LP, coloured sleeve, download code included,

LIMITED TO 100 COPIES!.