quête:ché

Odisea is the new album, actually the real debut from Los Retros, out in April on Stones Throw. It draws inspiration from 1980s Japanese City Pop, and marks a new creative chapter from Mauri Tapia shaped by growth, reflection, and renewed purpose. It's been a journey since Tapia first captured hearts with the lo-fi magic of "Someone To Spend Time With", recorded at the age of 17 on a humble four-track in his parents' living room. Now 25, the Oxnard native has stepped into an entirely new season of life - he married his high school sweetheart, became a father to two daughters, and embraced spiritual faith. Earlier this year, he revisited his start with Early Days (2016-2019), a compilation of unreleased music from Mauri's teen years. "Jazz fusion has become my favorite genre and greatest inspiration of all time," Mauri says. "I made this album for the version of me that first fell in love with music. It's my full-circle moment - a sonic hat tip to my beginnings - as well as a nod to the forefathers of jazz fusion and city pop for leaving us with great music." Through it all, he's kept the same DIY spirit, writing and recording every note himself, only now in a home studio of his own. On Odisea, Tapia blends neon-lit City Pop with the melodic sensibility of Latin American soft rock. Mauri's deep love for 70s and 80s jazz fusion records anchors the album, yet Tapia filters those influences through a modern lens. Odisea features two Japanese vocalists, - Hikari and HITOMITOI. Also check out Los Retros new compilation "Early Days" released simultaneously. RIYL soul, bedroom pop, indie, modern jazz, downtempo, soft rock, Mac DeMarco, Thee Sacred Souls, Skinshape, Men I Trust

Early Days (2016-2019) is a new collection of previously unreleased songs from Mauri Tapia a.k.a Los Retros. From a young age, Tapia has been a prolific songwriter, spending his teenage years writing and recording song after song. Influenced by soft rock and left-field South American pop, Early Days (2016-2019) captures the sound of this formative era Streaming everywhere today, Early Days consisting of 15 tracks, recorded from Mauri's parents' living room using nothing more than an old four-track recorder, that only existed in low quality online, now mastered, sequenced, and physically released for the first time. It was during these sessions that Los Retros created the song "Someone to Spend Time With", now certified Gold. Early Days comes with a companion visual for "Without You", edited by close friend and collaborator Ross Harris from found footage of early Los Retros tour stops. Check out Los Retros proper debut "Odisea" released simultaneously too. FFO soul, bedroom pop, indie, modern jazz, downtempo, soft rock, Mac DeMarco, Thee Sacred Souls, Skinshape, Men I Trust, Too Slow To Disco

This 18- track selection spans Edith Piaf' s career from the years 1946 to 1961. It includes all of her big hits, such as 'La Vie en rose', 'Non, je ne regrette rien', 'Hymne a l'amour', 'Milord', 'La Foule', 'L'Accordeoniste', and 'Padam Padam', among many others. Regarded as France's national chanteuse, singer songwrite, and actress Edith Piaf (1915-1963), also became one of the country's greatest international stars. Her music was often autobiographical with her songs reflecting her own personal life. Piaf's specialties were the chanson and torch ballads, particularly those of love, loss, and sorrow.

















[q] Le Chevalier De Paris [aka Les Pommiers Doux]

Die Montrealer Ikone Tiga kehrt mit seinem vierten Album HOTLIFE zurück und läutet damit eine neue Ära in seiner unsterblichen Techno-Reise hin zu absoluter geistiger Freiheit ein. Mit Beiträgen von Boys Noize, Matthew Dear, Fcukers, MRD, Gesloten Cirkel, Paranoid London, Maara und den neuen Studio-Experten seiner Heimatstadt Priori und Patrick Holland befindet sich Tiga mit HOTLIFE auf dem Gipfel des Musikbergs und versetzt die Zuhörer mit ansteckenden Dancefloor-Klängen in Begeisterung: ,Wenn ich die Catharsis Machine einschalte", sagt der berühmte Sänger und Produzent, ,spielt es keine Rolle, ob Sie reich oder arm sind, denn Sie werden ein freier Mensch sein ..." Die Rückeroberung seines Platzes an der Spitze des himmlischen Firmaments der zeitgenössischen Tanzmusik verlief nicht ohne eine fesselnde und nachvollziehbare Erzählung. Nach einem mühsamen Kampf mit einer neurologischen Erkrankung, die er entdeckte und ,Vibe Fog" nannte, befand sich Tiga an einem Scheideweg: ,An einem bestimmten Punkt hieß es entweder, das Exoskelett zu kaufen und meine Virgin Megastore-Aktien zu verkaufen, oder Tiga City von Grund auf neu aufzubauen, Stein für Stein, Wasserspeier für Wasserspeier." Das Ergebnis ist ein Tiga, den langjährige Tiga-Beobachter als ,engelsgleich" und ,furchteinflößend" bezeichnen, was zu einem Album geführt hat, das die destillierte Essenz eines Trendsetters einfängt, der über alle menschlichen Grenzen hinausgeht. ,Meine Ja/Nein-Reaktionszeit bei künstlerischen Entscheidungen ist außergewöhnlich", fügt Tiga hinzu. ,Wir haben jede Sekunde, die wir bei jeder kreativen Entscheidung eingespart haben, in die Laufzeit des Albums reinvestiert. 12 Songs. 60 Minuten. Bemerkenswert."

Debut album by The Upsessions

20th anniversary edition on solid pink vinyl

Previous pressings by Moon Ska and Cherry Red Records have sold out

“Black Jacket” is a love letter between two bands separated by continents but united by mutual admiration. Contriva, of Berlin, and Chessie of Washington, DC, first came together in 2001 when sharing a stage, sparking a deep connection over their respective takes on textural, emotive, and mostly instrumental music that merges post-rock, ambient, and experimental elements into unique visions. Fast forward two decades and many trips to their respective studios and we now have “Black Jacket”, a double LP of musical alchemy that builds upon the expressionistic, idiosyncratic sounds of these two groups. A new classic that proves far greater than the sum of its parts.

Begun in the mid 1990's, Washington DC's Chessie is Stephen Gardner (also of noisy shoegaze pioneers, Lorelei) and Ben Bailes, whose various LP's for Slumberland's Dropbeat imprint and Plug Research pair abstract electronics and melancholy post-rock in search of the sounds and feelings of railways and train travel.

Berlin's Contriva, (Monika Enterprises, Lok Musik, and Morr Music) features Masha Qrella (known for her solo works for Morr Music), Max Punktezahl (also of Munich indie legends the Notwist and Berlin's Jersey and Saroos), Hannes Lehmann and Rike Schuberty. For over a decade beginning in the mid-1990's, Contriva crafted compelling instrumentals, grafting experimental textures onto beautiful and complex indie songs.

Together, the six of them have created “Black Jacket.”

Generic Flipper, the debut album by Flipper, remains the most absorbing full-length LP to emerge from the early San Francisco punk scene. A constant source of imitation for so-called "noise rock" bands, it has yet to be surpassed in its nihilistic glee.

Recorded between October 1980 and August 1981 and released in 1982 on the indispensable Subterranean Records, this album functions as a chaotic, sticky mass of individual personalities: the magma-like bass eruptions and dual vocals of Will Shatter and Bruce Loose, Ted Falconi's icy guitar scraping and the relentless beat of drummer Steve DePace. At times playful and taciturn, paranoid and absurd, Generic charts a deliberate path that willfully chances destruction.

In early '80s punk, when the hardening default was "faster-shorter-louder," Generic subverts the nascent hardcore scene with a strictly applied regimen of turgid-slower-heavier. The lyrics are bleak, yet unnervingly beautiful. "Ever" sets the tone with trademark restraint – "Ever wish the human race didn't exist? And then realize you're one too?" – while closer "Sex Bomb" is a churning, 8-minute epic with looping bass, saxophone accompaniment and electronic effects of dropping bombs.

Tons of indie bands have attempted to recreate Flipper's mix of acidic guitar, metallic bass sludge and sardonically brilliant lyricism, using the seemingly effortless template they pioneered; however, the effect usually drives listeners right back to Generic. While most of their contemporaries wilt under direct comparison, No Trend, the Butthole Surfers, feedtime and Church Police are a few who can stand the frigid heat.

An absolute masterpiece (almost 50 min) from those three artists... This concept album is a tribute to the italian TV serie "Pinocchio" directed by Comencini in 1972...
Limited to 200 copies.

Very limited tape bringing more epic remixes... We were thinking of making another LP with those tunes..
But for now a K7 is cool too.

SELF-iSH is a quick but intensely dramatic concept album with dark psychedelic themes and nonstop experimental energy. Will Wood and the Tapeworms quickly grabbed attention in the punk scene following "Everything is a Lot" due to Wood's unique writing and refusal to break character even backstage and the band's dangerously high-energy shows. Face paint, confetti, and on-stage violence became the project's calling card, making SELF-iSH's dark and intense drama an inevitable direction for Wood. Mere months after the debut, producer Kevin Antreassian offered Wood a deal on his follow-up but only had a narrow time window, so Wood improvised. Bringing together a new lineup and with the help of guitarist Mike Bottiglieri, Wood wove scraps of discarded or unfinished songs together and created a tight yet abstract psychedelic concept album with the intent of taking every risk and trying every off-kilter idea he had. SELF-iSH began its highly conceptual production process during the holiday season in 2015, and the studio became littered with notepads, graphic charts, and teeth. The result was a manic little album featuring screaming, theremin, kazoo, power drills, the sound of breaking furniture, and an almost heavy-metal twist on Wood's off-kilter vision. By the time the album was finished, the piano was bloody, and the studio was wrecked. The album became what Wood described as the "bastard child" of his discography. Will Wood's early career can be primarily defined by his experimental vocal delivery, honky-tonk piano smashing, and darkly edgy songwriting. While his stylings have matured and taken on a more precise approach, his refusal to conform to expectations and constant shifts in the genre have continued to be hallmarks of his songwriting and production. In his "Will Wood and the Tapeworms" releases (Everything Is A Lot in 2015, SELF-iSH in 2016), audiences can see the first glimpses into what would eventually become his signature style, presented in a uniquely raw and chaotic state of potential.

In the spring of 1977, Millie Jackson was in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, laying down tracks for what became “Feelin’ Bitchy” with co-producer Brad Shapiro. Released in August 1977, the album reached #4 and #34 in America’s Billboard’s R&B and Hot 100, going gold with over 500,000 copies sold. Jackson’s cover of ‘If You’re Not Back In Love By Monday’ – already a hit for Merle Haggard in March 1977 – also reached #5 R&B and #43 in the Hot 100 in August. Although the album did not chart in the UK, “Feelin’ Bitchy” sold strongly to a dedicated fanbase who had voted her the #1 female singer in the Blues & Soul magazine annual poll. Jackson also performed much of the material on her sold-out UK dates in early 1978.

“Feelin’ Bitchy” was not only a commercial success, cementing Jackson’s no-nonsense reputation, but is now considered an all-time classic. Her rap on Benny Latimore’s ‘All The Way Lover’ stretched the original out like chewing gum to 10 minutes. “’Back In Love By Monday’ is a great song an’ that,” she told Black Echoes, “but it didn’t sell the album. ‘All The Way Lover’ sold the album.” Indeed it did, but other tracks like ‘A Little Taste Of Outside Love’ ‘Lovin’ Your Good Thing Away’, ‘Cheatin’ Is’ and ‘Feelin’ Like A Woman’ show that while Jackson’s tongue – front and centre on the LP cover – was always ready to hand out a lashing, it also helped her sing beautifully.

Ace are delighted to reissue “Feelin’ Bitchy’ on vinyl and Millie Jackson spoke to Ian Shirley about the recording of the album. This interview runs on an inner sleeve along with classic photographs of Jackson from this period.

Longtime friend of the label Eraserhead returns after over a decade away from producing music due to his surreal MS Paint work as 'Jim'll Paint It' becoming an unexpected cultural phenomenon. With his debut full-length, 'Violence', Eraserhead presents a truly eclectic electronic LP featuring collaborations with established producers such as Om Unit, Enduser, and Brain Rays, as well as the vocal talents of Nadia Rose, Beans (of Antipop Consortium), and Cadence Weapon. An album held together by theme and tone rather than style or tempo, 'Violence' is the culmination of a bitter wave of inspiration, initially conceived in the wake of a personal tragedy that quickly grew into a broader polemic about the state of the world.

Originally linking up with Love Love in its breakcore netlabel infancy with his refined, breaks-heavy breakcore/gabba, Eraserhead's flair for tight, intricate productions was evident in his finely tuned tracks of controlled chaos. This time around, his work is a darker, more expansive evolution of his sound, with the scale upsized and the stylistic scope massively broadened, remaining unfaithful to any single genre, but with firm nods to Breakcore, Grime, Drum & Bass, Techno, Rave, Dubstep, and Footwork, all chewed up with a hard industrial edge and cinematically framed by a backdrop of apocalyptic synths.

Opening with the cold tech-noir of 'Shining Brainless Beacon' to set the tone, the album quickly locks in with the blistering spoken-word headrush of 'Hurricane With Teeth' alongside rapper Beans, before Om Unit lends his expertise on the sharp groove and clinical bass blasts of 'Operation Hardtack'. The album shifts and morphs constantly throughout the runtime, moving from the raw and urgent acid techno of 'Crowd Control' to the crunching military march of the Gore Tech collaboration 'No More Worlds' and the tribal sci-fi footwork of the Brain Rays collaboration 'Night Visions'. 'Monolith' provides a final burst of catharsis, channelling Underworld by way of Nine Inch Nails, complete with writhing screams from Amée Chanter of sludge-punk-noise-rock duo Human Leather, before the heart of the album is laid bare with the painfully bleak closing dirge of 'Animal'. In its final moments, 'Violence' leaves the listener suspended between devastation and awe - an unflinching portrait of an uncaring world.

2ND LP PRESSING

Cosmic Ear is a new group bringing together Christer Bothén, Mats Gustafsson, Goran Kajfeš, Kansan Zetterberg and Juan Romero. Their debut album TRACES is released by We Jazz Records on 23rd of May, 2025. Including 6 deep cuts, TRACES is an album that sees Cosmic Ear tracking down the "traces" of the legendary Don Cherry's legacy while paving their own way in contemporary creative music expression.

Christer Bothén, a collaborator with Don Cherry during his Swedish period in the 1970s, brings depth to the history of the band, while his bandmates each belong at the top of the game in Scandinavian jazz. Their music is meditative and deep, much recommended for fans of the likes of Don Cherry, Alice Coltrane, and Pharoah. That being said, listeners should approach Cosmic Ear only with openness and curiosity, without set stylistic boundaries, as it's the group's natural flow and togetherness that brings their music into a fresh territory of their own.

As John Corbett writes in his liner notes:

"The Cosmic Ear. Five souls, sometimes six, on the same road. The pied piper path of Mr. Cherry. Christer Bothén, one of Cherry's main collaborators in his Swedish period and one of the most beautiful bass clarinetists on planet earth, together with next-gen saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, who has carried so many torches in Cherry's procession, and younger Swedish stars trumpeter Goran Kajfes, bassist Kansan Zetterberg, and percussionist Juan Romero. Together a tempo is set, a path is charted. There are global grooves. A berimbau, a karignan (metal scraper from Guinea), donso n'goni. There are ET grooves. Synth, live-electronics, slide flute. The globe is a glove, a hand warmer that radiates with extraterrestrial power, returning the fingers to their place at the center of the galaxy; the Cherry path is a balm that restores essential moisture to the lips that blow life back into the megacosm. Let us all praise warm fingers and moist mouths."

Nora Steiner und Madlaina Pollina malen das Bild einer Welt, die wir schon lange nicht mehr so eindrücklich und reflektiert wahrgenommen haben. Aufbruch, Licht und Schatten und die Bedrängnis der Gegenwart, ausgedrückt in bezauberndem Indie-Folk-Pop, der Zähne zeigt und enorme Dynamik entwickelt. Mal erinnert ihr zweistimmiger Gesang an First Aid Kit, ihre kompositorische Zugänglichkeit lässt an den perlenden Pop von Boy denken, dann wieder geleitet uns das Duo an düstere Abgründe, wie sie auch Emily Jane White beschreibt. Allerdings sind dies nur ungefähre Orientierungspunkte. Dass die beiden aus der Schweiz kommen, ist grundlegend für deren Debütalbum "Cheers", denn "Cheers" heißt nicht nur Prost, "Cheers" kann ein Anfang und ein Ende sein, eine Begrüßung und auch ein Abschied. Dabei spielen Steiner & Madlaina gekonnt mit Ambivalenzen. Mal fließen ihre Songs lieblich daher, dann türmen sich die Instrumente walzenartig auf. Durch die analogen Sounds und teils surfigen Gitarrenklänge gewinnt "Cheers" an Wärme und transportiert einen unterschwelligen 60er-Jahre-Charme. Im Zentrum des Ganzen stehen aber immer die Stimmen von Steiner & Madlaina, die so perfekt harmonieren, dass man die Vertrautheit und langjährige Freundschaft der beiden herauszuhören meint.

Das Debütalbum von My New Band Believe entstand unter ungewöhnlichen Umständen: Während eines Aufenthalts in einem chinesischen Hotel fühlte sich Cameron Picton plötzlich krank. In seinem delirierenden Zustand entstanden Bilder und Textfragmente, aus denen später Songs wurden - darunter auch der Ausdruck "My New Band Believe", der zum Projekt- und Albumnamen wurde. Picton empfindet den Titel zugleich als kitschig und brillant: eine bewusste Wiedervorstellung, ein Neuanfang, der zwischen Ich-Bezug und kollektivem Anspruch oszilliert. Als Bassist und zweiter Frontmann von black midi war Picton Teil einer Band, die für komplexe Strukturen und kontrolliertes Chaos stand. Nach deren Auflösung 2023 begann er ohne festen Plan mit Studioarbeiten. Aus dieser offenen Phase heraus formierte sich My New Band Believe, unterstützt von Musiker:innen wie Kiran Leonard, Caius Williams, Steve Noble, Andrew Cheetham und Mitgliedern von caroline. Das Album bewegt sich assoziativ durch unterschiedliche emotionale Ebenen. Klanglich setzt es überwiegend auf akustische Arrangements statt auf elektronische Effekte, bleibt dabei jedoch dynamisch. Einflüsse wie Bert Jansch oder Judee Sill sind spürbar. Songs wie "Actress" oder "Opposite Teacher" verbinden Zurückhaltung mit plötzlichen Ausbrüchen. "Target Practice" verwandelt Vigilantismus in eine theatralische Mitsing-Hymne, während "One Night" und "Heart of Darkness" intime, suchende Figuren zeigen. Picton gelingt es, diffuse Ängste in eindringliche, mehrdeutige Popmusik zu übersetzen.

Das Debütalbum von My New Band Believe entstand unter ungewöhnlichen Umständen: Während eines Aufenthalts in einem chinesischen Hotel fühlte sich Cameron Picton plötzlich krank. In seinem delirierenden Zustand entstanden Bilder und Textfragmente, aus denen später Songs wurden - darunter auch der Ausdruck "My New Band Believe", der zum Projekt- und Albumnamen wurde. Picton empfindet den Titel zugleich als kitschig und brillant: eine bewusste Wiedervorstellung, ein Neuanfang, der zwischen Ich-Bezug und kollektivem Anspruch oszilliert. Als Bassist und zweiter Frontmann von black midi war Picton Teil einer Band, die für komplexe Strukturen und kontrolliertes Chaos stand. Nach deren Auflösung 2023 begann er ohne festen Plan mit Studioarbeiten. Aus dieser offenen Phase heraus formierte sich My New Band Believe, unterstützt von Musiker:innen wie Kiran Leonard, Caius Williams, Steve Noble, Andrew Cheetham und Mitgliedern von caroline. Das Album bewegt sich assoziativ durch unterschiedliche emotionale Ebenen. Klanglich setzt es überwiegend auf akustische Arrangements statt auf elektronische Effekte, bleibt dabei jedoch dynamisch. Einflüsse wie Bert Jansch oder Judee Sill sind spürbar. Songs wie "Actress" oder "Opposite Teacher" verbinden Zurückhaltung mit plötzlichen Ausbrüchen. "Target Practice" verwandelt Vigilantismus in eine theatralische Mitsing-Hymne, während "One Night" und "Heart of Darkness" intime, suchende Figuren zeigen. Picton gelingt es, diffuse Ängste in eindringliche, mehrdeutige Popmusik zu übersetzen.

Tigercub are a UK alternative rock trio known for their dark, cinematic sound that blends heavy riffs with melodic depth. Fusing elements of grunge, alt-rock, and post-punk, the band delivers emotionally charged songwriting and powerful live performances. Praised for their balance of aggression and atmosphere, Tigercub have toured with acts like Royal Blood, Chevelle, and Highly Suspect, cementing their reputation as one of the most dynamic bands in modern rock.

Broadside has never been a band to stay in one place for too long—musically or otherwise. The Richmond, Virginia-based band has spent the past decade carving out their own space in the pop rock scene. Drawing influence from The Killers, AFI, Kings of Leon, and Taking Back Sunday, their sound seamlessly fuses nostalgic rock energy with a fresh, modern edge. Their evolution has been nothing short of remarkable, taking them from underground favorites to genre staples, all while embracing the idea that growth and change are not just inevitable but necessary. With Oliver Baxxter (vocals), Domenic Reid (guitar), and Patrick Diaz (bass/backup vocals) at the helm, Broadside has built a career on crafting music that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable.

Their last full-length album, Hotel Bleu, served as a bold chapter in their story, using the transient nature of hotel stays as a metaphor for self-reflection, fleeting moments, and personal reinvention. The album marked a significant milestone in their career, amassing over 100 million streams and standing as their boldest, brightest, and most ambitious work to date. Now, as they prepare to enter their next era, the band is gearing up to release their most dynamic music yet, continuing to evolve while staying true to the energy and authenticity that first captivated listeners.

Broadside has never been a band to stay in one place for too long—musically or otherwise. The Richmond, Virginia-based band has spent the past decade carving out their own space in the pop rock scene. Drawing influence from The Killers, AFI, Kings of Leon, and Taking Back Sunday, their sound seamlessly fuses nostalgic rock energy with a fresh, modern edge. Their evolution has been nothing short of remarkable, taking them from underground favorites to genre staples, all while embracing the idea that growth and change are not just inevitable but necessary.

With Oliver Baxxter (vocals), Domenic Reid (guitar), and Patrick Diaz (bass/backup vocals) at the helm, Broadside has built a career on crafting music that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable. Their last full-length album, Hotel Bleu, served as a bold chapter in their story, using the transient nature of hotel stays as a metaphor for self-reflection, fleeting moments, and personal reinvention. The album marked a significant milestone in their career, amassing over 100 million streams and standing as their boldest, brightest, and most ambitious work to date. Now, as they prepare to enter their next era, the band is gearing up to release their most dynamic music yet, continuing to evolve while staying true to the energy and authenticity that first captivated listeners.

Australian indie and garage-rock firebrand, GIMMY unveils her new EP Labour of Love — a raw, emotionally charged collection that fuses gritty indie rock, post-punk bite and tender poetic expression, all powered by Gemma Owens’ unmistakable vibrato and fiercely honest songwriting.

Where her 2024 debut Things Look Different Now was a slow-burn, two-to-three–year voyage of change and introspection, Labour of Love hits with an entirely new force: intuitive, immediate and deeply connected to Owens’ emotional world. Written over six months and captured in an intense 4–5 day studio burst with producer Sam Joseph (King Gizzard), the EP moves with the urgency of something that needed to be felt and heard, right away.

Across seven compelling tracks, GIMMY dives into social anxiety, grief, falling in love and the chaotic beauty of everyday life, with each song arriving “on its own terms” — born from late-night home writing sessions, snippets of inspiration while travelling and moments of full-band electricity. Sonically, Labour of Love nods to Soft Play, Nick Cave, Fontaines D.C., The Preatures and The Smiths, yet remains unmistakably GIMMY: expressive, gritty, vulnerable, cheeky and alive in every moment.

Ultimately, the EP is an unfiltered snapshot of emotional truth, celebrating life’s highs, lows and everything in between, and showcasing GIMMY at her most dynamic, powerful and compelling to date.

Australian indie and garage-rock firebrand, GIMMY unveils her new EP Labour of Love — a raw, emotionally charged collection that fuses gritty indie rock, post-punk bite and tender poetic expression, all powered by Gemma Owens’ unmistakable vibrato and fiercely honest songwriting.

Where her 2024 debut Things Look Different Now was a slow-burn, two-to-three–year voyage of change and introspection, Labour of Love hits with an entirely new force: intuitive, immediate and deeply connected to Owens’ emotional world. Written over six months and captured in an intense 4–5 day studio burst with producer Sam Joseph (King Gizzard), the EP moves with the urgency of something that needed to be felt and heard, right away.

Across seven compelling tracks, GIMMY dives into social anxiety, grief, falling in love and the chaotic beauty of everyday life, with each song arriving “on its own terms” — born from late-night home writing sessions, snippets of inspiration while travelling and moments of full-band electricity. Sonically, Labour of Love nods to Soft Play, Nick Cave, Fontaines D.C., The Preatures and The Smiths, yet remains unmistakably GIMMY: expressive, gritty, vulnerable, cheeky and alive in every moment.

Ultimately, the EP is an unfiltered snapshot of emotional truth, celebrating life’s highs, lows and everything in between, and showcasing GIMMY at her most dynamic, powerful and compelling to date.

Regarded as one of the most significant and influential musicians of the 20th century, Hank Williams recorded 55 singles that reached the top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart, five of which were released posthumously, and twelve of which reached #1. After a life of alcoholism and substance abuse, Hank Williams died on New Year’s Day 1953 at the age of 29 in the back seat of a car, while going to perform a concert in Canton, Ohio. His songs have been covered by hundreds of artists and he influenced the careers of such stars as Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and the Rolling Stones. Presented here are his 22 greatest hits. 22 TRACKS - 180-GRAM VIRGIN VINYL - SPECIAL GATEFOLD - LIMITED EDITION

American Steel is the last great band to come out of Berkeley's 924 Gilman scene. Forged in the same ¬res as Operation Ivy, Crimpshrine, and Rancid, these soulful punks have at long last decided to unearth their self-titled album from 1998. AmSteel evolved into one of the most artful and sophisticated punk bands around, but this quartet began as a truly raw and wrathful DIY outfit, and we're grateful for the opportunity to share this 17-song hidden gem. We have been begging the band to release this material since Red Scare first began. Literally pestering them for twenty years. Listen to this dynamic debut and you will understand why.

Remixed With Love has set the benchmark for disco reworks for over a decade, with Dave Lee universally recognised as the most trusted name in the field when it comes to respectfully updating dancefloor classics from the original multi-tracks.

With original vinyl editions long deleted and constant demand from DJs and collectors, this brand-new one-off, vinyl-only release has been made possible via a fresh licensing deal with Sony Music, allowing eight of the most requested mixes from the catalogue to be pressed together for the first time.

This is not a repress; it is a bespoke, limited selection, and once the pressing has sold through, it cannot be repeated.

To mark the 25th anniversary of its release, Doubts and Convictions by Troublemakers is officially reissued, more than twenty years after its original release in 2001.


Never reissued until now, this emblematic French Touch album—originally signed in Chicago, USA—captures a moment when French electronic music opened up to jazz, soul and transatlantic grooves.


A cult record whose sound remains timeless.

To celebrate over ten years of groove and sonic elegance, Roche Musique presents its “BEST OF” compilation, available exclusively on vinyl. A handpicked selection of 20 essential tracks tracing the label’s DNA — a refined blend of modern soul, nuanced electronics, and timeless groove.



Featuring the label’s cornerstone artists — FKJ, Darius, Kartell, Zimmer, Cezaire, Crayon, Dabeull, Lossapardo — alongside acclaimed collaborators such as Reva De Vito, Darianna Everett, Ayelle, Leven Kali, Panama, Chester Watson, Sølv, and more. From “Vibin’ Out” to “Espoir”, through “Wildflowers” and “I Can’t Stop”, this compilation captures the very essence of Roche’s sound: warm, heartfelt, and endlessly groovy. A pure analog listening experience designed for true music lovers and vinyl collectors — every groove telling the story of a decade of passion and sound.

This album brings together some of the finest music ever released on Black Jazz Records which in its short four-year history, between 1971 and 1975, released over 20 superlative albums which all successfully blending spiritual jazz, funk and soul jazz of the highest calibre. Similar to other independent jazz labels at the time, including Strata-East Records and Tribe Records, Black Jazz focussed on a number of key artists, most of whom first established their career during this period, and all of whom are featured here. Featuring The Awakening, Doug Carn, Walter Bishop, Chester Thompson, Kellee Patterson and more. Black Jazz Records was founded in Oakland, California, by pianist Gene Russell and percussionist Dick Schory.

The label released twenty albums between 1971 and 1975. Artists who recorded for Black Jazz Records included Cleveland Eaton (bassist for Ramsey Lewis), keyboardists Doug Carn and Chester Thompson, vocalist Kellee Patterson, saxophonist Rudolph Johnson, bassist Henry Franklin, and spiritual fusion group The Awakening. The label was distributed and financed by Ovation Records, based in Chicago. Schory founded Ovation in 1969, shortly after leaving RCA. Schory was a Grammy-nominated percussionist who was also known for his development of the stereo recording techniques including Dynagroove and RCA Victor’s Stereo Action. Schory also pioneered quadrophonic sound, and a number of Black Jazz Records were in quadrophonic and other formats such as ¼” tape and 8-track.

Black Jazz launched in 1971 with Gene Russell’s ‘New Direction’. Russell was the creative force behind the label, acting as producer, engineer and A&R and focussed on developing new solo artists. The most successful of these was Doug Carn, who released four albums featuring his wife, Jean Carn, as vocalist. She later changed her name to Jean Carne and became a successful soul singer signed to Gamble and Huff’s Philadelphia International empire.

The earliest foundations of the Detroit Harmony group ‘The Gaslight’ came when future lead singer Oliver “Butch” Cheatham via an introduction by his sister Jackie joined a group known as ‘The Young Sirs’ who recorded, “There’s Something The Matter (With Your Heart/African Love” for Magic City during 1969. The group included Oliver’s future brother -in-law Allen Cocker (Jackie’s future husband).

Oliver and Allen went on to form a new vocal quartet with Curtis “Kippy” Anderson and Michael Eatmon. Under the group name of ‘The Gaslight’ they signed to Uptight Productions Incorporated, a local production company founded by local businessmen Marvin Figgins and Arnold Wright. The Gaslight were the only vocal harmony group signed to Uptight Productions and as such, it was they who made the most recordings across two label imprints Grand Junction and Black Rock. The Gaslight’s first single “I Can’t Tell A Lie/Here’s Missing You” was released on Grand Junction (GJ1001) in 1970, For the groups second single Figgin’s placed them under the guidance of legendary producer/songwriter, the late George McGregor under whom they recording “Drifting Away/If You See Her” Grand Junction (GJ1002) released in 1971 For their next release Figgin’s switched the group to his Black Rock label to record “Out Of My Hand/I’m Only A Man” Black Rock (2002) under the pseudonym of Butch & The Newport’s With “Butch” being Oliver’s nickname. A later, second release of “I’m Only A Man” but with a different flip side “I’m Gonna Get You” came out on Grand Junction (GJ1100) in 1973 with the performing artist credits reverting back to ‘The Gaslight’.

Upon leaving Uptight Production’s the group found a new home when George McCregor took them to a new fledgling label T.E.A.I (an abbreviation for “Tellin’ Everybody About It”) owned by ‘The Dramatics’ Road Manager Charles Underwood. ‘The Gaslight’s’ first and only release for T.E.A.I, was the mellifluous 1975 double sider “Just Because Of You/It’s Just Like Magic”. Underwood had precured a working relationship with Polydor Records who picked the release up for national distribution three months later. As good as the record was due to poor promotion it failed to make any notable noise and eventually sank with the group soon after breaking up.

During Soul Junction’s later dealings with the late Oliver Cheatham, respected UK Collector Andy Rix mentioned he owned a three track acetate containing the two mentioned T.E.A.I/Polydor tracks plus a third unissued dance track “Hard Times” which through a licensing deal with Charles Underwood Soul Junction now present to you on a three track 45, released under its full title “Hard Times Are Coming, Hard Times Are Here” backed with a previously unissued mix of “Just Because Of You” alongside the issued 45 version of “It’s Just Like Magic”.

Blademasters is a new Melbourne instrumental project formed by Patrick Ryan (Cantrips) and Lachlan Stuckey (Surprise Chef). Built around the central conceit of "duelling" acoustic guitars - Ryan on steel-string and Stuckey on nylon-string - the project draws on 1960s and 1970s live studio recording traditions, foregrounding ensemble interplay, room sound, and performance-led arrangements. The wider lineup features musicians associated with Melbourne's instrumental soul and funk scene, including members of Surprise Chef, Cantrips, Karate Boogaloo and Ella Thompson's band.

Recorded live over a single day, Kings Knight / Live by the Blade was tracked with two acoustic guitars performing together in the room alongside bass and drums, with piano and vibraphone overdubs added sparingly. The release is influenced by David Axelrod's Pride (1970), particularly its fusion of cinematic orchestration, Latin and folk inflections, and deep rhythmic foundations. Both tracks share related harmonic material, presenting two contrasting but connected movements: the A-side's dramatic, tension-building opener and a more restrained, groove-led B-side. The release is presented on 7-inch vinyl with digital distribution.

Born in Victoria, B.C., and shaped by formative years in Vancouver, artist and producer Sophia Stel found a rapt cult fanbase with her 2024 debut EP Object Permanence, a fiercely vulnerable collection of genre-agnostic earworms fueled by her full-bodied, affecting alto. By following her intuition and going against the grain of online fads, Stel is setting trends, not chasing them - always creating from a place of true originality. Her self-directed, sometimes spurâÇ`ofâÇ`theâÇ`moment digicam visuals for tracks like "I"ll Take It" and "You Could Hate Me" have the fuzzy realism of vintage photos or cherished memories: effortlessly cool without ever trying to be. In addition to earning co-signs from Troye Sivan and A.G. Cook and being selected for this year"s DAZED 100, she recently made her runway debut at Ann Demeulemeester"s PFW SS26 show and embarked on her first headline tour, which included a performance at Pitchfork Festival in Paris, following the release of her sophomore EP How to Win At Solitaire. Continuing to push the boundaries of today"s music landscape while honing a truly singular, post-genre sound that"s all her own, Stel is currently working on her debut album.

Baby Rollén and Wilba (Fraise), embark on their new collaborative project Heartbreak Hombres. Straight ahead dancefloor house cuts and no nonsense!

Already drawing support from a diverse spread of DJs including Raresh, Ben UFO, Dr Banana, Eris Drew, Chris Stussy, Wallace, Louise Chen (NTS) and more - the Heartbreak sound is designed for the DJ; a selectors handy weapon at the ready!

Jnbo ist der Künstlername von Henry Jenkins, einem Komponisten, Produzenten/Toningenieur und Bassisten aus Melbourne/Naarm. Jenkins ist den meisten als Produzent/Toningenieur hinter Surprise Chef, Karate Boogaloo und der für den Grammy nominierten Frollen Music Library bekannt. Als hauseigener Toningenieur für Aufnahmen und Abmischungen bei College In-House-Aufnahme- und Mix-Ingenieur bei Knowledge Records hat Jenkins die klangliche Grundlage für die instrumentale Cinematic-Soul-Bewegung von Melbourne/Naarm geschaffen. Auf ,& Friends" setzt Jenkins seine Fähigkeiten für seine eigenen brillanten Kompositionen ein. Das Album umfasst 12 introspektive Instrumentalstücke - tiefe, cineastische Odysseen, die von Romantik und Aufrichtigkeit durchdrungen sind und jenen unverkennbaren ,Freak Funk Bump" haben. Jenkins erklärt die Konzeption von ,& Friends": ,Ich wollte ein Album schreiben, auf dessen Aufnahme ich mich mit meinen Freunden freuen würde. Die Musik, die ich schrieb, hatte eine Funk-Sensibilität in Bass und Schlagzeug, kontrastiert durch einen eher cineastischen Ansatz in Bezug auf Harmonie und Melodie, mit Gitarren, die sich dazwischen schlängeln und gleiten. Ich habe versucht, diesen Kontrast zum Charakter des Albums zu machen. Ich fand, dass jeder Song die gleiche Instrumentierung und die gleichen Musiker haben sollte. Das wurde zu einer angenehmen kreativen Herausforderung: Wie viel Variation konnte ich im Laufe des Albums aus denselben acht Instrumenten herausholen? Ich wollte innerhalb dieser engen Grenzen so viel Vielfalt wie möglich finden." Jenkins hat diese Prinzipien bei den Aufnahmen zu ,& Friends" angewendet und langjährige Musikpartner wie Hudson Whitlock, Darvid Thor und Callum Riley (Karate Boogaloo), Lachlan Stuckey und Jethro Curtin (Surprise Chef), Lewis Coleman und Lena Douglas (The Cactus Channel) zusammen, um unkonventionelle Arrangements für drei Gitarren, Klavier, Streichersynthesizer, Hammondorgel, Schlagzeug und Bass zu verwirklichen, wobei Jenkins selbst den Bass und die Produktion übernahm. Das Ergebnis ist ein auffallend einzigartiges Album: Mal gibt's malerische Stimmungen, mal funkige Rhythmen, die zum Mitwippen einladen, wobei die drei Gitarren und drei Keyboards genau im Stereofeld angeordnet sind. Das Album zeigt die Einflüsse des Filmkomponisten Bernard Herrmann, des Lounge-Pioniers Les Baxter und Lamont Dozier von Motown, zusammen mit den exzentrischen Eigenheiten von JNBO. Für Fans von Surprise Chef, El Michels Affair, Menahan Street Band, Les Baxter, Bernard Herrmann.

Recorded on December 29, 1978 at the Château d'Hérouville with Jean-Louis Rassinfosse on bass, Jeff Brillinger on drums and Phil Markowitz on piano, then mixed at Studios Davout on December 8, 1979, Two A Day has not been reissued on vinyl since 1980. This little-known but remarkable album from Chet Baker brings together instrumental and vocal tracks, all infused with the swing and emotional depth that define his finest recordings. To fully highlight the qualities of this masterful session, a high-quality remastering has been carried out, restoring the warmth and intimacy of the legendary Château d'Hérouville studios, which also hosted artists such as David Bowie and Pink Floyd. The LP edition features hot gold foil numbering.

Real Bad Man and YUNGMORPHEUS are excited to announce their new album The Chalice & The Blade is out now. The album features Boldy James, Kool Keith, Grip, Blu, Fatboi Sharif, and more.

YUNGMORPHEUS is a highly innovative rapper that consistently endeavors to redefine the boundaries of originality and elevate the art of lyricism. Earlier this year, YUNGMORPHEUS dropped his critically acclaimed album “From Whence It Came” which received praise from The FADER, NPR, SPIN, and was hailed by QUIP Mag as “Everything you need from a hip-hop record.”

Since 2020, Prolific LA-based producer and designer Adam Weissman (Real Bad Man) has been on a sensational run releasing albums with Boldy James, Smoke DZA, and Pink Siifu. The Chalice & The Blade will be Real Bad Man’s third album of the year following his remarkable collaborations with Blu (“Bad News”) and Kool Keith (“Serpent”).

The Chalice & The Blade showcases a unique ambiance marked by a stoney and atmospheric quality, interspersed with elements of funk. Real Bad Man explains the album making process, "I always tailor the music to the artist I’m collaborating with. I sent Morpheus a bunch of beats that he’d sound good over and once he started picking them, that set the path. We’d record and I’d make more beats, and move stuff around, get rid of some songs and record new ones. It was a good process. I like being able to adjust as we go, I think that makes for a good album. We left some songs on the cutting room floor. Cream rises."

YUNGMORPHEUS discussing the new album, “‘The Chalice & The Blade’ is an album primarily rooted in dichotomies; contemplation of action vs action itself, inner locus vs outer locus, pursuit for self vs pursuit for others. Honesty is always the centerpiece. Play if you want cause I’m not!”

On The Chalice & The Blade, the seamless synergy between Real Bad Man and YUNGMORPHEUS takes center stage, showcasing an extraordinary chemistry that elevates every track to new heights of musical innovation.