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*13 ripping songs totalling 33 minutes from the original 20-song 65 minute master reel tapes, recorded in early February 1978 for producers Flo & Eddie, the night before DMZ (the raw-assed pre-Lyres outfit that never made it!) spent 3 days trapped by a blizzard recording their Sire album. **4 page insert with info, pics and Rick Coraccio's ultra-detailed journal on how it all went down! ***LP includes DOWNLOAD CODE Kapital Ink zine: "In the annals of R&R history, as far as local American rock'n'roll scenes go, Boston is hardly ever looked upon in the same shining light as, say, NY, Detroit, San Francisco or even Austin or Seattle. Unlike those other towns, there's never even been a definitive book about the scene. Maybe it's because Boston is a perennial hard-luck place (just witness the Red Sox) with a serious New York inferiority complex hanging over its head. Boston is ignored by the industry at large, despite the fact that the city has spawned countless heavyweights in both a commercial (Aerosmith, Boston, the Cars) and aesthetic (Modern Lovers, Real Kids, Mission Of Burma) (Crypt editor note: and DMZ!! and LYRES!!) sense. Boston was the first US city to directly reflect the influence of the Velvet Underground, as epitomized by the Modern Lovers, who've proven to be almost as influential in their own right. Fast forward to the days of hardcore, and Boston was one of the pre-eminent strongholds of shave-head mania, shoring up its rep as an angry, intolerant New England outpost. Naturally the town has produced more than its share of local legends: Willie Alexander (who actually was in the Velvet Underground, albeit when the band was on its Lou Reed-less last legs); Jonathan Richman (geekus supremus no small thing considering the subsequent indie hordes, to whom he's a savior); and most of all, the great Real Kids, (Crypt editor note: and DMZ!! and LYRES!!) who could've been the equivalent of the MC5, Stooges or Flamin' Groovies in the annals of American rock if it hadn't been for a series of bad breaks but let's not get into that because it'll only reinforce Boston's eternal self-pitying plight. The fact is, the scene in Boston was more or less built by a string of bands who are so organically-interconnected that it seems like an act of God."

Moanin’ in the Moonlight, Wolfs erstes Langspielalbum aus dem Jahr 1958, versammelte ein Dutzend
Singles, die er im Laufe des vorangegangenen Jahrzehnts aufgenommen hatte, darunter die Favoriten
„Smokestack Lightnin’“, „Evil“ und „How Many More Years“.
Holen Sie sich den Sound des größten Blues-Labels Amerikas in High Fidelity mit der Chess Records 75th
Anniversary Series nach Hause. Diese audiophilen Neuauflagen klassischer Alben und Compilations aus der
Chess-Diskografie wurden von den originalen Analogbändern remastert und bei Quality Record Pressings
(QRP) auf 180-Gramm-Vinyl gepresst. Jede Platte ist in einer Tip-On-Gatefold-Hülle aus hochwertigem
Karton verpackt.







g 7 The Red Rooster [aka Little Red Rooster]







[g] 7 The Red Rooster [aka Little Red Rooster]

Half-Speed Remaster des 2012er Albums

Anlässlich des 40-jährigen Jubiläums des Albumklassikers "Thick As A Brick" erscheint am 30. März 2012 eine Fortsetzung zum Originalalbum mit dem Titel "Thick As A Brick 2".

1972 hatte Ian Anderson mit dem Jethro-Tull-Album "Thick As A Brick" einen Klassiker des Progressive Rock aufgenommen. Im Mittelpunkt der Songtexte stand die fiktive kindliche Hauptfigur Gerald Bostock. Das Album avancierte zum Spitzenreiter in den Billboard Charts und zu einem beachtlichen Erfolg in etlichen anderen Ländern.

Vierzig Jahre später: Was würde Gerald Bostock, der nun 50 Jahre alt wäre, heutzutage machen? Wie wäre es ihm in all der Zeit ergangen? Der "zweite" Teil des Albumklassikers zieht die unterschiedlichsten Möglichkeiten in Betracht, was aus dem frühreifen Schuljungen Gerald Bostock hätte werden können, welche Wege er hätte einschlagen können. In den diversen Songs nimmt die Hauptfigur verschiedene Alter Egos an, um die Vielzahl der möglichen Wendungen zu verdeutlichen, die Schicksal und Zufall in einem Leben bereit halten. So illustrieren die Songs nicht nur Geralds Leben, sondern auch die Entwicklungen unserer eigenen Biographien, die nicht selten durch zufällige Begegnungen und Eingriffe völlig neue Wendungen annehmen, auch wenn sie manchmal zunächst noch ganz nichtig und unbedeutend erscheinen.

Ian Anderson über sein neues Album: "Wenn unsere Generation auf ihr Leben zurückblickt, überkommt sie sicherlich gelegentlich dieser 'Was wäre wenn'-Moment. Wären wir, wie Gerald, statt dem, was wir sind, vielleicht Prediger, Soldat, Penner, Geschäftsinhaber oder Finanztycoon geworden? Und all jene, die der Generation des Internet und der sozialen Netzwerke angehören, mögen darüber sinnieren, was mit den unzähligen Möglichkeiten ist, die sich bei jeder Gelegenheit anzubieten scheinen."

Im Rahmen dieser Veröffentlichung wird Ian Anderson erstmals seit 1972 "Thick As A Brick" gemeinsam mit seinen Bandkollegen John O'Hara (Keyboards), David Goodier (Bass), Florian Opahle (Gitarre) und Scott Hammond (Schlagzeug) - sowie einigen musikalischen Gästen - in kompletter Länge live spielen. Zudem präsentieren Ian Anderson und seine Band im zweiten Teil der Show auch die Fortsetzung des Albumklassikers live.

Building logically on the natural development of their two previous collections, this time the fearless threesome can be heard roaming further than ever before into the uncharted hinterlands where the deep jazz tradition of the classic tenor trio format, laden with melody and swing, ventures into the untamed regions of free improvisation. At the heart of the band is the unmistakable beat of drummer Spike Wells, who this year celebrates his 80th birthday and the 65th year of his extraordinary career at the forefront of jazz in the UK, providing the driving force behind everyone from homegrown heroes Tubby Hayes to Bobby Wellins to visitors like Stan Getz and Roland Kirk and countless others. Riding at his side to represent the current Londonbased millennial cohort is saxophonist Riley Stone- Lonergan , whose intriguing compositions and boundless creative imagination as an improvisor continue to add to his burgeoning reputation.

Representing the diversity of tastes and interests and uncompromising creative stance typical of Gen X, big- toned bassist Eddie Myer rounds up the posse. The trio initially got together through their mutual love of Sonny Rollins' touring pianoless trios of the late 50s and early 60s, but soon found themselves expanding their repertoire to explore the rich and varied territory opened up by their unique combination of individual tastes. This album is their most coherent, wide-ranging and adventurous set of recordings yet. From Ayler to Strayhorn, from be-bop to calypso, from cowboy movie to free-jazz shootout, there's a surprise at every turn, but always delivered with total sincerity and conviction and a driving desire to bring the audience with them every step of the way. 'The Rule of Three' is a bold and confident statement of intent from a real long-term project that's as invested in the music's future as it is inspired by and reverent of its past.

"When The Wind Forgets Your Name" ist das erste neue Built to Spill -Album seit der Veröffentlichung von "Untethered Moon" aus dem Jahr 2015 und das achte Studioalbum dr langlebigen Band um Mastermind Doug Martsch. Es wurde von Martsch produziert, von Martsch, Lê Almeida, Joao Casaes und Josh Lewis gemischt und von Mell Dettmer gemastert. Das Cover Artwork wurde von dem Comiczeichner Alex Graham (Dog Biscuits; Fantagraphics Books) gestaltet, der auch den fünfzigteiligen Comicstrip für das Klappcover des Albums illustriert hat (erhältlich mit den CD-, LP- und MC-Ausgaben des Albums). Seit 1992 wollte Doug Martsch, Gründer von Built to Spill, dass seine geliebte Band ein gemeinschaftliches Projekt ist, eine sich ständig weiterentwickelnde Gruppe von unglaublichen Musikern, die gemeinsam Musik machen und live spielen. Nach mehreren Alben und EPs auf Independent-Labels stand Martsch von 1995 bis 2016 bei Warner Brothers unter Vertrag. In dieser Zeit nahmen er und seine wechselnden Mitstreiter sechs unbestreitbar großartige Alben auf - "Perfect From Now On", "Keep It Like A Secret", "Ancient Melodies Of The Future", "You In Reverse", "There Is No Enemy", "Untethered Moon". "When The Wind Forgets Your Name" setzt nun die Erweiterung des Built to Spill -Universums auf neue und aufregende Weise fort. Im Jahr 2018 brachten Martschs Glück und seine Intuition ihn mit dem brasilianischen Lo-Fi-Punk-Künstler und Produzenten Le Almeida und seinem langjährigen Mitstreiter Joao Casaes zusammen, beide von der psychedelischen Jazz-Rock-Band ORUA. Als Martsch ihre Musik entdeckte, verliebte er sich sofort in sie und bat sie bei Built to Spill mitzumachen, als er eine neue Begleitband für Auftritte in Brasilien brauchte. Die Auftritte in Brasilien liefen so gut, dass Martsch, Almeida und Casaes beschlossen, 2019 weiter zusammen zu spielen und durch die USA und Europa zu touren. Bei Soundchecks erlernten sie neue Songs, die Martsch geschrieben hatte, und als die Tournee zu Ende war, nahmen sie die Bass- und Schlagzeugspuren in seinem Proberaum in Boise auf. Nachdem sie nach Hause geflogen waren, begann Martsch selbst mit dem Overdubbing von Gitarren und Gesang. Das gemeinschaftliche Abmischen fand während der Pandemie übers Internet statt, in dem die Tracks hin und her geschickt wurden. Herausgekommen ist "When The Wind Forgets Your Name", eine komplexe und schlüssige Mischung aus den unterschiedlichen musikalischen Ideen der Künstler. Neben den poetischen Texten und Themen von Built to Spill sorgen die Experimente und die Liebe zum Detail für ein Album voller einzigartiger, lebendiger und zeitloser Klänge.

Limitierte Loser Edition, gepresst auf "Misty Kiwi Fruit Green" farbiges Vinyl. "When The Wind Forgets Your Name" ist das erste neue Built to Spill -Album seit der Veröffentlichung von "Untethered Moon" aus dem Jahr 2015 und das achte Studioalbum dr langlebigen Band um Mastermind Doug Martsch. Es wurde von Martsch produziert, von Martsch, Lê Almeida, Joao Casaes und Josh Lewis gemischt und von Mell Dettmer gemastert. Das Cover Artwork wurde von dem Comiczeichner Alex Graham (Dog Biscuits; Fantagraphics Books) gestaltet, der auch den fünfzigteiligen Comicstrip für das Klappcover des Albums illustriert hat (erhältlich mit den CD-, LP- und MC-Ausgaben des Albums). Seit 1992 wollte Doug Martsch, Gründer von Built to Spill, dass seine geliebte Band ein gemeinschaftliches Projekt ist, eine sich ständig weiterentwickelnde Gruppe von unglaublichen Musikern, die gemeinsam Musik machen und live spielen. Nach mehreren Alben und EPs auf Independent-Labels stand Martsch von 1995 bis 2016 bei Warner Brothers unter Vertrag. In dieser Zeit nahmen er und seine wechselnden Mitstreiter sechs unbestreitbar großartige Alben auf - "Perfect From Now On", "Keep It Like A Secret", "Ancient Melodies Of The Future", "You In Reverse", "There Is No Enemy", "Untethered Moon". "When The Wind Forgets Your Name" setzt nun die Erweiterung des Built to Spill -Universums auf neue und aufregende Weise fort. Im Jahr 2018 brachten Martschs Glück und seine Intuition ihn mit dem brasilianischen Lo-Fi-Punk-Künstler und Produzenten Le Almeida und seinem langjährigen Mitstreiter Joao Casaes zusammen, beide von der psychedelischen Jazz-Rock-Band ORUA. Als Martsch ihre Musik entdeckte, verliebte er sich sofort in sie und bat sie bei Built to Spill mitzumachen, als er eine neue Begleitband für Auftritte in Brasilien brauchte. Die Auftritte in Brasilien liefen so gut, dass Martsch, Almeida und Casaes beschlossen, 2019 weiter zusammen zu spielen und durch die USA und Europa zu touren. Bei Soundchecks erlernten sie neue Songs, die Martsch geschrieben hatte, und als die Tournee zu Ende war, nahmen sie die Bass- und Schlagzeugspuren in seinem Proberaum in Boise auf. Nachdem sie nach Hause geflogen waren, begann Martsch selbst mit dem Overdubbing von Gitarren und Gesang. Das gemeinschaftliche Abmischen fand während der Pandemie übers Internet statt, in dem die Tracks hin und her geschickt wurden. Herausgekommen ist "When The Wind Forgets Your Name", eine komplexe und schlüssige Mischung aus den unterschiedlichen musikalischen Ideen der Künstler. Neben den poetischen Texten und Themen von Built to Spill sorgen die Experimente und die Liebe zum Detail für ein Album voller einzigartiger, lebendiger und zeitloser Klänge.

Repress !

In 1991 Coil released the third of their early classic full-length albums “Love’s Secret Domain”, seemingly casting aside the gloom and funeral beauty of its predecessors in favour of a painstakingly multi-layered hallucinogenic electronic beast, which unlike some of their fellow ex-industrial contemporaries’ releases of the time wasn’t an attempt at easy accessibility or (the-gods-forbid) danceability, but a vibrating psychedelic masterpiece unrivalled in their discography and still a landmark album. artwork by Steven Stapleton released in co-production with Infinite Fog Prod.

Die italienische Singer-Songwriterin Marta Del Grandi veröffentlicht Ende Januar 2026 ihr neues Album Dream Life bei Fire Records, ihre erste neue Musik seit dem raffinierten, hingebungsvollen Pop ihres Albums Selva aus dem Jahr 2023. Del Grandi kehrt mit einem Album zurück, das in einem Feld der Träume spielt, einer multidimensionalen Panoramaaufnahme, unterbrochen von gelassener Desillusionierung, die musikalische Grenzen überschreitet, während persönliche Hoffnungen und Sehnsüchte gegen die Weite der Sterne und darüber hinaus geworfen werden. Das Album beginnt mit ,Antarctica", einem Song, der sich mit dem ethischen Dilemma der Welt auseinandersetzt und uns mit einem Riff, das an Talking Heads in ihrer Blütezeit erinnert und mit abstrakten Phrasierungen à la Laurie Anderson durchsetzt ist, aus unserer Komfortzone reißt. ,Neon Lights" unterstreicht diese Stimmung, geht jedoch auf einer persönlicheren Ebene darauf ein. Die verzerrten Gitarren und der wandernde Bass bieten einen härteren Einblick in rebellische Selbstfindung, eingebettet in einen symphonischen Klangteppich. Weiter in ,Dream Life" ist ,Alpha Centauri" ein eindringliches, introspektives Stück Pop-Magie, das Martas wunderschöne Stimme in Nostalgie für die Teenagerzeit schwelgen lässt und ihr inneres Kind wiederentdeckt, während eine entfernte Tuba eine Gegenmelodie trägt. Der Titeltrack untersucht den Quantensprung zwischen Realität und unseren Träumen und Ambitionen und bildet einen Kontrapunkt zu ,Shoe Shaped Cloud" und seiner grüblerischen Untersuchung einer gescheiterten Beziehung, die von einer schmerzerfüllten Stimme vorangetrieben wird, die an Radiohead in ihrer zerbrechlichsten Phase erinnert. Das Album spiegelt das wachsende Bewusstsein wider, dass wir die Zukunft oder das Ergebnis unserer Pläne nicht vollständig kontrollieren können. Dieser rote Faden zieht sich durch das gesamte Album, eine Reise, die poetisch, ironisch und tief in der Gegenwart verwurzelt ist. ,Mein vorheriges Album Selva hatte einen poetischen und bukolischen Charakter - in meinem Kopf kann ich mir jeden Song als Ölgemälde vorstellen - Dream Life hat einen zeitgemäßeren Ansatz, mit Texten, die politische und soziale Themen berühren, einer expliziteren persönlichen Erzählweise und einem klareren Pop-Sound. Es ist eher wie ein Fotobuch, klarer und detaillierter." - Marta Del Grandi Limitiertes, goldfarbenes Vinyl, bedruckte Innenhülle, mit DLC oder Digi-Sleeve CD.

Whitelands' second album Sunlight Echoes builds on their elemental debut - that won them fans from Slowdive to David Jonsson - with a more expansive sound that takes them out of the shoegaze shadows to somewhere bigger, better and brighter. Produced by long-time collaborator Ian Flynn and mixed by double Grammy Award-winner Eduardo De La Paz (New Order, The Horrors, The Charlatans, The KVB, Drug Store Romeos), there are soaring string arrangements (by Iskra Strings) and Lush guest vocals from labelmate Emma Anderson. "We're coming back with a lot more maturity and realness," says singer and guitarist Etienne Quartey-Papafio of their step up. "It shows in how much more emotional our music has become." With maturity comes a newfound confidence, so not only are there stunning melodies everywhere, but Etienne's vocals are front and centre throughout. "It's been really cool to watch Etienne push through boundaries," adds bassist Vanessa Govinden. "I like the direction we've taken on this album. We're taking a risk. It's half and half." She's right - the first half of the album has an almost Britpop breeziness, that belies the serious subject matter that inspired the songs, while the second half gets heavier, in all senses, with added grit and gravitas."This album is one of enduring," says Etienne of the overarching theme. "We had family that were dying, I was broke, there was a shortage of my ADHD medication_ I was suffering, but not just me, everyone around me was too." "The last two years have been challenging," concludes Vanessa. "The universe really fucked with us. That's why there are themes of loss, disconnection, fragmentation and yearning, but on the other side there is also unity and hope." Sunlight Echoes is a poetic, melodic statement of intent from this formidable band. Whitelands have fought back and triumphed in the face of adversity.

Waiting is the essence of travel. Patience is its own reward.

Two people. A Telecaster guitar with a few effect pedals. A drum machine. An audio interface is connected to a laptop. The ingredients are simple yet effective.

But any suggestion of four-track cassette machines and vintage bedsit productions is quickly dispelled by digital dubbiness and refined arrangements. A tail of reversed echos. The crystalline flourish of octave-pitched delays. Riddled hi-hats tickle and taunt. A bass drum asserts its space.

Winkler's guitar patterns have a fragmented, almost haphazard connotation. Searching in a shimmer of reverb. Until the beat, the framework, sets in to reveal structure. Intentionality. Reihse's programmed rhythms go just to the point of a groove, holding the moment of tension, knowingly delaying the gratification. Beats that have scratchy patina anda subtly playful edge; their crispness stands in contrast to the contemplative drift of the guitar. Is it a trance? Or a dance? Yes.

There are some apparent references here: a good portion of Les Disques du Crépuscule, some kraut-esque electronica, even a smidgen of Morricone / Spaghetti Western, blending into a kind of Musique Noir – yet these serve as a set of orientational coordinates, rather than quotations.

This is so far the most assured release by Periode, perhaps eschewing some of the naiveté that was wilfully cultivated in earlier output – there is no cheeky cover version this time. And no singing either. The nine pieces have the quality of a series, a variation on a mood, or a subset of moods. What emerges is an inviting swagger in the face of bleakness. There is a profound melancholy, but it is not the darker kind, and does not exclude humour.

First impressions may suggest that this is purely nocturnal music. Yet it equally evokes the harsh sunlight and baking summer heat. Or a rainy day. And transportation: the music suggests the motion of travel, even if that travel only happens within the mind. And waiting. Waiting while doing nothing much. Because that's all you can do. (Alexander Paulick)

Berlin-based Swiss vocalist Lucia Cadotsch returns with her celebrated Speak Low trio for their second album, released by We Jazz Records on 27 Nov. "Speak Low II" features Cadotsch on voice, Otis Sandsjö on tenor saxophone and Petter Eldh on double bass, and introduces guest artists Kit Downes on hammond organ and Lucy Railton on cello. "Speak Low II" picks up where their genre-bending and forward-looking debut album left off, introducing new shades into the band's sound and also diving even deeper into the songs they tackle. What makes Speak Low special is their approach to really get to the heart of each composition with seemingly minimal means, yet generating a sound which is both instantly recognisable and remarkably impactful.

"Speak Low II" comes almost five years after the band's lauded debut, and proves the depth of the band's approach right from the start. At the core of the trio's operation is an openness to their love of the music and to their surrounding scene(s). The album comes across as a unified collection of songs made truly theirs and found through listening to records and spending time with their musician friends, often on the road. The highly evolved band sound and the equality of the musicians shines through on the Speak Low sound, as the group uses their 100+ performances together as a vehicle for the development of their music.

"The first album was filled with pretty famous songs, but that was actually not at all intentional" explains Cadotsch. "Those were just my favourite songs of the previous 10 years and we started working on making them ours, musically. We were playing around with concepts for the second album, but soon realised that we just needed to find the right songs and adapt them organically, which comes through in how we interact with the songs and each other. This time around, we wanted to dig deeper and made finished arrangements of around 20 tracks, half of which we ditched in the process. The ones that made the cut have been through a lot and they just felt right for us."

In a way, the Speak Low approach could be described as archaeological. Three music lovers connecting with songs found at various sources, readily throwing away any ideas that don't seem natural to them, and hanging on tight to the ones that do.

Turns out there is a concept to "Speak Low II". It's the band itself, their shared musical development and their love of music.

"Speak Low II" will be available on We Jazz Records on vinyl (PURPLE and BLACK editions), CD and digitally. The vinyl versions come with a heavy duty tip-on sleeve and a printed inner sleeve. CD in digisleeve with no breaking plastic parts.

After two decades in the experimental music scenes of New York and Western Massachusetts, Wednesday Knudsen might be known equally as a sought-after improv collaborator and the vocalist and guitarist for the beloved long-running psych band Pigeons or, more recently, as a member of the New England psych-folk ensemble Stella Kola. Though her forthcoming release, Atrium, is Knudsen’s fifth solo album, it is both her first solo work to appear on vinyl and a double LP, marking her rich recording history with a stunning masterwork. Channeling the “atmosphere of presence” alongside the legions of Éliane Radigue, Hiroshi Yoshimura, and Joanna Brouk, on Atrium, Knudsen plays it all—alto saxophone, flute, guitar, synth, piano, autoharp, bass guitar, and vocals. The collected compositions are studies in the tones, timbres, and pacing particular to the woodland environment of the Taconic Mountains where she lives. Atrium’s tracks are sculptural rather than ambient, with a release into the gorgeous hold of gravity that insists we don’t escape or drift away. This is music for remembering time. This is music that reinforces the power of art as resistance. The songs on Atrium distill our attention in a language that Knudsen calls “the opening of the heart,” reminding us that subsistence and community results from our own actions and engagement with our exterior. Atrium is a refuge, vital in our current moment and imbued with resonant power for our future.

The second release from the Époque label is a major one, featuring Niels Van Gogh’s 1998 hit single "Pulverturm”, which earned gold certifications in Belgium and South Africa and climbed into the Top 10 in the charts of many European and worldwide countries. The esteemed Brazilian techno artist ANNA delivers a rework, adding her signature touch to this iconic track.

"In 2023, while preparing for my Tomorrowland set, I was exploring iconic tracks that resonated in Belgium and could be perfect for an edit. I chose 'Pulverturm' for its powerful vocals and strong melody”, says ANNA. “What started as a quick edit turned into a labour of love, and I was so happy with the outcome that I wanted to try to release it as an official rework. We were in conversation with Niels Van Gogh when I sent the track to Charlotte de Witte, who loved it. She introduced me to Époque, and we decided to release the rework together. It's been a year since I crafted this rework, and I've never had so many artists from various genres, Techno, House, Melodic Techno, Tech House, Hard Techno, requesting a track like they did with my rework of 'Pulverturm.' It's incredibly exciting to finally share it with the world!"

Charlotte de Witte adds: “I fell in love with ANNA's masterfully crafted touch on ‘Pulverturm’ the moment she sent it to me. Being a bit of a sucker for legendary tracks that have left a deep mark on the history of electronic music myself, this one just hits all the right spots. It's been a long and challenging road to make it happen but I'm incredibly proud and honoured to have Niels Van Gogh's timeless classic ‘Pulverturm’, seen through ANNA's eyes, for the second release of Époque. A label we founded earlier this year to honour nightlife, club culture and dancefloor legacies.”

The original “Pulverturm” is a twitchy and hypnotic cut with trance infused synths over the top of the rumbling drums. There is progressive energy in the melodies and plenty of emotion in the vocals. ANNA’s version is driving and emotive with sensual vocals and bright, trance infused chords over rolling drums that bring the power.

About Époque:

Époque is a Belgian label and nightlife archive created by KNTXT and run by KNTXT and Charlotte de Witte. In collaboration with clubs and labels, past and present, Époque captures the spirit and lifestyle of our bygone discotheque culture. The Époque label reworks iconic tracks, brings back dance classics and uses club memories and aesthetics to translate these legendary compositions into unique new releases produced by today’s leading electronic music talent. Époque also designs high quality merch and party gear as an homage to the global club scene.

2026 Repress

We are happy to welcome LA re-edit crew Boogie Down Edits first up is their De La Soul's reworks, re-inventing some of their best-loved hip-hop cuts as party-starting house jams. Wisely, they've chosen to retain many of the key musical ingredients of their source material, subtly shifting the grooves to aid slick mixing and peak-time joy.

We kick off with the loose-limbed hip-house punchiness of 'Saturday’ then move into a more jackin’ bumpy groove on the classic ‘'Me Myself and I'

On the Flip we have a bass heavy Hip House style rework of ‘Buddy’ rounding off the package with a housed up groovy vocoder laden version of ‘ Say No Go’.

A great start from the BDE crew watch out for more..
Limited Vinyl pressing.

LWS returns to Parris and Call Super’s can you feel the sun imprint with All Of The Chaos. 4 mutant rollers in his
now-singular style, sharp constructions meticulously designed with club drama and devious rave energy.
A year on from Palloon, and Edinburgh’s LWS has certainly left his mark. His inner metronome ticks differently, ornate
club constructions snarling with hypnotic fervour. His music has been ubiquitous across clubs and festivals over the
past twelve months as a result, and on his second EP for can you feel the sun he proves there’s still plenty left in the
tank.

Opener Many Requests goes galactic, a wide-eyed entanglement of melody and rhythm that gallops tough yet supple
through an ever-shifting landscape; an inevitable deconstruction ensues, before the salivating return sets us back on
course. Gooly shifts darker, a looping roller with sultry swagger that deviously maintains its shuffling delirium with
uncanny nous. Sharkbait on the flip cultivates a jaw-gnawing tension, vibrantly edging towards that ecstatic release
with unrelenting ease. Closer All Of The Chaos goes weirdest, a chromatic safari swivelling on its mechanised 2 step
through a carousel of unhinged sound design to its conclusion; signing off on yet another collection of future-shock
missives from LWS.

Early DJ support from Call Super, Objekt, Pariah, Surusinghe, Ploy, OK WIlliams and Pangaea.

Delve into the quirky and psych-tinged world of Brazilian pianist, composer and multi-instrumentalist Mauricio Fleury.

With more than a hint to Brazilian jazz greats like Azymuth, Deodato and CTI Records in their prime, Revoada is a groove based jazz-framed record, primed with other transitory musical vignettes which touches on Turkish psych and soul-jazz born out of the 70's film soundtrack genre.

Revoada is a 6 track album and storyboard of Mauricio's migration and travels through Brazil's geographical oddities , its rural and urban enclaves. Recorded in Brazil, it's the result of numerous treks through funky flea markets, soaking up old vinyls and vintage cultural artefacts combined with a new life led in Berlin since 2022.

Mauricio, as well as a founding member of Bixiga 70 (google Brazilian Afrobeat pioneers), a band he fronted for over 12 years, is also an in-demand collaborator and musician who as a pianist, guitarist and even percussionist has shared stages and studios with the likes of Brazilian greats including Gal Costa, Emicida, Lucas Santtana, João Donato and Liniker.

In 2007 he had a life-changing experience meeting Tony Allen, at the Red Bull Music Academy. After hanging out, chatting music and life, Tony insisted to Mauricio to participate with Tony in a jam with blacktronica and soulful house music pioneers Ron Trent, Theo Parrish and Steve Spacek. Mauricio sums it up, "From that moment on, I was never afraid to collaborate musically with anyone, no matter who's playing. It also brought me to researching the connection between Brazilian music and Afrobeat which is something that still means the world to me".

Another unforgettable session Mauricio undertook happened alongside João Donato and Marcos Valle, playing Donato's classic album Quem É Quem, live, a record seen as a blueprint for second generation bossa nova. Mauricio has worked with Gal Costa on two albums, Estratosférica Ao Vivo and her last studio album A Pele do Futuro. Fabio Sá and Vitor Cabral (bassist and drummer on Revoada) were playing with Gal at her last concerts, including in Berlin in 2022 before she passed.

In contemporary music, Mauricio was part of Toy Selectah and Mexican Institute of Sound's Compass project. He's worked with Colombia's Los Pirañas and has even recorded a mysterious and unreleased album with Quantic.

Revoada shows signature traces of Thelonious Monk, Ramsey Lewis' swinging soul sound, Deodato's drama, and styles from further afield, spreading into Turkish psych and Ethiopian jazz, when the time is right. Each track, led always by Mauricio playing multiple instruments with a choice selection of guests and core members on bass and drums, highlights Fleury's meticulous approach to finding the right timbre, utilising his arsenal of organs and effects pedals to set the mood, taking the listener to a specific place or memory that has shaped him.

A vinyl DJ for over 25 years and someone who is immersed in digger and collector's culture, Mauricio places a lot of emphasis on the importance of the complimentary relationship between two artforms (DJ and composer/producer) in the sense of having a broad repertoire of musical knowledge, references and perhaps predictably, being a Brazilian, understanding the connection between rhythms. This is an impressive debut album that struts itself right into the runout groove.

Beijinho do Brasil announce their second release with the highly anticipated follow-up from LA-based producer and multi-instrumentalist James Matthew Seven, featuring guest vocals on the A-side by Rio de Janeiro's Fabio Santanna.

Recorded in a small studio on the beach in Oaxaca, Mexico, "Feels Good, Do It" brings to mind a lost recording from Marcos Valle's time with Leon Ware. Funky and soulful with warm Fender Rhodes and a horn section reminiscent of Banda Black Rio, the tune is a breezy, mid-tempo ode to embracing life's pleasures. Originally with vocals in English, the track was translated and re-recorded in Rio de Janeiro by Fabio Santanna. Fabio has a long-established reputation in Brazil as a torchbearer of modern funk and boogie, continuing in the lineage of artists like Robson Jorge and Lincoln Olivetti. But with his releases on labels like Onda Boa and Dippin' Records (which sold out nearly instantly), his international reputation is steadily growing. He has a new 7" due out on Dippin' Records on October 10th, pushing his name to the forefront once again, right on time to generate more buzz for our next 45!

About the flip side, "Ilha Racional" (a nod to Tim Maia's Racional era):
I had this dream where I was in a dive bar discotheque somewhere in the Caribbean. A thick cloud of smoke hung in the air as the selector dropped this bass-heavy bop that had the whole crowd vibing. Then, out of nowhere, in walked Tim Maia with a bag of mushrooms. He proceeded to grab the mic and preach about this alien world of rational energy. Shit was bugged out. When I woke up, James Matthew Seven had sent me this track to check out.

January 2025. Serra Grande, Bahia.
The sound of the forest dampening the steps of weary travelers. The air dense with the song of the Araponga. In the distance, amidst the rustling leaves and tropical raindrops, a distant voice howls: “P… Cara… A…zing”. A child’s soul, expressed through the body of a Japanese man, plays ‘Gishiki’ for the first time with the innocence and wonder of a young alchemist that just turned a rock into gold. We were captivated by the elegance of the composition. A friendship was struck and months of work followed.

Fast forward, and we find ourselves down by a familiar Portuguese lake. Rushing towards another Floresta just in time to hand over the test press before a spellbinding set. ‘Suiryuu’ plays and everything magically falls into place.

We hope this record touches you the way it touched us and reminds us all how life can really be Pra Caralho Amazing.

It’s been over 20 years since Kenny Dixon Jr., better known as Moodymann, released Black Mahogani—an album rich in atmosphere and emotion, offering a quintessential journey through deep house, soul, and jazz. Timeless yet modern, it’s an immersive and emotionally resonant experience that reflects the singular character of Detroit’s deep musical heritage.

Originally released in 2004, Black Mahogani is arguably one of Moodymann’s most revered and sought-after works. It completes the puzzle laid out by his rare and elusive KDJ 12” releases from the mid to late '90s. With the help of Detroit legends like the late Amp Fiddler, Roberta Sweed, and Norma Jean Bell, Dixon infused his analog soundscapes and samples with a new organic warmth—expanding the deep house genre while simultaneously paying homage to 1970s soul and cinematic soundtracks.

Dixon’s masterful control of tension—knowing exactly when to hold back and when to let go—makes Black Mahogani an enduring masterpiece. It's not just a landmark in electronic music, but a definitive statement in 21st-century Black American music.

ATA Records proudly present the latest release from The Flying Hats, Blender 7” Following the buzz surrounding their debut LP and the soft limited pre-release of Blender, anticipation for this single has been huge - and with good reason.
“I've never heard something so perfectly combine funk and reggae and do it in a way that is dancefloor gold”. - Monkeyboxing.
The Flying Hats - the Leeds quartet responsible for one of the standout albums of the year - return in phenomenal form with two previously unreleased cuts of the highest calibre. Both tracks strike hard somewhere between Kingston and New Orleans, as if The Meters were channelling Jackie Mittoo or Sound Dimension were jamming with Jimmy Smith.
Thick, funky-reggae organ leads the charge with killer breakbeats, bass pressure, and rhythm-section fire designed to light up any dancefloor worth its salt. Both sides are built for selectors, collectors and dance DJs alike.

On the 25th August, Burna Boy will release his brand-new album ‘I Told Them…’. It will be available to stream everywhere as well as on CD & Vinyl. The Pre-order will go live alongside the album announce on the 28th July. ‘I Told Them…’ features Burna’s newest hit singles ‘Sittin’ On Top Of The World (feat. 21 Savage)’, ‘Talibans II’ & ‘Big 7’ as well as a whole host of album features.



Burna Boy was born Damini Ogulu in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, in 1991 and began making music at just ten years old. As a teenager he honed his craft on Nigeria’s southern coast, delving into dancehall, reggae and Afrobeat’s. In the early 2010s Burna Boy emerged as one of Nigeria’s fastest-rising stars, combining influences from his Nigerian heritage with hook-filled pop stylings to create unforgettable tracks. His 2012 single ‘Like to Party’ broke into the global mainstream and paved the way for his full-length debut L.I.F.E, a year later.



Over the next five years, Burna Boy released two more albums and collaborated with a long list of high-profile artists including J Hus, Skales, Fall Out Boy and Lily Allen. African Giant was released in 2019 followed by his fifth album Twice as Tall in 2020 (which featured collabs with Chris Martin and Youssou N'Dour), both charted in several countries across the globe andgarnered worldwide acclamation, with the latter winning a Grammy Award for ‘Best Global Music Album’. Breaking cultural boundaries, he became the first Nigerian to headline a show at New York’s Madison Square Garden, he released his sixth album, Love, Damini, last year (featuring collabs with the likes of Ed Sheeran and Khalid). It deservedly became the highest-charting Nigerian album in history and currently holds the record for the only African artist to earn a no. 1 on iTunes in 16 countries worldwide.

Following his debut EP God Iz Enough, South London artist Tomi Ahmedeus unveils “Sereniti Praya” a striking new chapter that deepens his sonic identity. Once again collaborating with Grammy Award-winning engineer IRKO, Ahmedeus crafts an immersive soundscape where brutalist textures, cinematic layers, and visceral rhythms converge. At it's core, Sereniti Praya is both dance driven and emotionally resonant: intricate sampling and percussive detail form the cadence of a project that speaks to love, loss, and self-discovery.

It is a record that moves between the personal and the ephemeral, designed as much for reflective listening as for the energy of the dance floor.

Kaninchenbau label head The Funk District has joined forces with Argentinian keys specialist Sokur for a new four-tracker that collides bluesy samples with sleek electronic grooves. 'Till My Feet Got Numb' kicks off with waves of synth energy run through with sampled vocals that hark back to Robert Johnson. 'Never Satisfied' is another mix of funky drums, jazzy pianos and crackly blues vocals that is unusual but effective. 'Took My Babe Away' repeats this combination, this time with hints of St Germain in the melancholic spoken words and ever more thumping and acid-laced beats. 'Sunshine From The Sky' completes the quartet with more hurried grooves laced with wonky synth work. It's peak time stuff with plenty of deeper meaning.

Schneeweißes Vinyl. Zum ersten Mal seit seinem viralen Weihnachtsalbum ,A Joyful Sound", das 2020 rausgekommen ist, ist Kelly Finnigan (Monophonics) mit zwei neuen Original-Weihnachtsliedern zurück. ,I Can't Wait (For Christmas Time)" ist ein schwerer, aber entspannter Song mit einem geradlinigen Pop-Arrangement. Es ist dieser Rust-Belt-Soul-Sound mit den Harmonien, die südkalifornische Cruiser beflügeln: tief und emotional, mit genau der richtigen Instrumentierung, um Finnigans zarte Stimme in den Vordergrund zu rücken. Der Song wird auch von seiner Labelkollegin Kendra Morris und ihrer Band im Hintergrundgesang begleitet. Ähnlich wie frühere KF-Veröffentlichungen oder Perlen von The Escorts oder The Four Mints ist diese Platte für dich und deine Lieben gedacht, verpackt in hübsches Papier unter dem Baum bis zum Weihnachtsmorgen. Dann lass noch etwas Platz für Plätzchen und die B-Seite... ,Snowy Night In Ohio" fühlt sich an wie ein langsam fahrender Mitternachtszug, der sich von Cincinnati nach Memphis auf den Weg macht. Inspiriert von Finnigans erstem Winter in Ohio, seiner Liebe zu Gospelplatten und den Hornarrangements von Isaac Hayes. Dies ist ein wirklich herausragendes Instrumentalstück, das eiskalte Seele versprüht. Es enthält eine kurze Gesangsbotschaft von Finnigan, die sich wie ein Zeugnis und ein Herzensanliegen anfühlt. Mit dabei sind Terry Cole und Jimmy James von Colemine sowie Billy Aukstik und Morgan Price.

The frankly ridiculous Burnski is back as Instinct with more face-melting garage and bassline slammers that update the classic sound with just the right amount of evolution. All of these on his latest for his self-title label are 10/10 weapons: 'Halt' is hurried, swinging and syncopated to perfection. 'Choose One' is less streamlined; instead, there are warped and squelchy lines, bursts of static and a more futuristic twist getting you going. 'Crazy' brings brilliantly chosen and well-deployed samples to the fore over a beat that harks back to percussive UK funky at its finest. The flip side offers a trio of slick bouncers, body-popping movers and brightly lit vibes. Superb.

Do you remember the last time you were breathing consciously? Either way, you are likely doing it now. On his new album Observation of Breath« for the Swiss-based Hallow Ground label, Lawrence English worked exclusively with an organ for four compositions that are exercises in »maximal minimalism,« as their creator himself notes in a nod to Charlemagne Palestine, who coined this term. While it seems somewhat fitting that those four pieces based on a steady flow of air were conceived and recorded in a situation of accelerated standstill caused by a respiratory disease, the Room40 founder is not so much concerned with capturing the zeitgeist than rather incorporating the spirit of time itself. »It is a record about presence and patience,« he explains. Exploring the unique sonic affordances of a singular instrument, »Observation of Breath« is not only devoted to the durability of sound but also to its density. That it marks his debut on Hallow Ground after having shaped its sound by mastering most of the label’s releases in recent years is just as fitting then as its release following albums by Kali Malone and FUJI|||||||||||TA, whose innovative work with organ instruments have facilitated a rediscovery of their possibilities.English’s compositions however are neither directly indebted nor responding to these musicians. His exploration of the organ’s many facets started a decade ago when the composer was given access to an instrument built in 1889 that is presently housed at The Old Museum in Brisbane. After it had already played a crucial role on his seminal albums »Wilderness Of Mirrors« and »Cruel Optimism,« last year’s self-released »Lassitude« was the first record that English entirely composed and recorded with that instrument. »During the soft lockdowns, I spent many days playing to an empty concert hall, recording the pieces that became ›Lassitude‹ and then, this album,« says English in regards to an unfortunate situation that fortunately provided him with time and space—two major themes but also key qualities of the four new compositions. In this sense, he goes on, »Observation of Breath« resolves a number of the questions originally raised by »Lassitude.

Flick Wilson's "School Days" album has long been one of our all-time favorite LP's through it's killer combination of super heavy Roots Radics rhythms, wild Scientist mixing, and the Flick's unique alternating falsetto style. Never widely available and only ever released in NYC, it's now deservedly reissued.

A chopped-and-screwed love letter to the sounds of rebajada – half-speed cumbia, pioneered by Sonido Dueñez in the 1990s, and born from an overheated turntable motor that didn’t make the crowd stop dancing. With Debit’s treatment, rebajada becomes an ethereal, at times intense ambient tapestry that’s also a history lesson.

Spend any amount of time pacing the streets of Monterrey, the bustling city in the north of Mexico where Delia Beatriz, aka Debit, grew up, and you’ll be sure to catch traces of cumbia echoing from Bluetooth speakers, DIY soundsystems, or car stereos. An Afro-Latin dance form and »practica cultural« originating in Colombia in the early 19th century, cumbia evolved rapidly in the early 1900s, as a localised sound played on drums and flutes quickly modernised to integrate European instrumentation like the accordion. When it reached Mexico in the 1940s, the sound shifted again, fusing with mariachi styles and integrating further vallenato folk elements. Eventually, cumbia spread across the entirety of Latin America, splintering into a spectrum of different musical styles such as chicha in Peru, and cumbia villera in Argentina. And over in Monterrey, cumbia inadvertently found its own idiosyncratic groove.

From the 1950s to the 1970s, waves of immigrants from across Mexico and Latin America headed to Monterrey to find work, making a home in Colonia Independencia. Colombian cumbia records, shipped in from Mexico City, Houston, and Miami, became the soundtrack of the neighbourhood, relaying familiar stories to a rural working class adjusting to their new industrial reality. The sound struck a chord with locals, and huge street parties hosted by ramshackle soundsystems known as sonideros unified the diverse community. So when cumbia rebajada materialised serendipitously in the 1990s, it emphasised and highlighted the memory distortions at the heart of the immigrant experience. Local record collector, selector, and sonidero Gabriel Dueñez had been playing cumbia for hours one night when disaster struck: his turntable’s motor overheated and slowed down, turning the music into a warped groan, with half-speed voices echoing over wobbly accordion drones and splashy drums. But the crowd kept dancing, and Sonido Dueñez realised he’d struck gold – cumbia rebajada was born.

Over the next few years, he dubbed a popular series of mixtapes, hawking them at the flea market on the dried-up Santa Catarina riverbed beneath El Puente del Papa, the bridge that links downtown Monterrey with Independencia. These woozy archives became the stuff of legend, poetically but subconsciously shadowing DJ Screw’s series of epochal cassettes that appeared over the border in Houston. Beatriz uses Sonido Dueñez’s first two tapes as the starting point for »Desaceleradas«, entering into a dialogue with time, culture, and geography as she recalls the sonic ecosystem that surrounded her decades ago, long before she emigrated to the USA. If 2022’s acclaimed »The Long Count« was an attempt to recover concealed pre-Columbian history in the face of colonisation, »Desaceleradas« jumps forward, figuring out how memory and shared celebration can resist a more contemporary form of cultural erasure. As AI systems scrape, blend, and decontextualise culture around us, leaving vapid slop, »Desaceleradas« proposes a slower, more careful, and ultimately more human kind of engagement. It’s an archive with a pulse.

First Word Records are proud to bring you 'Penny Ballads', a 5-track EP from Royce Wood Junior. Royce Wood Junior is a Grammy & Mercury Award-nominated musician, songwriter and record producer from London, currently based in Brighton. As a multi-instrumentalist, he's collaborated with a litany of brilliant artists over the years, such as Jamie Woon, Nao, Disclosure, Jessie Ware, Olivia Dean, Joy Crookes, Jamie Lidell and Jordan Rakei, additionally to touring with the likes of the legendary Thomas Dolby. He's released two acclaimed solo albums to date ('The Ashen Tang' in 2015, and 'No Two Blue Ticks' in 2021). 'Penny Ballads' demonstrates RWJ's varied talents, with a collection of alternative soul compositions, each one as unique as the next. It includes the first two singles, the Poplife-Prince era flavoured 'Go Get Your Money', and the double-time future funk adrenaline shot, 'Clean Up', along with three previously-unreleased tracks. 'Beretta' is low-slung soul funk, beginning with quirky squelchy synths, before the soulful lead vocal of feature artist Lucey Way breezes in to melt everyone's hearts. 'Things' sweeps in next, an infectiously soulful midtempo heavy soul bop, with an instant earwork of a hook, like a modern-day Steely Dan / Doobie Brothers, complete with a head-nodding string section to end the track. The collection concludes on a more melancholy downtempo tip with 'Rolling'; an almost-folktronic anthem, with a key refrain that wouldn't be out of place on a 70's Stevie piece. RWJ (aka Jim Wood) says of this project… "Back in the 17 and 1800's Troubadours and minstrels would go from Tavern to Tavern selling Penny Ballads, single sheets of music and lyrics written quickly and frivolously to make a quick buck.. It strikes me that we're in a similar phase in the way we value music in 2025. An old Penny Ballad was cheap and dog-eared, ink-smudged, sung aloud by firelight, Now songs live in the digital ether, dissolved in the air, a ghostly breath paid in micro cents. The new era of Penny Balladry is here, and weird. This EP is a snapshot of my writing over a two year period. Focussed on minimal recording styles, one mic on the drums, generally first or second takes on parts and vocals, I wanted the music to feel like small moments with lyrics that talk about the weird nuances of being alive as a latter stage human on the cusp of the Ai revolution. Culturally so evolved, but physiologically still just a bunch of mammals walking about with primitive fears and needs. Just trying to reconcile it all moment to moment…" Previous support for Royce's music has included Radio 1's Future Sounds, BBC 6 Music's New Music Fix, Annie Mac, Clara Amfo, Jo Whiley (BBC Radio 2), Mary Anne Hobbs, Jamz Supernova, Tom Robinson, Huw Stephens (BBC 6 Music), Zane Lowe and MistaJam. There have been sessions previously for the likes of Red Bull and press from Huck, Line of Best Fit, Clash, Aesthetica & DIY magazine. Entirely self-written and self-produced, this EP gives a solid taste of RWJ's talents. A deeply funky diverse set of music from an immensely talented individual. 'Penny Ballads' is due to be released on vinyl & digital, 24th October 2025. The vinyl version also includes an exclusive additional mix of the first single 'Go Get Your Money'. TRACKLIST: 01: Clean Up (EP Mix) 02: Go Get Your Money 03: Beretta (feat. Lucey Way) 04: Things 05: Rolling 06: Go Get Your Money (B-Sharp Mix) Deconstructed Mixes

Mike Cannon – Best Of (LP) Limited Coloured Vinyl

Die neue Best Of-Collection von Mike Cannon präsentiert die stärksten Titel und begehrtesten Versionen der Italo-DiscoLegende in höchster Klangqualität. Mit dabei ist natürlich auch „Voices In The Dark“, der weltweite Megahit, der Mike Cannon unsterblich gemacht hat und bis heute auf keiner echten Italo-Disco-Party fehlen darf.

Diese Veröffentlichung ist ein absolutes Muss für alle internationalen Italo-Disco-Fans und bildet gleichzeitig den Auftakt einer brandneuen ZYX Italo Disco Serie. Jede Edition erscheint sowohl als CD als auch als farbenprächtige VinylAusgabe – ideal für Sammler und Liebhaber des Genres. Freu dich auf weitere kommende Highlights der Serie, unter anderem Duke Lake, Alan Ross und Roy.

Ein hochwertiges Sammlerstück und die perfekte Gelegenheit, die Magie von Mike Cannon neu zu entdecken!


Mike Cannon‘s new Best Of collection presents the strongest tracks and most sought-after versions of the Italo disco legend in the highest sound quality. Of course, it also includes ‘Voices In The Dark’, the global mega-hit that made Mike Cannon immortal and is still a must at any real Italo disco party today.

This release is an absolute must for all international Italo disco fans and also marks the start of a brand new ZYX Italo disco series. Each edition is available on both CD and colourful vinyl – ideal for collectors and lovers of the genre. Look forward to more upcoming highlights in the series, including Duke Lake, Alan Ross and Roy.

A high-quality collector‘s item and the perfect opportunity to rediscover the magic of Mike Cannon!

Permanent Vacation proudly presents a double A-side collaboration from Gold Panda and Fort Romeau: El Espíritu / El Fantasma. Bringing together two distinct artistic voices, the release blends
Gold Panda’s emotional, melodic sensitivity with Fort Romeau’s refined, hypnotic dancefloor touch. El Espíritu radiates warmth and shimmering detail, while El Fantasma drives deeper into late-night territory with atmospheric tension. — a standout meeting of two producers at the height of their craft.

Groggy, engrossing new work from Ulla under their newly minted U.e. tag, riffing to the sublime on a set of (mostly) acoustic reveries that tap into the kind of smokey vapours favoured by the likes of Vincent Gallo, Voice Actor, Jonnine.

A new year, label, album and handle for Ulla, a multifaceted artist who has draped our pages with wonder, under numerous aliases and collabs, for almost a decade. On ‘Hometown Girl’ they distill transience and flux into a quiet set of chamber works subtly resembling the room recorded nuance of their ‘Jazz Plates’ side with Perila - here taken a step further into more elusive, low-lit dimensions.

In a mode that’s wistful and melancholic, listening to the album’s dozen discrete pieces feels like leafing thru a journal of hand-written notes, reflecting on the feelings that come with separation from loved ones and displacement from familiarity. Ulla performed and recorded all of the instruments themselves, lending a tangible tactility to layered arrangements of woodwind, keys, strings, drums and voice, lightly speckled with electronics and perfused with open window field recordings.

They locate a crackling frisson of personality in the voice notes and day-dreaminess of their mottled inscapes, gauzily demarcating lines between past and present selves. In that aesthetic and approach we can also hear similarities to Jonnine’s blue-skied ‘Southside Girl’ or crys cole’s poetic sensuality, often leaning into the domestic surreal.

A frayed, opening salutation ‘Good Morning’ signals a delirious half hour in Ulla’s company, variously swaying to the downstroked jazz swing of a ‘Lavender (NF)’ spritzed with clarinet, whilst ‘Froggy Explorer’ stirs the air like Jan Jelinek on a barely-there tip. The Basinski-esque fritz of degraded loops really snags the imagination along with a twinkling nightlight ‘Ball’, as the album opens out into its most fully resolved songs with a closing couplet of disarming wonders ‘Drawing of Me’, and a blurry ‘Mute’ that feels like Ulla 〜almost〜 reveals too much before retreating back into the shadows.

Naive Melodies is a bold and visionary tribute to the music of Talking Heads, reinterpreted through the lens of Black musical innovation. Curated by Drew McFadden — the creative mind behind BBE’s acclaimed Modern Love (David Bowie tribute album) — this new collection dives deep into the Afro-diasporic rhythms and experimental soul roots that helped shape Talking Heads’ unmistakable New Wave sound. Inspired by artists like Fela Kuti, Parliament, and Al Green — whose influences loomed large in the band’s rhythmic DNA — Naive Melodies shines a light on the Black music traditions that underpinned their artistry. Far from a conventional tribute, Naive Melodies reframes the band’s catalog through the voices and visions of a new generation of genre-defying artists. These interpretations illuminate the foundational grooves and sonic textures that fueled Talking Heads’ rhythm-forward aesthetic, bringing them full circle with authenticity. “With Naive Melodies, I wanted to spotlight the deep and often overlooked influence of Black music on the sound of Talking Heads, drawing from the rhythmic foundations of Afro-diasporic traditions, soul, gospel, Latin, and spiritual jazz. This project is a chance to reimagine Talking Heads’ legacy through the lens of the very innovations that helped shape it, bringing those influences to the forefront through the voices of today’s most forward-thinking artists.” — Drew McFadden The album features a globally minded lineup, including Liv.e, Bilal, Rogê, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Aja Monet, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Theo Croker, Kenny Dope, Rosie Lowe, Pachyman, W.I.T.C.H., and more — spanning Afrobeat, jazz, soul, funk, gospel, dub, electronica, orchestral, and Latin styles. It reflects not only the boundary-pushing ethos of Talking Heads, but also the influence of Black music as a cultural force that helped shape it. This is not just a tribute album — it’s a recontextualization. A cultural conversation. A rhythmic reawakening.

The Chambers Brothers are four biological brothers who cut their teeth in church choirs and on the gospel and folk circuit around Southern California. But, things really picked up halfway the 1960s when they started performing in New York and in 1968 scored their only hit “Time Has Come Today”. This 11-minute opus spent five consecutive weeks at #11 (yes, really!) on the Billboard Hot 100 and really showcased the progressive mindset of the brothers; the group combined American blues and gospel traditions with the effects-laden sound of psychedelic rock that was very much in-vogue around that time. If you’re fan of psychedelic soul such Rotary Connection, you can’t miss this. The Time Has Come is available as a limited edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on red coloured vinyl.

Das legendäre Debütalbum der norwegischen Funkateers Xploding Plastix, "Amateur Girlfriends Go Proskirt Agents" (2001), erscheint als Deluxe-Doppelvinyl mit 6 zusätzlichen Bonustracks. Mit ihrer Mischung aus obskuren Jazz-Samples, coolen Beats, melodischem Feeling, einer unkonventionellen Herangehensweise und einer gehörigen Portion Humor schufen Xploding Plastix ihren ganz eigenen Stil. Eine Art älterer Amon Tobin trifft auf Scott Walker in einem verraucht-schmuddeligen Jazzclub. Dazu noch ein Faible für Film Noir, Balearic Beats, Lo-Fi, absolut abgefahrene Sounds – einfach genial! Der NME schrieb damals: "Währenddessen bieten die Norweger Xploding Plastix – zwei Verrückte mit vielen kleinen Boxen und einem schrecklichen Namen – auf dem Jam Festival eine ganz andere Art von Umbruch. Ihr Sound ist ein lauter, desorientierender Future-Jazz-Krach, eine Mischung aus DJ Foods verrückten Drums, Aphex Twins Taktarten und den stimmungsvollsten, cineastischen Passagen von The Herbaliser. Fantastisch!"