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Long part of Portugal's ever expanding house scene, Bogdan Ra loves acid, and frankly, don't we all. This new drop on his Love Affair label offers up four more 303-inspired works full of dirtiness, sleazy texture and analogue punch. Side A opens with the classic leanings of 'Damn Fine' with a rasping acid line and hefty groove, while 'Habibi' is where eastern melodies meet jacked up drum work. Side B amps up the vibe with 'Feel', offering a faster, more edgy sound and 'Action' is a driving New Beat-inspired sound with phased bass, withering sci-fi synth motifs and darker, snappier moods and grooves for when the lights go down low and things get naughty.

If you enjoy this music, then it is for you.

Our modus operandi is to provide djs and listeners with only the finest dance music possible.

We focus on intrinsic groove for your dance floor and all our music is made with high quality ingredients. A respect for what has come before, with a mission to bring fresh sounds and sonic experiences.
Underground Music, Brooklyn, NY

PLONC's second offering. Thronvio — the sons of Thron, mighty Vodun, great benefactor and protector of the faithful — transplant the acoustic into the electronic, the ceremonial into the club. Cutting across genres, from peak-time to the small hours: Club jackin' grooves, ritual ambience, hand drums, 909, acid lines, chanting voices, distorted bass. Far out.

DJ Support: Louie Vega, Dave Lee, Mousse T, The Brothers Macklovitch, Folamour, Bellaire, Moonboots, DJ Spen, Terry Hunter, Michael Gray, Dr Packer, JKriv, The Shapeshifters, Moplen, Melvo Baptiste, Saucy Lady, Tedd Patterson, John Morales, Maurice Joshua, DJ Minx, DJ Dove and DJ Disciple.

Big Love return with EP 7 in the A Touch Of Love vinyl series. Label head Seamus Haji kicks off proceedings with his popular ‘Disco Dreams’ feat Chicago legend Mike Dunn on vocals given a fresh new lick by Toronto’s jackin’ house master Hatiras. Shawn Christopher‘s 90’s house classic ‘Don’t Lose The Magic’ gets a sublimely soulful update from Chicago’s Emmaculate. On the flip side we have 2 French House veterans with Art Of Tones serving up the Chic inspired disco beauty ‘Hoping For Another Chance’ followed by Yass feat the vocal powerhouse Michelle Weeks on the disco driven gospel stormer ‘Hallelujah’.

The Sampler compiles artists from the Indulgence roster, all with one thing in mind... to jack it and then track it. TIP!

Bill Converse should be a household name in every head’s abode. He’s been DJing live with 3+ turntables since he was a teenager, always under the same name. Unfathomably envious record collection. Your favorite DJ’s as well as very likely your favorite DJ. Whether it is DJing or a live set, his presentation is head-spinning, hard-edged but hypnotic. His avalanching drum programming is as recognizable as Coltrane’s timbre. His records have been released on Dark Entries, Fit Sound, Texas Recordings Underground, Tabernacle Records, Immortal Sin, Acid Test, Feral Colony and Obsolete Future. Now Fixed Rhythms presents a 2×12” pack of Bill’s characteristically bewildering excellence.

The first 12” has four cuts. Woozy, heavy, bombastic machine workout opener “Stress Test” followed by the tension peaking sustainer “ZoneZone” on the A side. On the B side, “770” brings us to a new place of plucky bass lines and unconventionally tuned drum workouts, with “lure me” closing the first 12” with flexing low-end, percussive stabs syncopated with heavy snaredrum riffing.

Where does this music come from? Although you hear the decades of Midwest techno, jacking Chicago house, brain-tickling Warp Records cuts, and his dizzying skills as a DJ in the brew, his sound is uniquely Bill’s. The second 12” peels back the curtain a bit more, as the C and D side are two extended cuts from his live set at 2024’s Jackie O’Body Vol. 2 in Denton, Texas. We here at the label were at that gig. Pure energy. Sexy distortion. Rhythms that made you scream. After the set, the room erupted in a chant of “BILL! BILL! BILL!”. Dear reader, witness the power of Bill Converse’s raw, overdriven, drummy, jack house tech madness!

2024 repress

Lars Huismann makes a quick return to SHDW & Obscure Shape's newly minted Mutual Rytm imprint as he delivers a medley of classic, groove-driven techno productions via his "Sounds From The Past I" EP.

With recent releases via labels such as Slam's iconic Soma, Berlin-based DJ and producer Lars Huismann is quickly growing to become a familiar name of note within today's modern techno landscape. Having featured as one of the artists on the label's debut V/A release in February, with the German set to feature as a regular across the imprint in coming months, he unveils fresh shades to his sound palette on his return to Mutual Rytm with a combination of six slick techno cuts across his "Sounds From The Past I" EP.

The powerful, rolling dynamics of "Surge" open proceedings as Huismann quickly sets his stall, while "Collison" veers into slick, looping territories as the energy and tension are kept tight and high. Next, "Echo" ups the pace as tough kicks meet zipping melodies, filtered chords and looping vocal interjections amongst a medley of flurrying percussion licks, before "Funk Shed" takes cues from its title and showcases a classy blend of classic Detroit-influenced sonics guided by sweeping synths. Title cut "Sounds From The Past I" brings with it flashes of serenity and peace, before erupting and spiralling effortlessly into infectious and captivating drum grooves, before closing the show via the rich yet muscular tones of final offering and digital bonus track "Jackin".

Lars Huismann "Sounds From The Past I" EP drops via Mutual Rytm in March 2022.

A concentrated four track showcase extending the warm glow of last summer’s album “Cruise Control” into the spring of 2026. Satin Jackets lines up a heavyweight cast and delivers an EP that moves effortlessly between sunlit elegance and late night force.
A1) Satin Jackets & Kimchii – “Bring On Up Our Love” (Flashbaxx Remix)
Flashbaxx transforms the Satin Jackets and Kimchii track into a driving disco house floor weapon with bright chords and classic dancefloor swagger. Guaranteed to get everyone grooving.
A2) Satin Jackets & Erobique & Thunder – “You Get Me So High”
A radiant meeting of Satin Jackets, Erobique and Thunder that sails between disco, Westcoast soul and soft focus glamour. Built around the 2025 vocal, the trio turn it into a warm and irresistibly smooth homage to timeless Yacht Rock.
B1) Satin Jackets & Nazzereene – “Know Me” (Johannes Albert Remix)
The Berlin producer dives deep into Chicago house aesthetics and delivers a crisp, rolling late night tool that lights up any club at peak time.
B2) Satin Jackets feat. Seint Monet – “Control” (Ceci Remix)
Ceci closes the EP with a dreamy, slow burning rework that wraps Seint Monet’s vocal in hazy pads and gentle after hours warmth.
Extra Mile EP is the kind of twelve inch you do not pass on. A tight, potent combination of artists who elevate each other with ease.

Der energetische Tenorsaxofonist Fred Jackson begann seine Karriere Anfang der 1950er Jahre in der
Begleitband von Little Richard. In den frühen 1960er unternahm er einen kurzen Ausflug in die Jazzwelt,
der von Blue Note auf vier Alben dokumentiert wurde. Neben drei Alben, auf denen er sich als Begleiter
der Soul-Jazz-Organisten Baby Face Willette und Big John Patton profilierte, durfte er 1962 “Hootin’ ‘n
Tootin’” aufnehmen - sein einziges Album unter eigenem Namen, auf dem er funkigen Soul-Jazz und Hard
Bop spielte. Anschließend kehrte er zum Rhythm ‘n’ Blues und Soul zurück.

Knumears sind sich bewusst, dass keine Band in einem Vakuum existiert. Sie sind die Verkörperung einer klanglichen Tradition, die über Jahrzehnte hinweg geprägt und geformt wurde und nur von denen weitergeführt werden kann, die sie wirklich schätzen. Ob man es nun Screamo, Skramz, Post-Hardcore oder anders bezeichnet - es ist ein Sound, der die wechselnden musikalischen Strömungen der Jahre überdauert hat und nun eine ganz neue Generation von Underground-Musikern beeinflusst. Das Debütalbum von Knumears, ,Directions", ist gleichermaßen Liebesbrief und Kartografieprojekt, das die tiefgreifende Geschichte einer komplexen Szene erforscht und gleichzeitig einen spannenden Entwurf für eine neue Szene schafft. Knumears sind nicht nur eine Gruppe leidenschaftlicher Musiker, sondern auch Freunde, deren Bindungen ebenso wichtig sind wie die Musik, die sie gemeinsam machen. Seit 2021 schreiben, touren und spielen die Knumears (Bassist Dante Garcia II, Schlagzeuger Frankie Lopez und Sänger/ Gitarrist Matthew Cole) ununterbrochen. Sie haben sich von ausverkauften lokalen Shows mit jubelnden, kletternden, schreienden und tanzenden Jugendlichen zu nationalen Tourneen entwickelt und stoßen im ganzen Land auf die gleiche begeisterte Resonanz. Doch abseits des Tourchaos fand die Gruppe gleichermaßen Wachstum in ihrem Privatleben, stärkte alte Bindungen zu den Daheimgebliebenen, entdeckte neue Verbindungen und kultivierte ihre eigenen Welten. ,Wir alle haben uns irgendwie selbst gefunden und neue Beziehungen aller Art geknüpft", sagt Cole und reflektiert über die Entstehung des Albums. ,Für jeden von uns gab es viele Veränderungen." Zunächst waren all diese persönlichen Umbrüche nicht gerade förderlich für das Schreiben eines neuen Albums. Die Band sollte mit dem legendären Produzenten/Toningenieur Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Loma Prieta, Touche Amore) aufnehmen, aber der Prozess der Band fühlte sich etwas stagnierend an, bis es plötzlich nicht mehr so war: , Wir hatten alle große Schwierigkeiten, kreativ zu sein", erklärt Cole. ,Wir hatten alle in anderen Projekten ein Ventil gefunden, während wir versuchten, dieses Album zu schreiben. Aber ein paar Wochen vor unserer Zeit mit Jack setzten wir uns zusammen und schrieben im Grunde genommen das gesamte Album. Wir probten dreimal pro Woche, wahrscheinlich anderthalb Monate lang, und es floss praktisch aus uns heraus." Das Ergebnis ist ein Album, das außergewöhnlich eindringlich klingt - selbst für ein viszerales Genre wie Screamo. Knumears bedienen sich eines Sounds, der hyper-unmittelbar und dennoch notorisch schwer zu definieren ist: Er entwickelte sich aus dem Urschlamm des Hardcore der späten 80er Jahre und verdiente sich den Zusatz ,Post" im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes, bevor er sich in den 90er Jahren mit Bands wie Heroin, Pg. 99 und Orchid zu etwas noch Emotionalerem und musikalisch Chaotischerem entwickelte. Der Sound entwickelte sich weiter mit einem weiteren Boom in den späten 2000er/frühen 2010er Jahren, als Loma Prieta, Touche Amore und andere die Musik zu etwas Direkterem und manchmal sogar auf ihre eigene bissige Art Eingängigem verdichteten. Jetzt stehen Knumears und ihre Zeitgenossen an der Spitze der modernen Screamo-Landschaft.

Knumears sind sich bewusst, dass keine Band in einem Vakuum existiert. Sie sind die Verkörperung einer klanglichen Tradition, die über Jahrzehnte hinweg geprägt und geformt wurde und nur von denen weitergeführt werden kann, die sie wirklich schätzen. Ob man es nun Screamo, Skramz, Post-Hardcore oder anders bezeichnet - es ist ein Sound, der die wechselnden musikalischen Strömungen der Jahre überdauert hat und nun eine ganz neue Generation von Underground-Musikern beeinflusst. Das Debütalbum von Knumears, ,Directions", ist gleichermaßen Liebesbrief und Kartografieprojekt, das die tiefgreifende Geschichte einer komplexen Szene erforscht und gleichzeitig einen spannenden Entwurf für eine neue Szene schafft. Knumears sind nicht nur eine Gruppe leidenschaftlicher Musiker, sondern auch Freunde, deren Bindungen ebenso wichtig sind wie die Musik, die sie gemeinsam machen. Seit 2021 schreiben, touren und spielen die Knumears (Bassist Dante Garcia II, Schlagzeuger Frankie Lopez und Sänger/ Gitarrist Matthew Cole) ununterbrochen. Sie haben sich von ausverkauften lokalen Shows mit jubelnden, kletternden, schreienden und tanzenden Jugendlichen zu nationalen Tourneen entwickelt und stoßen im ganzen Land auf die gleiche begeisterte Resonanz. Doch abseits des Tourchaos fand die Gruppe gleichermaßen Wachstum in ihrem Privatleben, stärkte alte Bindungen zu den Daheimgebliebenen, entdeckte neue Verbindungen und kultivierte ihre eigenen Welten. ,Wir alle haben uns irgendwie selbst gefunden und neue Beziehungen aller Art geknüpft", sagt Cole und reflektiert über die Entstehung des Albums. ,Für jeden von uns gab es viele Veränderungen." Zunächst waren all diese persönlichen Umbrüche nicht gerade förderlich für das Schreiben eines neuen Albums. Die Band sollte mit dem legendären Produzenten/Toningenieur Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Loma Prieta, Touche Amore) aufnehmen, aber der Prozess der Band fühlte sich etwas stagnierend an, bis es plötzlich nicht mehr so war: , Wir hatten alle große Schwierigkeiten, kreativ zu sein", erklärt Cole. ,Wir hatten alle in anderen Projekten ein Ventil gefunden, während wir versuchten, dieses Album zu schreiben. Aber ein paar Wochen vor unserer Zeit mit Jack setzten wir uns zusammen und schrieben im Grunde genommen das gesamte Album. Wir probten dreimal pro Woche, wahrscheinlich anderthalb Monate lang, und es floss praktisch aus uns heraus." Das Ergebnis ist ein Album, das außergewöhnlich eindringlich klingt - selbst für ein viszerales Genre wie Screamo. Knumears bedienen sich eines Sounds, der hyper-unmittelbar und dennoch notorisch schwer zu definieren ist: Er entwickelte sich aus dem Urschlamm des Hardcore der späten 80er Jahre und verdiente sich den Zusatz ,Post" im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes, bevor er sich in den 90er Jahren mit Bands wie Heroin, Pg. 99 und Orchid zu etwas noch Emotionalerem und musikalisch Chaotischerem entwickelte. Der Sound entwickelte sich weiter mit einem weiteren Boom in den späten 2000er/frühen 2010er Jahren, als Loma Prieta, Touche Amore und andere die Musik zu etwas Direkterem und manchmal sogar auf ihre eigene bissige Art Eingängigem verdichteten. Jetzt stehen Knumears und ihre Zeitgenossen an der Spitze der modernen Screamo-Landschaft.

Knumears sind sich bewusst, dass keine Band in einem Vakuum existiert. Sie sind die Verkörperung einer klanglichen Tradition, die über Jahrzehnte hinweg geprägt und geformt wurde und nur von denen weitergeführt werden kann, die sie wirklich schätzen. Ob man es nun Screamo, Skramz, Post-Hardcore oder anders bezeichnet - es ist ein Sound, der die wechselnden musikalischen Strömungen der Jahre überdauert hat und nun eine ganz neue Generation von Underground-Musikern beeinflusst. Das Debütalbum von Knumears, ,Directions", ist gleichermaßen Liebesbrief und Kartografieprojekt, das die tiefgreifende Geschichte einer komplexen Szene erforscht und gleichzeitig einen spannenden Entwurf für eine neue Szene schafft. Knumears sind nicht nur eine Gruppe leidenschaftlicher Musiker, sondern auch Freunde, deren Bindungen ebenso wichtig sind wie die Musik, die sie gemeinsam machen. Seit 2021 schreiben, touren und spielen die Knumears (Bassist Dante Garcia II, Schlagzeuger Frankie Lopez und Sänger/ Gitarrist Matthew Cole) ununterbrochen. Sie haben sich von ausverkauften lokalen Shows mit jubelnden, kletternden, schreienden und tanzenden Jugendlichen zu nationalen Tourneen entwickelt und stoßen im ganzen Land auf die gleiche begeisterte Resonanz. Doch abseits des Tourchaos fand die Gruppe gleichermaßen Wachstum in ihrem Privatleben, stärkte alte Bindungen zu den Daheimgebliebenen, entdeckte neue Verbindungen und kultivierte ihre eigenen Welten. ,Wir alle haben uns irgendwie selbst gefunden und neue Beziehungen aller Art geknüpft", sagt Cole und reflektiert über die Entstehung des Albums. ,Für jeden von uns gab es viele Veränderungen." Zunächst waren all diese persönlichen Umbrüche nicht gerade förderlich für das Schreiben eines neuen Albums. Die Band sollte mit dem legendären Produzenten/Toningenieur Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Loma Prieta, Touche Amore) aufnehmen, aber der Prozess der Band fühlte sich etwas stagnierend an, bis es plötzlich nicht mehr so war: , Wir hatten alle große Schwierigkeiten, kreativ zu sein", erklärt Cole. ,Wir hatten alle in anderen Projekten ein Ventil gefunden, während wir versuchten, dieses Album zu schreiben. Aber ein paar Wochen vor unserer Zeit mit Jack setzten wir uns zusammen und schrieben im Grunde genommen das gesamte Album. Wir probten dreimal pro Woche, wahrscheinlich anderthalb Monate lang, und es floss praktisch aus uns heraus." Das Ergebnis ist ein Album, das außergewöhnlich eindringlich klingt - selbst für ein viszerales Genre wie Screamo. Knumears bedienen sich eines Sounds, der hyper-unmittelbar und dennoch notorisch schwer zu definieren ist: Er entwickelte sich aus dem Urschlamm des Hardcore der späten 80er Jahre und verdiente sich den Zusatz ,Post" im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes, bevor er sich in den 90er Jahren mit Bands wie Heroin, Pg. 99 und Orchid zu etwas noch Emotionalerem und musikalisch Chaotischerem entwickelte. Der Sound entwickelte sich weiter mit einem weiteren Boom in den späten 2000er/frühen 2010er Jahren, als Loma Prieta, Touche Amore und andere die Musik zu etwas Direkterem und manchmal sogar auf ihre eigene bissige Art Eingängigem verdichteten. Jetzt stehen Knumears und ihre Zeitgenossen an der Spitze der modernen Screamo-Landschaft.

Andy Riley and Laurence Ritchie are Drop Music accomplices; the label is a natural outgrowth of yesterday's Smokescreen Soundsystem, one of the oldest and best-respected UK crews to endorse (sound-) systems thinking. In case you don't know, remember this: they were early 90s stanchions of pressure-dropping UK house heft. This rare new reissue hears their hugely in-demand classic 'Party Criminals' return to fully swung, gatecrashing mode. And boy, weren't they just. Their fourth ever Drop drop, it first surfaced in 1999 and turned instant heads for its crystalline blue inners and jacking, organic sound, not to mention a cameo from fellow duo Freaked on the A2's 'Rhythm By Nature'. But our favourite has to be 'Make Me Feel' with its soft-attack hi-hats, not tapping, more fizzing like metal leaf against the ears.

Scorsese Sounds - A Tribute To Martin Scorsese - The Finest Selection of Martin Scorsese"s Soundtracks Martin Scorsese ist nicht nur ein Meister des Films, sondern auch ein Virtuose der Musikauswahl. Mit "Scorsese Sounds" erleben Sie die unverwechselbare Klangwelt seiner größten Werke - von epischen Gangster-Sagas bis hin zu psychologischen Dramen und zeitlosen Klassikern. Diese exklusive Doppel-Vinyl vereint die Essenz der Soundtracks, die Scorseses Filme zu Kult gemacht haben. Jeder Track ist sorgfältig ausgewählt, um die Atmosphäre und Emotionen der legendären Szenen einzufangen - von der rauen Energie des New Yorker Untergrunds bis zur eleganten Nostalgie vergangener Zeiten. Ein Muss für Cineasten, Vinyl-Liebhaber und alle, die die Magie von Bild und Ton schätzen. Tauchen Sie ein in die musikalische DNA eines der größten Regisseure unserer Zeit.

British punk trio GRADE 2 return swinging with Talk About It, their third and most blisteringly realized album, out on Tim Armstrong"s storied Hellcat Records. It"s an 11-track surge that fuses classic punk"s bare-knuckle conviction with the disillusionment, identity crises, and quiet rage of Gen-Z-delivered by three Isle of Wight lifers who"ve been sharpening their edge since they fifirst bashed out covers at 14. Jack Chatfifield, Jacob Hull, and Sid Ryan have spent thirteen years turning raw instinct into a signature roar, and Talk About It captures them at full velocity. Their blistering track, "Cut Throat," distills their ethos: fifierce guitars, punishing rhythm, and a narra-tive of clawing forward while the world seems hellbent on pulling you under. "It"s about a world that takes more than it gives," the band says-and that tension becomes fuel, a rallying cry for anyone navigating a landscape that feels colder by the day. With Talk About It, GRADE 2 don"t just revive punk"s urgency-they embody it.

British punk trio GRADE 2 return swinging with Talk About It, their third and most blisteringly realized album, out on Tim Armstrong"s storied Hellcat Records. It"s an 11-track surge that fuses classic punk"s bare-knuckle conviction with the disillusionment, identity crises, and quiet rage of Gen-Z-delivered by three Isle of Wight lifers who"ve been sharpening their edge since they fifirst bashed out covers at 14. Jack Chatfifield, Jacob Hull, and Sid Ryan have spent thirteen years turning raw instinct into a signature roar, and Talk About It captures them at full velocity. Their blistering track, "Cut Throat," distills their ethos: fifierce guitars, punishing rhythm, and a narra-tive of clawing forward while the world seems hellbent on pulling you under. "It"s about a world that takes more than it gives," the band says-and that tension becomes fuel, a rallying cry for anyone navigating a landscape that feels colder by the day. With Talk About It, GRADE 2 don"t just revive punk"s urgency-they embody it.

VOLUMES: ONE startet eine neue Archivreihe mit Live-Shows, Demos, unveröffentlichten Aufnahmen und anderem bisher unbekannten Material, das die vielen Epochen und Facetten von Bon Iver zeigt. VOLUMES: ONE "SELECTIONS FROM MUSIC CONCERTS 2019-2023 BON IVER 6 PIECE BAND" ist die erste Folge und vereint 10 Auftritte, die Bon Iver von ihrer wildesten, wärmsten und kraftvollsten Seite zeigen. "Diese 10 Songs sind so etwas wie ,Hier, wenn du Bon Iver noch nie gehört hast oder wenn du es gehört hast und es dir nicht gefallen hat, könnte das hier was für dich sein.' Das ist das, was wir geworden sind. Das ist wirklich unser Bestes. Das ist es", sagt Justin Vernon, der 2020 mit der Arbeit an VOLUMES: ONE begann und Dutzende von Stunden Live-Aufnahmen durchforstete, um die ultimative Trackliste zusammenzustellen. VOLUMES: ONE "SELECTIONS FROM MUSIC CONCERTS 2019-2023 BON IVER 6 PIECE BAND" ist das erste Nicht-Studioalbum von Bon Iver, aber es ist mehr als nur eine Compilation oder ein Live-Album. Die Bandmitglieder Andrew Fitzpatrick, Jenn Wasner, Justin Vernon, Matthew McCaughan, Michael Lewis und Sean Carey sind eine eigene Einheit. Gemeinsam liefern sie sowohl für Neulinge als auch für eingefleischte Fans die definitiven Versionen dieser Songs und lassen die Tracks durch die essentielle Live-Technik von Xandy Whitesel in ihrer reichhaltigsten Form explodieren. Aufgenommen zwischen 2019 und 2023, als Bon Iver ihr bisher letztes Live-Konzert gaben, hebt VOLUMES: ONE die Musik von "22, A Million" aus dem Jahr 2016 und "i,i" aus dem Jahr 2019 hervor, ergänzt durch drei wichtige Stücke. Der COVID-Hymnus "P.D.L.I.F." steht für eine neue Phase von Bon Iver; ein Cover von Mahalia Jacksons "A SATISFIED MIND" erinnert an die frühen Tage von DeYarmond Edison, als Vernon während privater Bandproben sein Falsett entdeckte; und nun endlich kehrt mit "HEAVENLY FATHER" ein beliebter Fan-Favorit zurück. Die berauschende, introvertierte und innovative Seite von Bon Iver, die die Studioalben ausmacht, kann ohne die Live-Band nicht existieren, und VOLUMES: ONE ist wie eine Zeitkapsel - ein prismatischer Blick auf einen alten Freund, der zeigt, wer sie waren und wer sie sind, all das Gute, zu dem sie fähig sind, aber manchmal vielleicht zu schüchtern sind, um es zu zeigen.

REPRESS ON SILVER VINYL . COMES WITH 24”x24” POSTER + DOWNLOAD CARD + GATEFOLD JACKET.


On The Beths’ album Expert In A Dying Field, Elizabeth Stokes’ songwriting positions her somewhere between being a novelist and a documentarian. The songs collected here are autobiographical, but they’re also character sketches of relationships – platonic, familial, romantic – and more importantly, their aftermaths. The shapes and ghosts left in absences. The question that hangs in the air: what do you do with how intimately versed you’ve become in a person, once they’re gone from your life?

The third LP from the New Zealand quartet houses 12 jewels of tight, guitar-heavy songs that worm their way into your head, an incandescent collision of power-pop and skuzz. With Expert, The Beths wanted to make an album meant to be experienced live, for both the listeners and themselves. They wanted it to be fun -- to hear, to play -- in spite of the prickling anxiety throughout the lyrics, the fear of change and struggle to cope.

Most of Expert was recorded at guitarist Jonathan Pearce’s studio on Karangahape Road in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa (Auckland, New Zealand) -- and sometimes in the building's cavernous stairwell at 1am -- toward the end of 2021, until they were interrupted by a four-month national lockdown. They traded notes remotely for months, songwriting from afar and fleshing out the arrangements alone, the first time they’d written together in such a way. The following February, The Beths left the country for the first time in more than two years to tour across the US, and simultaneously finish mixing the album on the road. That latter half felt more collaborative, with everyone on-hand to trade notes in real time, until it all culminated in a chaotic three-day studio mad-dash in Los Angeles. There, Expert finally became the record they were hearing in their heads.

Expert is an extension of the same skuzzy palette the band has built across their catalog, pop hooks embedded in incisive indie rock. The album’s title track “Expert In A Dying Field” introduces the thesis for the record: “How does it feel to be an expert in a dying field? How do you know it’s over when you can’t let go?” Stokes asks. “Love is learned over time ‘til you’re an expert in a dying field.”

The rest is a capsule of The Beths’ most electrifying and exciting output, a sonic spectrum: “Your Side” is a forlorn and sincere love song, emotive; while “Silence is Golden,” with its propulsive drum line and stop-start staccato of a guitar line winding up and down, is one of the band’s sharpest and most driving. “When You Know You Know” skews a bit groovier, pure pop and a natural addition to the band’s live set. “Knees Deep” was written last minute, but yields one of the best guitar lines on Expert. There’s a certain chaos across the 12 tracks, the palpable joy of playing music with long-time friends colliding with the raw nerves of pain.

Stokes strings it all together through her singular songwriting lens, earnest and self-effacing, zeroing in on the granules of doubt and how they snowball. Did I do the wrong thing? Or did you? And are we still good people at the end of it? She isn’t interested in villains, but instead interested in just telling the story. That insecurity and thoughtfulness, translated into universality and understanding, has been the guiding light of The Beths’ output since 2016. In the face of pain, there’s no dwelling on internal anguish - instead, through The Beths’ music, our shortcomings are met with acceptance. And Expert In A Dying Field is the most tactile that tenderness has been.

Love For Love Vol.1 is a sumptuous two-tracker that takes you into both the unknown and the familiar.

On Side A, Mauritzio’s mesmerising, swirling ‘Sympathy’ (Gamma Reshape Boot) acts like a sonic shower that hits your body wherever it aches. The track kicks off with a subtle beat and acid-tinged backbone, spreading out into a deep, bass-laden symphony of sounds, detached vocals and warm synth chords. One for the late-night crowd searching for the darker corners of the dance floor for inspiration.

Flip over to Side B and Luber's ‘Somebody’ is waiting in the alley for you. At 124 bpm, ‘Somebody’ chugs along from the off with a curiously swingy beat, complete with perfectly trimmed hi-hats and a heavy double bassline. The familiar vocal acts as the track’s calling card – melancholic yet soaringly beautiful. ‘Somebody’ hits your nostalgia nodes with the flick of an ethereal finger, delivering low-end shuffle and hypnotic rhythms to lose yourself in.

Love For Love Vol.1 feels like the start of something special – and it would be wise to have these first steps in your record bag.

Commissar Lag - Absolution EP (Earwiggle)

The 38th Earwiggle release comes from one of our favourites, and a debutant on the label, Serbian studio supremo Commissar Lag. The "Absolution EP" finds Lag delivering his playful vision of techno, dipping into the past while also pointing us to the future, all framed through an exquisite production gleam. Dense, rolling rhythms reminiscent of early '00s Stockholm techno, combined with a catchy repeating vocal sequence (one of Lag's trademark techniques) and rising sirens, result in the monster opening title track "Absolution". "Aim Without Mercy" is another club destroyer - jabbing keys, broken jagged beats, and a series of rising pressure points making it another winner. "The Blessed" meanwhile, shifts the mood from mental to majestic, with interchanging leads and reverb-drenched climaxes marking the big-room peak of the record. Rounding things off is Irish wunderkind Dylan Fogarty, who reimagines "Aim Without Mercy" through a deep and psychedelic lens, layering textural collages over surging, jacking
909s.

Spectral Bounce’s latest offering comes direct from Norway, courtesy of Anders Hajem — co-founder of Boring Crew Records. To date, the Oslo producer’s previous releases have been vessels for the exploration of myriad dance musics, seeing the artist fluently turn his hand to soulful house, dub techno and 2-step.

SPEC07 — the Myr EP — is a much more focused affair, finding Hajem in techno mode across 4 potent cuts typified by undulating drums and swelling echoes. Despite its emphasis on percussion, atmosphere has not been sacrificed for rhythm: vivid FX and meticulous attention to detail bring these tracks to life beyond the context of the dancefloor. This is music that can be stepped into and explored, productions that reward repeat listens.

Opening at full throttle, “Myr” is a jackin’ percussive workout, harnessing punchy drums for maximum effect. Its pulsating low-end runs in tandem with trembling synths that perpetually reflect and refract in the stereo field. Atop its rolling drums, hardgroove-inflected “Sprett” utilizes timestretched vocals, cavernous reverb and ecstatically quivering tones, elevating this 2000s-era framework to new heights. “Existence” brings things to a deeper and more hypnotic place: delays are turned up, siren calls reverberate and timbres ebb and flow. Hajem goes more chasmic still on “Concussion”, hitting the brakes for a much slower cadence and allowing space for a truly expansive listening experience. Heady and mystical, entrancing and otherworldly — listen close enough; beneath the dizzyingly shifting pulses and rattling drums you’ll hear incantations, while bass tones pulse in the depths.

SPEC07 — immerse yourself!

Credits:
Art by Susanne Janssen
Mastering & Cut by Marco Pellegrino @Analogcut
Words by Cameron Leaf

Chicago beat mathematician Toddsonic33 flipping it real durty for us...

4 tracks that are part machine yet fully fused with soul, a sound that feels as authentic Chicago as it can get. With 2 featurings from fellow Chicagoan Don's Mark Grusane and Darryn Jones, this is a real deep dive into the jackin' drum sound from the windy city.

EP2 Limited 2 x 12" Vinyl & Digital Release The second digital and vinyl EP from Brian Jackson and Masters At Work’s highly anticipated ‘Now More Than Ever’ project is a masterclass in soulful innovation, musical legacy, and collaborative excellence. Carefully curated and expertly packaged for true fans, this release brings together extended versions and rare cuts that were simply too expansive, deep, and powerful to fit on the forthcoming triple LP — but far too important not to be heard. The double pack also includes the title track off the forthcoming album ‘Now More Than Ever’, a brand-new, never-before-heard track birthed organically during the energy and creative momentum of the recording sessions. It stands as a testament to the spontaneous brilliance of Jackson, MAW and their collaborators, capturing a moment of pure musical inspiration. The EP features seven tracks, including reimagined and extended versions of classics such as Kenlou Cult Classic ‘Moonshine’, Jackson and Heron’s ‘Lady Day and John Coltrane’, and ‘Home Is Where the Hatred Is’, plus a deep focus on ‘Racetrack in France’ — first recorded by Brian Jackson and Gil Scott-Heron in 1977 for their landmark Bridges album. Highlights include: The MAW (Masters at Work) Live Mix of ‘Moonshine’, featuring former Midnight Band/Amnesia Express multi-instrumentalist Carl Cornwell on saxophone. A sprawling 12" version of ‘Home Is Where the Hatred Is’ — a jazz-fuelled dancefloor reinterpretation blending political fire with sonic elegance. The 12” version of ‘Lady Day and John Coltrane’, featuring Rahsaan Patterson’s soulful vocal performance set against a lush, cinematic arrangement. A masterful reworking of ‘Racetrack in France’ featuring legends Josh Milan, J. Ivy, and Moodymann, each bringing their distinct voice and flavour to this seminal piece. The instrumental version is also included in this 2 x 12” EP. Whether you're a long-time devotee of Brian Jackson and Gil Scott-Heron’s influential catalogue, a DJ or collector chasing rare wax, or a new listener drawn to future-leaning soul and jazz, Now More Than Ever ‘EP Two’ is an essential release — a bridge between the past, present, and the music still to come.

Here we go… BASSLINE. Release your release.

There’s this feeling that House Music is sometimes diluted into a pleasant, non-offensive and conformist formula. Well, Jackie Gritness - you may have heard of her big bro Gary - is bringin’ all the sweat, the attitude and the filth down - take it or leave it.

Jackie introduces herself from both sides on this well-strapped debut 12” - the slick swingin’ & sangin’
on the bass-heavy A side, and the raw clave trax and cunty snarls of the acid-laced B side.

No trace of over-production or tired sampling here: this is just Jackie, her mic and her lil’ groovebox -
gettin’ raw in the studio just like she does onstage. Only thing added is some wall-shaking mastering by New York OG Dietrich Schoenemann.

This is the kinda House that’s supposed to make regular folks wanna turn it off. This ain’t rated E for Everyone, it’s rated F for Freaks.

It’s music from the underground, for the underground - as it was first revealed on the runway of Glastonbury’s infamous NYC Downlow last summer.

And if that’s more than you can take - it’s alright. It’s not like Jackie will hold it against you.

Jackie Gritness
“Gary’s little sister.” His studio session resume reads like a House music who’s who - from David Morales to Fred P. He’s also been rockin’ clubs with the Playin’ 4 The City and MLIU crews - but she’s also been seen on Gideon’s fierce Homo-Centric Records. See, this bitch’s true feelings about House are stripped-down, bare-bones, and unapologetically sexual. With a radical ‘live’ attitude, she’s serving the realness with an irresistibly acidic zing.

There’s this feeling that House Music is sometimes diluted into a pleasant, non-offensive and conformist formula. Well, Jackie Gritness - you may have heard of her big bro Gary - is bringin’ all the sweat, the attitude and the filth down - take it or leave it.

Jackie introduces herself from both sides on this well-strapped debut 12” - the slick swingin’ & sangin’
on the bass-heavy A side, and the raw clave trax and cunty snarls of the acid-laced B side.

No trace of over-production or tired sampling here: this is just Jackie, her mic and her lil’ groovebox -
gettin’ raw in the studio just like she does onstage. Only thing added is some wall-shaking mastering by New York OG Dietrich Schoenemann.

This is the kinda House that’s supposed to make regular folks wanna turn it off. This ain’t rated E for Everyone, it’s rated F for Freaks.

It’s music from the underground, for the underground - as it was first revealed on the runway of Glastonbury’s infamous NYC Downlow last summer.

And if that’s more than you can take - it’s alright. It’s not like Jackie will hold it against you.

Jackie Gritness
“Gary’s little sister.” His studio session resume reads like a House music who’s who - from David Morales to Fred P. He’s also been rockin’ clubs with the Playin’ 4 The City and MLIU crews - but she’s also been seen on Gideon’s fierce Homo-Centric Records. See, this bitch’s true feelings about House are stripped-down, bare-bones, and unapologetically sexual. With a radical ‘live’ attitude, she’s serving the realness with an irresistibly acidic zing.

“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.”

HAVEN co-founder Keepsakes is finally back on his own imprint with 5 fresh originals filled to the brim with warped alien sound design, driving and grooving drum rhythms, and acerbic track titles fresh out of a twisted after-hours chat. Following on from releases in recent years on KAOS/OAKS, Turbo Recordings, Perc Trax, and Boys Noize Records, this latest EP maintains his signature toughness alongside his fun and quirky sound choices while taking his sound further in to jacking and groovy territory.

The EP launches with 'Vocoding Your Nan Out Of Existence' on the A1 - full of growling and tortured alien vocoder melodic experimentation combined with driving funky drum work and organic atmospherics, this slab of freaky techno weight is aimed directly at the most debauched of dance-floors. 'Get To Know It In The Flesh' follows up on the A2 with rolling, grooving rhythms and dramatic string stabs alongside outlandish synth melodies, looping vocals and eerie creatures lurking in the background.

On the flip 'Ready2BeginWot?' gets things jacking with swinging rhythmic funk and and ear-worm repeating vocal line in a fast house-inspired slammer. 'Hollow And Suited' follows on the B2 with its tribal driving drum work and mutating resonated vocals sitting alongside debased synth melodics for the most haunted club creatures. Finally, 'Corvid House' closes out the record with its swung and grooving drum loops, bird call sound effects, vocal hooks and euphoric pad bliss to finish off another plate of dance-floor degeneracy.

Pariah’s cult debut re-issued! “The Kindred” brings you pure old school Thrash Metal fury! Satan changed their name to Pariah in 1988-1989. Satan’s evolution for the time being came to an end here with this band, Pariah, in 1988. What Satan were going for with “Suspended Sentence”, could definitely be seen as a hint to the direction they would take as Pariah. That raspy, ill-tempered, aggressive Michael Jackson (indeed) is still here on vocals and these guys really wanted to tear things apart with this album. The main lineup here is entirely the same from Satan and Blind Fury (vocalists aside).

Simply put, one could easily say they took “Suspended Sentence”’s interesting idea of “NWOBHM meets Thrash Metal” and basically focused on being even more aggressive this time. We might be throwing out the obvious here again, but if you are new to Pariah or perhaps Satan, familiarize yourself with the fact that guitarists Russ Tippins and Steve Ramsey are truly an insane duo. For the most part with “The Kindred” their guitar work is pretty thrashy and extremely melodic. Then out of nowhere those classic NWOBHM solo’s, dual harmonies, and majestic melodies come into play all over the place and they manage to make it work incredibly well in between the thrashy antics. The production and mix seems to be an improvement over “Suspended Sentence” and here the guitars tend to have more of a sharper edge, Jackson’s vocals are constantly in the clear and never overpowered by anything else, and overall there is a tougher vibe surrounding this.

Everything here is pretty damn heavy. While Tippins and Ramsey are really out there in a realm of their own, there’s great performances again by Graeme English on bass and Sean Taylor on drums. Overall you’ve got a whole package of virtuous musicians here that really mastered the beauty of balance. All in all “The Kindred” goes all the way with every track being fast and aggressive. Satan and Pariah are all typically made up of the same core members and definitely created some timeless and unique Heavy Metal.

DIG! is the 6th studio album by UK 5-piece band Mamas Gun, a rare creative brotherhood of passionate musicians making soul music that sounds and feels timeless. Recorded by engineer Neil Innes straight to 16-track analogue tape at All Things Analogue Studios in Leeds, the album captures the sound of five musicians at the very top of their game, coming together to bring 11 lovingly crafted songs to life. The result is intimate performances that put you in the room with the band as the music unfolds.
Andy Platts’ golden falsetto leads songs that explore universal themes of love, family, hope, and redemption, finding uplift in times of downturn. Drummer Chris Boot provides grooves with jazz-like lightness, Cameron Dawson’s melodic bass echoes the spirit of James Jamerson, Terry Lewis brings warm, old-school guitar authenticity, and Dave Oliver connects jazz, gospel, and soul with piano, Wurlitzer, and Hammond organ.
The album features a standout collaboration with legendary Brian Jackson on the jazz-funk title track “DIG!”, as well as fan favourites like “Food For The Flames”, “The Proof”, and “Joy.” Deeply soulful and authentic, DIG! is Mamas Gun at their most accomplished.

Dompe Delivers Peak-Time House Energy on New Reload EP.
Definitive Recordings welcomes a brand-new three-track EP from Dompe, showcasing his unmistakable blend of classic house foundations, driving grooves, and modern club attitude.

Dompe aka Dominic Wagner is a DJ and producer driven by relentless passion and an instinctive feel for the dancefloor.
Known for pairing distinctive vocals with finely crafted basslines and arrangements, his sound is always moving forward while staying rooted in house tradition. Based in Berlin since 2011, Dompe founded Jackfruit Recordings in 2017 as his personal creative playground, releasing a steady stream of music that has earned both national and international attention. His doublevinyl album ‘Hippie Crack’ sold out quickly and charted strongly on Beatport, followed by ‘French Collection’. In 2025, Dompe made his debut on Definitive Recordings with a standout remix of the label classic ‘Let It Go’ by John Acquaviva, Olivier Giacomotto and Dan Diamond further cementing his connection to the imprint.
Now returning with a full EP, Dompe opens with ‘Reload’, a classic house groover built around a tight rhythm, a looping piano motif, and a chopped, repeated male spoken-word vocal that locks into the groove. It’s raw, hypnotic, and instantly effective on the floor. ‘Wave’ shifts into more percussive territory, drawing on classic tech house energy. Built almost entirely around drums, the track evolves through rolling percussion, catchy vocal snippets, and sharp house synth work before snapping back into a full percussive drive designed for late-night momentum. Closing the EP, ‘Sundown’ delivers a no-nonsense house stomper. Big 909 drums, a 90s-inspired piano theme, and a vocal sample declaring ‘ecstasy’ capture the peak-time feeling of a packed club
in full flow: direct, euphoric, and unapologetically house.

Killer Groove Records proudly presents "Keep Your Step", the explosive comeback by Italian rock steady & early reggae ambassadors The Appetizers, a soulful celebration of reggae's timeless spirit.


"Keep Your Step" marks the band's much-awaited return, landing April 10th on limited edition LP, CD digipack and digital format featuring two exclusive bonus tracks.

The Appetizers deliver a masterclass in roots reggae music with their highly anticipated second studio album, bridging Jamaica's golden age with contemporary relevance. "Keep Your Step" is a heartfelt sonic journey where the band blends rocksteady and early reggae with funk and soul influences to create a sound that's both genuine and refreshingly modern.

The fourteen tracks move fluidly between infectious dancefloor fillers and socially conscious lyrics. From the laid-back swing of "Feel Like Dancing" to the hypnotic rhythm of "Thicker Than Water", the band demonstrates their versatility while remaining true to the roots of Jamaican sound. "A Message from The Meters" pays tribute to the legendary funk pioneers, while the instrumental "Catch This" and "Make It Reggay" highlight the band's musical prowess and the deep connections between reggae and funk.

Meanwhile, tracks like "Fussy Girl" and "Behind My Shoulders" explore love's complexities with humor and soul. The album's heart lies in its social consciousness. "Cool and Deadly", "The Life", "Stormy Weather" and the album title track "Keep Your Step" tell stories of perseverance through life's struggles.

With the hopeful anthem "We Shall Overcome," The Appetizers deliver a timely message about genuine human connection in a social media-dominated era. The digital edition closes with "Get Some Rollin'" and "Swing and Sway," rounding out the journey with two additional gems.

"Keep Your Step" pays homage to Jamaican music legends, from Jackie Mittoo and Tommy McCook to Toots & the Maytals, while carving out The Appetizers' own distinctive sound. This is a groove made for both the dance floor and the soul, proving that reggae's power to inspire, unite, and uplift remains as vital as ever.

The production stays true to The Appetizers' signature sound: organic tones, deep groove, and that live-room vibe you only get when real musicians are locked in together. Luca Monza and Claudio Mambrini, the band's core members, handled the artistic production. Mastering came courtesy of the great JJ Golden (Black Pumas, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Jr. Thomas & The Volcanos, The Frightnrs) at Golden Mastering in Ventura, California. JJ is one of the most trusted engineers working in this sound, ensuring every ounce of warmth and authenticity came through.

The Appetizers are a rocksteady and early reggae band formed in Milan in 2020 by musicians deeply embedded in the Italian and international reggae scene. Musicians from different paths united by a shared vision: recreating that vintage Caribbean and American sound with authenticity, respect and a forward-thinking edge.

Drawing inspiration from Jamaica's golden era and channeling the soul of Delroy Wilson, Alton Ellis, the early Wailers, and The Upsetters, The Appetizers carry forward the essence of bass culture with a pure, fully organic approach.

Their debut album Listen Up! (2022), released via Belgian imprint Badasonic Records (home to The Slackers, The Aggrolites, David Hillyard & Victor Rice), featured ten original tracks and a dub cut by Victor Rice. Distributed across Europe, the UK, the US, and Japan, it quickly earned international recognition among reggae connoisseurs and selectors worldwide.

Following extensive touring, including shows with The Slackers, Black Uhuru, Skip Marley, and more, the band returned to the studio to record "Keep Your Step", their second album produced by Killer Groove Records. Here the band expands its musical language, weaving together the spirit of historic Jamaican labels like Studio One and Treasure Isle with '60s funk, arriving at a warm, organic, and timeless sound: soul, Jamaican roots, and modern sensibility in perfect balance. Their lyrics explore heartbreak, social issues, and reflections on life and music, performed with dedication and respect for tradition while always pushing forward.


If you're into The Skatalites, The Ethiopians, and those classic Caribbean rhythms, this one's for you.

White vinyl. Signed Print Edition. When Jack Tatum began work on Life of Pause, his third full-length to date, he had lofty ambitions: Don't just write another album; create another world. One with enough detail and texture and dimension that a listener could step inside, explore, and inhabit it as they see fit. "I desperately wanted for this to be the kind of record that would displace me," he says. "I'm terrified by the idea of being any one thing, or being of any one genre. And whether or not I accomplish that, I know that my only hope of getting there is to constantly reinvent. That reinvention doesn't need to be drastic, but every new record has to have its own identity, and it has to have a separate set of goals from what came before." What came before: a rightfully acclaimed, much beloved display of singular pop craftsmanship. Tatum's dreamy, unexpected 2010 debut, Gemini, was written while he was still a student at Virginia Tech University. Its equally disarming follow-up, 2012's Nocturne, marked the first time he'd been able to bring his bedroom recordings into a studio, to be performed and fully realized with the help of other musicians. There has been a set of wonderfully expansive EPs in between_each hinting at new directions and punctuating previous ideas_but with Life of Pause, Tatum delivers what he describes as his most "honest" and "mature" work yet, an exquisitely arranged and beautifully recorded collection of songs that marry the immediate with the indefinable. "I allowed myself to go down every route I could imagine even if it ended up not working for me," he says. "I owe it to myself to take as many risks as possible. Songs are songs and you have to allow yourself to be open to everything." After a prolonged period of writing and experimentation, recording took place over several weeks in both Los Angeles and Stockholm, with producer Thom Monahan (Devendra Banhart, Beachwood Sparks) helping Tatum in his search for a more natural and organically textured sound. In Sweden, in a studio once owned by ABBA, they enlisted Peter, Bjorn and John drummer John Ericsson and fellow Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra veteran Pelle Jacobsson, to contribute drums and marimba. In California, at Monahan's home, Tatum collaborated with Medicine guitarist Brad Laner and a crew of saxophonists. From the hypnotic polyrhythms of "Reichpop" to the sugary howl of "Japanese Alice" to the hallucinogenic R&B of "A Woman's Wisdom," the result is a complete, fully immersive listening environment. "I just kept things really simple, writing as ideas came to me," he says. "There's definitely a different kind of `self' in the picture this time around. There's no real love lost, it's much more a record of coming to terms and defining what it is that you have_your place, your relationships. I view every record as an opportunity to write better songs. At the end of the day it still sounds like me, just new."

First time reissue of JP / US free jazz rarity.

The 1970s were Marion Brown’s most searching decade, a period during which he sought to move beyond the free jazz of the previous era and find more personal approaches to structuring improvisation and composition. After leaving New York for Europe in 1967, Brown began reshaping his music into what he described as “a more deliberate kind of music that had more structure to it,” pacing it so that moods and modes could develop over time. Albums such as In Sommerhausen, Afternoon of a Georgia Faun, Geechee Recollections, and Sweet Earth Flying trace this evolution: rhythmic structures moved to the foreground, harmony receded, and composition became a matter of orchestrating interlocking rhythmic parts as one would polyphonic lines.

Released in 1976, Awofofora is an overlooked but crucial entry in that sequence. At the time, its use of funk and reggae beats, electric guitars, and grooves drawn from contemporary Black popular music led some to misread it as a jazz-rock detour. In retrospect, it is entirely consistent with Brown’s methodology. As he admired in the Art Ensemble of Chicago, the stimulus comes from within the community. Here Brown filters Afro-Caribbean rhythms and funk through his own sensibility, abstracting their structural qualities rather than adopting surface style.

“La Placita,” making its first recorded appearance, layers distinct rhythmic phrases in a manner reminiscent of African drum ensembles, over which Brown and trumpeter Ambrose Jackson spin extended improvisations. The standard “Flamingo” is reshaped through diasporic rhythm and lyrical soloing, while “Pepi’s Tempo” and “Mangoes” harness crisp funk and reggae grooves to generate what Brown called a “manifestation of community” through collective improvisation. Even the overdubbed solo feature “And Then They Danced” reflects his structural thinking, ingeniously re-voicing a duet composition for two alto saxophones performed by one player.

This was the only recording by a short-lived band that briefly polarized audiences during festival appearances in 1976. Yet Brown consistently sought unity across change: different sounds, same principles — rhythm as structure, melody as architecture, collective improvisation, and above all, the primacy of tone. Awofofora stands not as a departure, but as a vivid synthesis of the elements he had been refining since the late 1960s, its grooves and golden alto lines conveying a sound drawn, in his words, “from life and from the world of experience.”

For the ninth installment of his Hardspace series, Len Faki once again dives into his personal vault to present four reworks that bridge the gap between raw funk and modern, high-impact club dynamics. True to the project's ethos, Faki has selected tracks that have been reshaped through his specific sonic signature to maximize their energy on today's dancefloors.
A1. DJ Assault - U Can't See Me (Hardspace Mix) The release opens with a relentless edit of Detroit legend DJ Assault. Faki takes the raw Ghetto-tech energy of the original and embeds it into a massive, modern framework. While the iconic vocal hook retains its street-level grit, the Hardspace update provides a significantly tighter groove and a powerful low-end presence, propelling the track from the warehouse straight into the present.
A2. Myles Sergé - Trans Milenio (Hardspace Mix) With Myles Sergé, Faki explores more hypnotic territory. He extracts the driving, repetitive elements of the original and sharpens the rhythmic angles. The result is a prime example of the Hardspace sound: a deep, almost meditative loop that gains entirely new spatial depth through subtle filter movements and a crystal-clear percussion layer.
B1. Jad & The - Deep Dark Grimey Dancefloor Moment (Hardspace Mix) On the flip side, Faki leans into the brooding atmosphere of Jad & The. As the name suggests, this mix is crafted for the "wee hours". Faki amplifies the "grimey" textures and contrasts them with a stoic, forceful beat. The trippy, almost menacing synth elements are rearranged within the stereo field, creating an immersive pull that is impossible to escape.
B2. Deepchild - Baller (Hardspace Mix) To close out the EP, Faki brings the jacking spirit of Deepchild's "Baller" back into the ring. Through meticulous re-arrangement and quantization, he gives the track the "tightness" essential for a modern DJ set. The playful, bouncing synths remain, but are now grounded by a heavy-duty beat foundation.
H009 is a hand-picked collection that demonstrates how Len Faki unites diverse musical personalities and eras under the Hardspace umbrella. Whether it's raw ghetto vibes or hypnotic deepness, every track has been transformed with technical precision and deep respect for the original to meet the demands of global dancefloors.