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Legendary postmodern, post punk, post human, past caring collective Mekons return with a brand-new album for 2025. Their first release on Fire Records, ‘Horror’ a collection of songs written in late 2022 but providing a horribly prescient reflection of the world in its current miasma and how we got here. ‘Horror’ looks at history and the legacies of British imperialism with mashed up lyrics set against a typically eclectic sound that amalgamates everything from dub, country, noise, rock & roll, electronica, punk, music hall, polka and you can even take your partner for a nice waltz on ‘Sad And Sad And Sad’. The roots of their global sound reflect their nomadic journey through time and space from Leeds to California in the West and Siberia in the East and is woven into the fabric and intricacies of their song creation… Sounding like The Chills and R.E.M circa the I.R.S Records years, ‘Mudcrawlers’ sees just about the whole band joining Jon Langford on vocals speaking of Irish famine and refugees journeying to Wales. ‘War Economy’ shivers in the cold of such Boroughs spiked one-liners: “Clinical coercion will not achieve dominance!” Sounding like its straight off a Jenny Holzer neon sign (she of Abuse Of Power Comes As No Surprise), it’s held together by a disgruntled swaggering riff that underpins an explosion of disquiet. Meanwhile, Rico takes the lead on the maliciously luscious ‘Fallen Leaves’ an appalled and appalling Hammer Horror take on climate breakdown reminiscent of Rolling Thunder Dylan, that recalls The Pogues at their most introspective, its Celtic twilightism augmented by Susie Honeyman’s keening violin as the dying sun sinks down and the river Styx flows on in the pitch black night. Almost 50 years in the making, these Mekons continue to astound, their sound, sentiment and method of delivery blended to perfection by bass player and studio wizard, Dave Trumfio. The Mekons are Jon Langford, Sally Timms, Tom Greenhalgh, Dave Trumfio, Susie Honeyman, Rico Bell, Steve Goulding, and Lu Edmonds. "Effortlessly eloquent post-punks" Pitchfork // “The Mekons are still vital” Rolling Stone // “The most revolutionary group in the history of rock ‘n’ roll,” Lester Bangs // UK Tour 8-15 May 2025 (including London, Manchester, Glasgow, and more).

DJ Support: Dave Lee , Brandon Block, Tedd Paterson, Shiba San, Richard Roberts, Ridney, Ruben Mandolini & Ben Mabon

The mysterious Wizards with 2 disco-tastic house reworks that have been lighting up the dancefloors.

Limited Pressing act fast!

Since our first contact with NYC based producer Thavius Beck in 2018, he sent us over 100 unreleased tracks, or beats, as he calls them. 25 of them have been selected for releases on U-TRAX, good for over 2 hours of music, across this album and the Lovesick EP.

Growing up in LA, Thavius Beck entered the hip-hop scene as member of Global Phlowtations, and released several solo albums under the Adlib moniker. In later years, he released five albums under his own name on labels like Mush, Big Dada and Plug Research, and also produced albums for artists like Saul Williams and K‑the‑I???, and did some remixing for amongst others Nine Inch Nails.
Nowadays he combines making music with a career as a succesful certified Ableton and Bitwig trainer and as a music teacher at Berklee NYC.

The tracks vary in style a lot, but what they have in common is that they either are moody – in U-TRAX lingo: deep - or they are drum heavy. The common denominator would probably be 'experimental/instrumental hip-hop', reminiscent of producers like Flying Lotus. People have tried all sorts of comparisons to pinpoint Thavius' sound, ranging from 'between DJ Shadow and Orbital' and 'a mix of Massive Attack and The Orb'. None of these are spot on, yet quite a few of these tracks feel like a happy marriage between hip-hop beats and techno sounds.

Despite the fact that some tracks are 20 years old and have been made with widely different gear (one track was even made on a PlayStation 2), this selection sounds remarkably balanced, yet diverse.

From the irresistible single 'Lovesick/Still Sick' to the dark and massive 'Birdsong' (that echoes the sound of his popular song 'Atmos'), and from the head-nodding 'Work!' to the soothing 'Reunited With The All' - if this collection showcases anything, it's Thavius' brilliant production and composing skills, as well as his wizard-level sampling techniques. The result is a luscious electronic music album with a broad appeal.

Available on double 180 grams colored vinyl vinyl, comes in gatefold picture sleeve.

UK electro wizard Plant43 marks his 20th year in the game in the only way he knows how: with another wonderful album, his 10th overall. It comes on his own now five year strong Plant43 Recordings and as he continues to lay it down with his regular performances at Tresor. Feeding The Machines is full of signature excellence, from the lithe rhythms of 'Information Decay' to the jittery drums and introspective chords of 'Anthropomorphic Algorithms' via the dark, hurried urgency of the paranoid 'Absolute Inertia'. This is another long player that is as adventurous as it is emotive and cinematic.

From their 2024 tour, this live bootleg captures King Gizzards full Houston set at White Oak Music Hall. With 15 tracks spread across three color vinyl LPs, and comes in a deluxe tri-gatefold with hypnotic op-art labels and custom photo sleeves for each record. Limited to 500 vinyl 3xLP Tri-Gatefolds

Emerging from the Sydney punk scene alongside bands such as Gee Tee, R.M.F.C., and Tee Vee Repairmann, and with large side of Egg punk accompanying their NWOBHM bacon (also maybe the beans in this messy breakfast are AOR?… I think we might be overreaching with this metaphor). Steröid are ready to rock the main stage with more thunderous aplomb than an atom bomb, hard-boiled and clad in chainmail ripping blisteringly hot rockin’ riffs all night long. Brought to you by rock and roll savant Lord Gordith also known as (at least some of the brains) behind Gloomy Reflections and Quest Master proving once again that he might very well be the most exciting act to follow in heavy underground music these days.
This is a record about rocking, and never stopping, and then rocking some more. You can rock with friends at a gig or a show. Sometimes you have to rock alone, but thats okay. Just give it your best, and never miss your chance to rock.

Dutch upstart Epsie pulls a rabbit, or maybe a Roland, from the hat with Rule of Thumb, a
debut EP that’s as wobbly and wide-eyed as a warehouse party at the early morning
hours. It’s a small marvel of mangled synth wizardry and chopped-to-hell drum patterns
that somehow stay locked tighter than your last three-day weekend. There’s a charming
messiness to it all.

“Fedde” kicks things off with a percussive punch to the frontal lobe, big-room bravado
laced with a subtle wink. “Electric” takes a left turn down acid alley, tripping over a
broken beat and landing in a puddle of molten 303 line. But nothing here feels tacked on
or stitched together post-hangover; it’s all curiously cohesive, like chapters in a fever
dream authored by a bedroom producer with a dusty sequencer and an interstellar
agenda.

Nostalgic without being derivative, danceable without chasing a trend, Rule of Thumb is
fit for all forms of dancing, and the roof tops that dare to hold it.

After early remix collaborations, Felt Sense Recordings presents Rudolf C’s first extended player on the label — four cuts of deep space minimal tech and strung-out psychedelia.

Mastered & cut at Dubplates & Mastering, DE
Artwork by Louis Marlo

Die Südlondoner Sängerin Jaz Karis präsentiert mit 'Favourites' ihren ersten Tonträger mit 15 Songs aus ihren bisherigen, digital erschienenen EPs. Jaz' stilistische Vielfalt reicht von R&B über Reggae bis Afrobeats, als Gäste sind TINYMAN, Blue Lab Beats und Afronaut Zu & Sillkey vertreten, als Producer u.a. P2J (bekannt für seine Arbeiten mit Beyoncé, Wizkid, Stormzy, FKA Twigs, Tems, Doja Cat) und Juls (Mr Eazi, Stonebwoy, Goldlink, Wanda Coal, Burna Boy).

Friss is a turntablist at heart. Inspired by legends like C2C, The X-Ecutioners, Cut Chemist, A-Trak, D-Styles and many more, he always dreamed of creating music in that same spirit. For years, he searched for his own unique sound. The search is over, it’s been found.

GENERATION CMD+Z is a tribute to the art of turntablism, filled with battle record references. Soulful, jazzy hiphop beats accompanied with scratches by friss., DJ Robert Smith and Kypski. The warm, distinctive touch of Amsterdam-based keys wizard Soul Supreme shines through on "Beep Aaah Fresh" and "Use Head. After years of rocking clubs and touring with side projects, Friss is taking it back to the roots: beats and scratches, turntables and a mixer, a computer and CMD+Z. At the end of the record there is a "hidden" scratch sentence containing all scratch samples used on the record to complete the turntablism feel.

Following his journey into the 45 scene with Deejay Irie as It Takes Two since 2020, this marks Friss’s first-ever solo release — a personal and powerful debut.

Limited to just 200 copies.

Though Scratch may have at times seemed crazy, it is worth noting that creative
genius appears so because geniuses see things others do not see and inhabit
realities unseen. As the music on this album reveals, Lee Perry's Black Ark creations
re-arrange the familiar into something new and magical.
Lee spent his early days working with legendary producers Coxsone Dodd, Duke Reid,
Joe Gibbs, Clancy Eccles and Prince Buster, and by 1968 he was an independent
producer, naming his studio musicians The Upsetters and scoring instrumental hits
with innovative rhythms that helped forge the new reggae style. In 1970-1971 he
produced what many consider the greatest works by the Wailers; in 1968 one of his
Upsetters productions hit #5 on the UK pop chart and more hits followed. That gave
him the funds to build his own studio and in 1973 the legendary Black Ark was born.
Among the many landmark classics cut at Black Ark are such incisive political
commentaries as Max Romeo's "War Ina Babylon," and Junior Murvin's "Police and
Thieves" (covered by the Clash). The Congos' "Heart of the Congos" album is a roots
classic and there are many wonderful obscure singles such as Carlton and the Shoes'
"Better Days." Many dub creations made innovative use of Scratch's sonic wizardry via
echo, phasing, reverb, fanging, wah-wah and various sound effects.
It all came to an end in 1978 as Lee, besieged by extortionists, freeloaders, religious
fanatics and assorted pilgrims, let the studio lapse. And then he set it on fre, some
say due to frustration, others say from mental collapse. He left Jamaica, collaborated
with musicians around the world, toured as a sort of mystic trickster/ shaman and
prospered. But his work at Black Ark will always stand as his ultimate creative
achievement.

Long overdue repress of 'Acid Guru Pond', the incredible collaboration between Bardo Pond, Japanese psych-experimentalists Acid Mother's Temple and cosmic kosmische legends Guru Guru. The fruits of an incredible collaboration, Acid Mothers Temple wrap their psych rock wizardry and cosmic space noise around Isobel Sollenberger's ethereal vocals and majestic flute playing, the collective brings out the best in one another, feasting on innovation and distortion while not losing the swirling lock groove. Classic rock riffs merge and morph into the surrounding world music influences to cook up an enchanting and meditative brew. The naming of each song after a colour only further reinforces the vibe heavy proceedings. Classic black vinyl

The first solo release from MPC wizard and Dutch DJ Iceberg (aka Benjamin Berg) knocks itself into existence. Five tracks of unforgettable swing from the young producer, each packed with enough saturated crunch to make Roger Linn proud. If there’s one thing we know for certain, it’s that this record hits the mark right on time — surely an ode to sequencers and the attitudes of times past.

Following their now cult debut EP, ‘Scream In The City’ and a host of European shows, retro synth provocateurs Sex Kino are back with their latest offering, DEFCON ONE on the highly vaunted Spanish underground label, SOIL Records.

From the explosive electronic disco sounds of such tracks as ‘Space is the Place’ & ‘U-Bahn, to the soaring synths of the formidable ‘East Meets West’, Sex Kino whacks the judges gavel calling to order 50 years of dance music and offers 4 fully realised tracks of poptastic synth wizardry on limited edition vinyl.

FCL presents Can We Try — A Deep House Anthem remixed and
remastered for 2025 including flips from Jimpster, Ben Hixon & Deetron

The ever-reliable FCL—aka Belgian house heroes San Soda and Red D—are back on the block with this remastered remix package of Can We Try, a soul-drenched dancefloor meditation that taps into the timeless tension of love and longing. With its raw vocal hooks (courtesy of Lady Linn), analog warmth, and stripped-down groove, the original cut is pure FCL: emotionally rich, effortlessly deep, and aimed straight at discerning dance floors.

Bringing fresh heat to the 2014 original, three heavyweights of house and techno step in for remix duties—each reworking the track in their own signature style:
Jimpster injects his trademark deep, jazzy finesse, flipping Can We Try into a swirling, soulful roller—lush pads, Moog flourishes, and enough swing to keep bodies moving and hearts locked in. Ben Hixon, the Dallas-based underground wizard, lays down a chunky, hardware- heavy rework full of crunchy drums and woozy funk. It's lo-fi soul with hi-fi intent. Deetron closes it out with a peak-time bomb—big room pressure, hypnotic bass, intense stabs and the kind of tension-release dynamics that only a true craftsman can deliver.
This limited-edition white label 12" vinyl is circulating in the wild—no frills, no hype, just a nod to those who know. Pressed loud and cut for the floor, it’s already making waves in the bags of tastemaker DJs from Berlin to Brooklyn. Can We Try is a reminder that dance music doesn’t need to shout to speak volumes. With this return, FCL prove they’ve still got their finger on the pulse—and their heart in the mix

Mark Robinson and Trevor Kampmann are Uncomfortable Police. They have been collaborating for years. First as Fang Wizard (2011) and then Party Milk in 2023. While those LPs are primarily instrumental, this new 15-song Michelin Star Hardcore album sees them both getting in front of the microphone as lead and background singers. Mark started and starred in the bands Unrest (who just released the 30th Anniversary edition of their Perfect Teeth album with 4AD), Air Miami, Flin Flon, Grenadine and more. Trevor’s records his solo material until the moniker hollAnd for years and has produced and mastered albums by the likes of Cat Power and Explosions In The Sky. On Mark’s seminal Teenbeat label that he formed at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia, just outside DC. This physical phonograph record contains one extra song that will not be available digitally.

Santana Bridges the Divide Between Live and Studio Material on Moonflower: 1977 Double Album Features Extraordinary Performances, Soulful Vibes, and Dynamic Mix of Latin, Rock, Funk, and Blues
Sourced from the Original Master Tapes and Strictly Limited to 3,000 Numbered Copies: Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 33RPM 2LP Set Plays with Audiophile-Quality Detail, Balance, and Imaging
1/4” / 15 IPS original analogue non-Dolby master to DSD 256 to analogue console to lathe



Though it may seem strange now, Moonflower stood for nearly 15 years as Santana’s first and only live record released in the United States. This despite the fact that roughly half of the double album consists of new studio songs, including a zesty cover of the Zombies classic “She’s Not There” that reached the Top 30 of the singles charts.

However unconventional, the “split” strategy went over like gangbusters. Moonflower reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Top 200 and achieved double-platinum status — feats the group would not again replicate for 22 years. These, and the beautiful quality of the program itself, are among the reasons why the 1977 effort remains viewed by critics and fans alike as must-have Santana.

Sourced from the original master tapes, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing in California, housed in a Stoughton jacket, and strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies, Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 33RPM 2LP set of Moonflower presents the record in audiophile sound for the first time on a domestic reissue. Part of the MoFi’s Santana catalog restoration series, this collectible version features quiet surfaces and black backgrounds that expose the critical details, liquid tones, and dynamic interplay central to Santana’s music.

The enhanced sonics extend not only to Carlos Santana’s six-string wizardry, but to the rhythmic, melodic, and vocal elements that course throughout both the studio and live cuts on Moonflower. The grip and depth of the bass lines; the wash of the organ; the scope and carry of the vocals; the extension and weight of the low-end frequencies; the rich textures of the guitars, percussive devices, and keyboards: all appear amid wide, balanced soundstages and image with right-sized dimensionality.

Significantly rooted in the styles and approaches that inform the group’s first three records, Moonflower captures the final appearances of iconic percussionist Jose “Chepito” Areas and go-to keyboardist Tom Coster on a Santana album. As he did during the preceding five-year stretch, Coster inhabits a large role here, sharing songwriting credits on a majority of the new cuts and helping steer the arrangements toward spiritually minded albeit concise directions that encompass vibrant Latin, rock, and blues themes that began to escape the ensemble shortly after his departure.

Close your eyes and feel the warmth of the sun on the R&B-kissed “I’ll Be Waiting,” anchored by Carlos Santana’s gliding fretwork and Greg Walker’s creamy vocals. Enter the cosmic universe of “Zulu,” on which Coster’s nimble phrasing opens the gate to polyrhythmic beats, knotty grooves, and interlocking funk. Grab the album cover and drift off to paradise amid the equally evocative “Flor d’Luna (Moonflower),” a romantic slow dance that Carlos Santana ensures tiptoes en route to its blissful destination. Channeling a different spirit animal, the guitarist later lets loose on the hard-hitting “El Morocco,” on which he seemingly engages in a shootout with himself and wades into the rippling psychedelia that elevated the band’s early material.

Speaking of the past, Moonflower triumphs on that level as well. In more ways than one, the live selections — and the caliber of the performances — chosen for inclusion represent an abbreviated greatest-hits survey of the band up to that point. And, at the very least, a convincing argument about why Santana had progressed into one of the most formidable bands you could hope to see on a stage in the mid ‘70s.

Simultaneously representative and illustrative of the group’s breadth, tracks stem from the collective’s eponymous debut, Abraxas, and Santana III as well as the then-more recent Amigos and Festival. Whether you fall for the sidewinding spell of a spicy rendition of “Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen,” lose your head to the positively epic momentum of “Soul Sacrifice/Head, Hands & Feet,” or keep dropping the needle on the savory grace of the brilliant reading of “Europa (Earth’s Cry Heaven’s Smile),” this pressing of Moonflower puts you — and Santana’s first-chapter legacy — in good hands.

Novoa/Kamaguchi/Cleaver Trio Delivers Electrifying Second Volume
A Bold, Experimental Fusion of Density and Dialogue

"The wait is over. If you’ve been holding your breath since hearing Novoa/Kamaguchi/Cleaver Trio, Vol. 1, it is time to let it out. Vol. 2 is almost here! The group has returned to 577 Records once more, serving a heaping second helping of addictive musical brilliance that comes out in May.

Even The Wire magazine celebrated the trio's first album, calling it “a deep and thoughtful release” – and Vol. 2 is no different. Eva Novoa is the Barcelona-born pianist/composer taking the world by storm with her creativity and talent. And she is back to wow us again on the piano, Fender Rhodes, Chinese gongs, and a little whistling.

To complete the trio, she chose her longtime comrade and collaborator of some fifteen years, bassist Masa Kamaguchi, and Detroit drum wizard Gerald Cleaver. The group has performed live in NYC since 2017. They made their first record (Vol. 1) with 577 Records in 2024. Their highly anticipated Vol. 2 marks Eva's fourth album with the label.

In their upcoming release, Novoa steers the trio through elegant experimentation of its full potential, confidently grasping golden threads from great masters of music to shape her own melodic universe. The multi-instrumentalist says it’s where melodic density meets contrapuntal dialogue, a free interplay of rich textures and riveting, masterly improvisation. This smooth complexity is what gives rise to the group’s uniqueness.

Like Vol. 1, the album cover art features the work of Novoa’s friend and collaborator, popular street photographer Richard Sandler."

Eva Novoa - Piano, Fender Rhodes, Chinese Gongs & Whistling.
Masa Kamaguchi - Bass.
Gerald Cleaver - Drums.

Recorded on January 19, 2020 at Oktaven Audio, Mount Vernon, NY by Jeremy Loucas.
Mixed and mastered by Jeremy Loucas at Sear Sound, New York City.
Photography by Richard Sandler.
Graphic design by Sergio Vezzali.
Graphic support by Mark Smith.

Limitierte 12" mit dem Beyond The Wizards Sleeve Remix von Bullet Of Dignity und Acid Arab's Rework auf der Rückseite.

"Word on the Street" ist das amerikanische Debütalbum der kanadischen Avant-Pop-Singer-Songwriterin und Performance-Künstlerin Elle Barbara und geht auf das Konto von Elle Barbara's Black Space - einer Gruppe von Instrumentalisten aus Montreal, die Barbara zusammengerufen hat, um mit anderen schwarzen Musikern ins Gespräch zu kommen und dabei nicht den Erwartungen an den Klang schwarzer Musiker zu entsprechen. "Word on Street" wurde von Elle Barbara in enger Zusammenarbeit mit Renny Wilson geschrieben, komponiert, arrangiert und produziert. Renny Wilson hat das Album über einen Zeitraum von acht Jahren aufgenommen, bearbeitet und abgemischt, in denen Elle, eine schwarze Trans-Person, sich sozial und medizinisch neu orientieren musste, während sie von Sozialhilfe lebte und sich häufig von nur 11 CAD pro Woche ernährte. In diesem Sinne ist "Word on the Street" ein Sieg gegen Klassenkampf und Vetternwirtschaft und ein unverschämtes Zeugnis dafür, wie eine einkommensschwache, von der Sozialhilfe unterstützte, schwarze Mann-zu-Frau-Transsexuelle mittleren Alters es geschafft hat, alle Ressourcen zu nutzen, um die Musik zu machen, die ihr vorschwebt, und die Konventionen der Musikindustrie völlig zu ignorieren. "Word on the Street" ist auch vehement radikal und unabhängig; ein Meisterwerk der DIY-Prog-High-Production, inspiriert von der Art und Weise, wie das Konsumverhalten und die gegenwärtige technologische Zeit dazu führen, dass sich unser Leben verschlechtert und wir uns zunehmend voneinander entfremdet fühlen. Mit einer breiten Palette von Einflüssen, darunter Todd Rundgrens "A Wizard, a True Star", Prince and the Revolution mit "Purple Rain" und "Running Out of Time" von Rexy, beschwört jeder Track auf "Word on the Street", abgesehen davon, dass sie sehr melodisch sind, einzigartige Bilder herauf, die sich aus scheinbar unvereinbaren Bildern zusammensetzen, wie z. B. korrupte Justizsysteme, die Prophezeiungen von Nostradamus und das Eishockeyteam Montreal Canadiens. "Word on the Street" ist eine gemischte Tüte, deren verschwörerische Ästhetik eine antikonsumistische Haltung verbirgt, die zum Widerstand gegen den Aufstieg der künstlichen Intelligenz und anderer Werkzeuge der technologischen Unterdrückung aufruft und außerhalb der aktuellen Überwachungssysteme arbeitet, was wiederum mit Elle Barbaras Vorstoß für Low-Tech-Unterstützung wie Vinyl-Schallplatten übereinstimmt.

Wytch Hazel's stellar 2016 debut Prelude confirmed these Lancastrian apprentice wizards to be Britain's most promising new hard rock band. Two years on, that promise comes to abundant fruition on II: Sojourn, an album that moves Wytch Hazel on from the innocence and exuberance of the debut to a darker, more profound and complex place, carefully wrought into optimum shape by the band's singer, guitarist, songwriter and mastermind Colin Hendra. "I'm really into the idea of an album," notes Colin. "I don't do mix-tapes, I don't listen to singles, I'm interested in albums. I want to make a good, listenable, cohesive work, that is the whole thing." Asked what inspirations were brought to bear this time, Colin has good news, and even better taste: "I was listening to plenty of Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy and Wishbone Ash last year," remarks the frontman. "This seems to be more of a hard rock album, where the last one was more rock-folk. It's definitely more rock than folk!" The most crucial influence fully expresses itself via Les Paul guitars in sweet twin harmony through cranked Super Lead Marshalls - "Exactly the same type of amp that Thin Lizzy would have used," beams Colin - a benefit of working in James Atkinson's Hand Of Law Studio, a converted gaolhouse in Leeds. "We knew there would be a lot more great gear, more amps, more options," enthuses Colin of this productive new work environment. "We were more prepared, we planned better. I had a lot more vocals to record on this album, pretty much every song has at least three harmonies, but James is a really chilled out guy, he made it easy for us. I had a very clear idea of how I wanted each song to sound, I thought about every single aspect. I probably over-prepared for this album, and it paid off!" Wytch Hazel's proud, avowed Protestant Christianity continues to set them apart from the occult hocus-pocus of their peers, and the very title Sojourn has a Biblical inspiration: "It's used a lot in the Old Testament, people would travel somewhere to stay for a short period of time," explains Colin, comparing the idea to Wytch Hazel's development since Prelude. "We're going to reside here with this sound for a while, and the next album might not sound the same. Come and have a listen to this aspect of Wytch Hazel - it's a temporary stay. We'll be here for a while, then there will be something else. I'm always writing, it's a constant stream, but I'm always trying to raise the bar, because I don't want the next album to be not as good as the other ones!"

For many all-time-great rock bands in the ascendant, the fourth album is often the point where youthful years of febrile creativity and progressive momentum culminate in a masterwork for the ages, setting the seal on an early signature sound while opening it up to future possibilities. From enchanting 2016 debut Prelude, through 2018's assured II: Sojourn, to 2020's wizardly III: Pentecost, each Wytch Hazel album has embodied that old-fashioned notion of unstoppable progress, and the glittering treasure chest that is IV: Sacrament proves eminently worthy of rising to the toughest challenge. Not just the Lancashire quartet's most classically beautiful production, but their strongest yet front-to-back collection of affecting hooks and ageless melodies.

Efter ett år av kreativitet och musikalisk utforskning är det dags för det nystartade bandet Östersjöar att släppa sin debutvinyl, helt enkelt betitlad Östersjöar. Skivan släpps på Coop Records Gotland och fångar bandets unika sound som beskrivs som ett tåg som rör sig framåt, med krautiga influenser och en driven rytmik. Musikaliskt påminner Östersjöar om en fusion av Joy Divisions kyliga, pulserande rytmer och Hawkwinds expansiva ljudlandskap, där varje spår är en atmosfärisk och hypnotisk resa. Skivan spelades in live under en decemberkväll i den mytomspunna Sandkvie Studion, där bandet tillsammans med producent Mattias Bärjed (gitarrist i Soundtrack of Our Lives och Refused ), Mikael Lyander och Samuel Wizèn bakom mixerbordet fångade bandets äkta DNA i stunden.

"High urgency music with a very personal expression of the artist: in one way or another", this has always been the important or maybe even the core factor of every Cortizona release so far.

So it was just a matter of time until DJ Marcelle/Another Nice Mess, longtime fan of The Fall and Jiskefet, topnotch producer, dj wizard with three turntables (and a lovely person in general) - and myself - would collaborate towards a Cortizona release.

I guess the initial idea of working together with DJ Marcelle/Another Nice Mess dates back to 2019. One day she called me four times in five minutes just to hear Mark E. Smith's voice message on my phone. Since then there has been no going back. I mean: what's not to love about her?

Some time ago, she sent me the digital files of her new LP 'Sorry, No Service'. One of the tracks, 'Sorry, No Silence', features the Nan Goldin sample: 'this is clearly ethnic cleansing', taken from Goldin's impressive speech to which the audience cheered in support at the opening of her exhibition at the Neue Nationalgallerie in Berlin end of 2024.
Two weeks later Marcelle contacted me again: her German label refused to release the track. This was the moment we had both been waiting for: at last Cortizona and Marcelle would work together!

The album is due to be released later this year, but, with things as they are in Gaza, it is important to issue 'Sorry, No Silence' as a stand-alone track as soon as possible.
Talking about urgency!

'Sorry, No Silence' resonates feelings of global despair over the genocide in Gaza and the moraland political bankruptcy of 'western values'. It does so over a repetitive, militant tribal beat, complete with heavy basslines. The spirits of Mark Stewart, On-U Sound and Muslimgauze loom over the track, but as is always the case with Marcelle, both on stage and in the studio: she has an authentic style of her own, where playfulness meets courage and - also in this case - anger meets rhythm.

'Sorry, No Silence' is a track I didn't know I was waiting for. A track reflecting the sign of the times. The 12'' also features an even more heavy (and faster) dub version and the avant garde track 'Never Again Means', featuring more Nan Goldin samples: 'never again means never again for everyone'.
For obvious reasons the proceeds of this 12 inch and the digital Bandcamp release will be donated to PCRF, Palestine Children's Relief Fund.

Support more than welcome.


(written by Philippe Cortens)

South African producer Cool Affair returns to Cataleya with an innovative track that blends genres effortlessly. Motoric Patterns is a real hypnotic groover, with sweet keys and vocal harmonies. The sound is somewhere between Broken Beat, Downtempo and even Deep House. Keyboard wizard and Broken Beat pioneer Kaidi Tatham provides a fantastic remix. His version features classic fractured beats and soul kissed touches. Tatham even adds an extra vocal hook. Motoric Patterns is a singular winner!

Big up to northern powerhouse Burnski for steering his Constant Sound label to the not-so-insignificant feat of release number 50. More importantly, the sounds remain as vital as ever and always evolve into subtle new sound worlds. The mantle for this one is taken by Locklead who brings some fine drum patterns to 'Backup' and pairs them with sliding hi-hats and bubbly synth motifs. It's garage-infused but utterly fresh. 'Wizzord' is a darker tech house with searching lead synths and plenty of pent-up energy, and 'Motherland' brings nice jazzy chord work and atmospheric samples. 'Pink Skies' is a bright closer with contrasting synths - some farting, some smooth - and more high-speed, catchy drums that span house and tech.

DJ Quik & JasonMartin (formerly known as Problem), are back with their second collaborative project, Chupacabra. As can be the fear with fan-favorite follow-ups, Chupacabra refuses to copy the formula laid out on Rosecrans yet shares the same soul, steeped in the cores of West Coast G-Funk, but alive and grown up, in a more sophisticated tone. With an album that is LA to it’s core (sans a few tasteful features from artists that would get the nod despite not being from there), Chupacabra provides the sounds to a golden summer in the city of Angels. Like the chupacabra, JasonMartin & DJ Quik are both enigmatic and mystical figures in the hip-hop space. A star-studded list of features include The Game, Suga Free, Jay Worthy, Larry June, Channel Tres, Bun B, DOM KENNDEY, & more. 1xLP, pressed on Blue Vinyl.










j B1 | TWO HI (WAVES) feat Wiz Khalifa, Channel Tres, Free Nationals & George Clinton