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Harry Romero, Brothers Macklovitch, and Austin Ato team up on Rekids.

Harry Romero and Austin Ato return to Rekids alongside the debuting Brothers Macklovitch, aka A-Trak and Dave 1, with the ‘The Corner’ EP, arriving 5th June 2026. Romero has more than two decades of house pedigree behind him, continuing to refi ne a signature sound rooted in expert drum work and undeniable attitude. With a catalogue spanning seminal imprints from Nu Groove to Classic Recordings and Defected, the Bambossa Records boss builds on his 2025 debut with ‘Nice To Meet You’, once again showcasing his knack for balancing functional, floor-ready grooves with rich musical character.

Joining Harry Romero are Brothers Maklovitch, consisting of legendary turntablist A-Trak alongside his brother, David “Dave 1” Maklovitch of Chromeo, bringing decades of experience across the electronic spectrum, alongside versatile Scottish producer Austin Ato, who previously contributed to Oliver Dollar’s 2025 album on Radio Slave’s Rekids imprint.

Harry Romero, Brothers Macklovitch, and Austin Ato’s ‘The Corner’ (Piano Mix) opens the release, a warm and energetic house cut driven by bold, bouncy drums and jazzy melodic touches, as lively guitar licks and rolling piano lines inject an uplifting, expressive feel primed for the dancefloor. The ‘Deep In Jersey Dub’ follows, maintaining the heat with a more stripped-back approach, where filters and breakdowns build tension before a punchy drop, with teased-out guitars adding to its dynamic impact.

180gm marble vinyl.
Baratro was born when Fede (Council of Rats) and Dave (Unsane) met at a show in legendary Milan squat Cox18 and started to trade riffs and song ideas. After a while they decided to shape these experiments into a proper band and got Luca (Marnero) behind the drumkit to complete the line up.
After a few months of practice and a couple of shows in Italy, the band recorded their very first six songs in the empty concert hall of Cox18, which were later released as the “Terms and conditions” EP via Sangue Dischi records (July 2021).
Given the worldwide shutdown of live performances through 2020/2021 the band focused on writing new music, and in August 2021 they started tracking down their first full length effort, “The Sweet Smell of Unrest”, which was released February 2024 via Improved Sequence.
In 2024 Baratro joined forces with cellist Matteo Bennici to experiment as a quartet, both for composition and live. With this new formation and new found chemistry, the band simply let the dynamics and trust in each other shape the outcome of the music.This new creative process led, about a year later, to the recording sessions of their second full-length “No comply”, to be released by Supernatural Cat.

BARATRO are:
Dave Curran – bass, vocals Federico Hartridge – guitar, vocals Luca Antonozzi – drums Matteo Bennici – cello

Some tracks don’t need fixing. They just need a bit more room. South African composer and keyboard wizard Don Laka has been quietly sitting in DJ bags for years, especially with people who like their synth music warm, slightly
mysterious, and impossible to date properly. Somewhere between jazz funk, township pulse and studio electronics, but really just its own thing.
Stages was an obvious candidate for extension. Prins Thomas what he does best here: opens the arrangement, lets the synth lines breathe, stretches the groove until it starts floating a little higher off the ground. Nothing forced, nothing added for
the sake of it. Just more of a very good thing. I Wanna Be Myself gets a gentle nudge from Gerd Janson. The idea was simple: keep the personality, and give DJs a version that lands naturally in a modern set without losing the original charm. It’s still the same track, just standing a bit straighter.
And because the source matters, the original version of “Stages” is here as well. Always good to remember where the magic started. Three versions, no drama. Just strong music that already knew what it was doing.

For Record Store Day 2026, Brownswood Recordings mark two decades of boundary-pushing independent music with Twenty Years Deep, a limited-edition 3xLP vinyl compilation celebrating the label’s rich, global catalogue and enduring influence.

Founded in 2006 by broadcaster, DJ, and cultural tastemaker Gilles Peterson, Brownswood has spent the last 20 years championing forward-thinking artists who sit just left of centre: rooted in Afro-diasporic music, but never confined by genre. Twenty Years Deep is a snapshot of that journey: a carefully curated collection spanning the label’s early breakthroughs, cult classics, and defining moments.

Pressed exclusively for Record Store Day on 3 piece coloured vinyl Twenty Years Deep brings together tracks that reflect Brownswood’s long-standing commitment to artistic freedom, musical lineage, and future-facing sounds. From deep jazz explorations and dancefloor mutations to global collaborations and genre-defying hybrids, the compilation captures the connective thread that has defined the label since day one: trust in artists and belief in music that lasts.
Rather than a greatest-hits exercise, Twenty Years Deep functions as an archive and a statement documenting how Brownswood has maintained its own point of view. By following a highly instinctive approach to A&R the label has shaped music culture, introduced new voices, and built a catalogue that continues to resonate well beyond release cycles.

Twenty Years Deep will be available exclusively at participating independent record stores on Record Store Day 2026, pressed as a limited-edition 3 piece vinyl release.

If – in some parallel universe (or perhaps a not-so-distant-future version of the one we’re already sentenced to living in) – the evil overloads of artificial intelligence were actually successful in their attempts to create convincingly enjoyable “original music,” more specifically tasked with wholly encapsulating my own personal tastes by data-chugging some cocktail of – oh, I don’t know – the posters on my wall, the records in my “most listened to” pile, the mixtapes I made for others, intensive physical scans of my auditory cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, heart strings, whatever else they have splayed out on their autopsy table with the intention of generating one all-encompassing “perfect band” based on the fruitful sum of their findings – that band, for me, would be (or would at least sound exactly like) the Tara Clerkin Trio. It is, quite simply, without exception, the music I wish to hear.

Formed in Bristol UK (where none of them are from yet all of whom are deeply engrained) in 2020, the Tara Clerkin Trio – as it somewhat democratically exists today, despite the singular authority implied by its name – consists of the titular Tara Clerkin, her partner Sunny Joe Paradisos, and Sunny’s brother, Patrick Benjamin. I’ll confess, I don’t know what their respective roles are within the operation and there’s only a very small part of me that cares to learn, as one of my favorite qualities in an objective listening experience is the mystery of who is playing what, which sounds are “authentic” versus synthesized, which chunks are performed “live” in a room together versus meticulously Frankenstein’ed from measure to measure, or how exactly the overall sound is so (seemingly) effortlessly achieved. Though, I suspect, if and when I do witness a live performance by this band at any point, my enjoyment of the music will not be lost in my better understanding of it.

With two extraordinary mini-albums – In Spring (2021) and On The Turning Ground (2023) – making a splash on London’s formidable World of Echo label in wake of their self-titled 2020 debut, this upcoming Somewhere Good LP is, in many ways, the band’s most realised work. In running their usual gauntlet of idiosyncratic (*an overused adjective for which here there is regrettably no sufficient alternative) approaches, Clerkin & co. colour in and outside of compositional lines over the course of 40+ celebratory minutes - never wallowing, despite inherently somber subject matters of self-defeat, disease, displacement, restlessness, gentrification - allowing their arrangements and improvisations ample space and time to situate, stretch out, breathe, cross-pollinate, and ultimately take deeper hold on the listener’s imagination – all while somehow sounding more like themselves than ever before.

Of course, there are traceable influences herein, if one felt that such comparisons were necessary to properly examine and enjoy this music (they aren’t)… Being the big dumb American from the small boring town that I am, cornfed on ‘90s alternative radio with the enchantingly exotic sounds of Maxinquaye and Mezzanine emanating from my chunky tube television, I can’t help but to make a blatantly obvious reference to a “Bristol sound”, ie the whole trip-hop trip, the pastoral crooning over the suggestive urban grime of cracked electro/piano treatments, the digitally-yet-primitively reconstructed James Bond soundtrack string-beats, etc.. But the Tara Clerkin Trio is so infinitely much more than that. There are elements of avant-pop, modern classical, kraut-folk, audio verité, dare I say indie rock (and not of the beer guzzling, masturbatory fuzz-flex variety but perhaps more like a Trish Keenan-fronted Faust, Adrian Sherwood at the mixing desk of If You’re Feeling Sinister, or – in expanding on our alternate reality – a world in which High Llamas cut a full-length for Warp Records with Andrew Weatherall on coffee duty).

The hazy, unmappable skyline-mirage of droning harmonium, upright bass, peculiarly accentuated wind instruments, acoustic guitar, hushed yet literally mighty keys combine to hypnotizing effect. The band may make underlying nods to jazz, sure, but it’s not appropriation, it’s that they have the actual chops to build it out. Beneath the janky samples and oddball percussive embellishment lies actually great drumming. Beyond the manipulated vocal witchery and woefully reflective plain-spoke moments are Tara’s subtly inspired melodies, sung with what might honestly be the glue to the whole crazy equation. A calming consistency throughout the otherwise unpredictably dynamic, boldly intuitive, uniquely British exploration of this (their own) universe in song. – Ryan Davis (Chicago, February 2026)

Legendary DJ, producer, radio host, and founder of the Acid Jazz and Talkin' Loud labels, Gilles Peterson, has curated another exceptional collection of tracks and rare versions from the renowned Dutch Timeless Jazz label, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025. The Timeless Jazz Classics Vol. 2 double album features tracks and standout performances by Louis Hayes, Machito And His Salsa Big Band, Mike Nock Quartet, George Adams - Don Pullen Quartet amongst others. Notably, it includes two special tracks, the previously unreleased version of "Morning Song" (Live In Bremen 1978) by Eric Kloss & Barry Miles and bonus track "La Placita" (Live In Willisau 1978) by Marion Brown Quartet.

Timeless Jazz Classics Vol. 2 is available on black vinyl, includes an insert with liner notes, track-by-track information by Gilles Peterson and affixed on the protective sleeve is the 50th Anniversary Timeless Jazz sticker.

Bassmæssage is the oldest and most consistent bass night in Leipzig Germoany, pushing local soundsystem culture and grass roots artivism. We are about to welcome a fresh release "for all who like it low and want it vibrant"!

After two installments of bass-heavy multi-genre various-BPM grooves on Volume One in 2015 and on Second Drop in 2023 here comes the full triplet in this line of bass music vinyl compilations featuring acts who have been mÊssaging our nights. This time on Threenity, one side side is running garagewise 130, flipped by a more dubsteppish 140 area, all drowning in dark sinister midranges, mindful drum programmings and heavy-weight lows for huge speakers, to be released around 9th May 2026 on a 2 floor DIY soundsystem night in Connewitz!

Opening with genre wizzard LUI from Leipzig, showing how dirty and fonkey a garage bit can actually go. Bricks of beats on a fundament of nasty bass concrete, roofed by a vast selection of uplifting samples are vibing for sure.
Trainsient is the deep bass moniker of Leipzig's Plastiks running DDNBC, delivering a heavy tribal statement of a lost place of a deep grime, overgrown with flutey leaves and dreamy synth lianes hiding da moddership.
Psionide from Dresden with estonian roots is celebrating a vinyl debut with a slow-jungle dream-breaks bit between retro and future, braindance and dance, listening and bassline coaster.
Son du Maquis outa Toulouse sneaks in low in a classic dubstep manner, only to drop the lowest wobble possible right throughout the ride.
Miles Won transmitting from Plugwhiz, nails headnodding with his beat writing skills. Where bass meets hip hop, the grass has never been greener.
Finally, veteran like Dub Across Borders cabling from Copenhagen is delivering the contemplating outro: a melancholic 140 halftime not only to send you home but right into the night sky.

These six peaces are found on a heavy cut vinyl, ready to shake your system. As bonus there is another papercraft Basstelbogen cover, which lets you build your own BM logo and a 1:3 ratio record player on top. Mach's mit, mach's nach, mach's b‰sser!

Founded in 1981 by Tom Silverman in New York City, the label became a cultural engine for groundbreaking artists who blurred genre lines and defined the sound of the 1980s and '90s. Tommy Boy introduced the world to acts like Afrika Bambaataa & Soul Sonic Force, whose 1982 single "Planet Rock" helped launch the electro hip-hop movement. The label also released iconic material from Queen Latifah, Digital Underground, House of Pain, and Coolio, among others. Known for its fearless creativity and ear for innovation, Tommy Boy became synonymous with the golden age of hip-hop and remains a cornerstone in independent music culture. Tommy Boy celebrates its 45th anniversary with this 7" box set of Classics, Fan Favorites and Deep Cuts featuring De La Soul, Naughty By Nature, Planet Patrol, and more.

[a] 1 Cotton Candy - Havin' Fun (7" Mix) [Feat. Donna Trollinger]
[b] 2 Afrika Bambaataa & the Jazzy 5 - Jazzy Sensation (Bronx Version) [Short Edit]


[e] 5 The Jonzun Crew - Pack Jam (Look Out for the Ovc) [Remix 7" Edit]














[t] 20 Coolio - 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New) [Timber Mix]


[w] 23 Handsome Boy Modeling School - Holy Calamity (Bear Witness II) [Feat. DJ Shadow & DJ Quest]
[x] 24 Handsome Boy Modeling School - the Truth (Short Edit) [Feat. Róisín Murphy & J-Live]

With 'The Electro Guilde III EP' Zodiak Commune Records once again presents a selection of well-known and label-recurring electro-acid producers who take you on their various adventurous musical journeys.

'Collateral Funk' is a one shot live recording funky acid Electro track by Acidulant and inspired by the likes of Dynamix II

'We Will Survive' by Dima Gastroler is a fantasy about robots fighting for their rights in the future world of global robotisation. Dynamic electro and psychedelic pads make it sound like that battle. We will survive!

Step into the world of pozek with 'EPT', a 128 BPM electro-acid tune that takes inspiration from 80s toys like Speak & Spell and classic old-school electro. The track weaves quirky, retro acid lines with driving electro beats, creating a perfect fusion of nostalgia and futuristic energy.

When johnfaustus start an electro track for Zodiak commune Records, he always have in mind the journey of a spaceship to the edge of a dark galaxy. No exception with 'Oberon', syncopated rhythms, abrasive basslines and a dark spacy theme

Aus der fruchtbaren skandinavischen Post-Rock-Landschaft hervorgegangen, haben sich Oh Hiroshima einen Ruf dafür erarbeitet, Introspektion in einen weiten, cineastischen Klang zu verwandeln. Mit ,And the Dead Tree Gives No Shelter" setzen Oh Hiroshima ihr Streben fort, das Gleichgewicht zwischen Verletzlichkeit und Kraft zu verfeinern. Im Kern des Sounds von Oh Hiroshima liegt ein filigranes Wechselspiel zwischen Zurückhaltung und Entladung. Ihre Kompositionen bauen behutsam Spannung auf und lassen jede Ebene organisch entfalten: Klingende Gitarren, ferne Nachklänge und minimale rhythmische Impulse - die scheinbar schwerelos in der Luft schweben - bilden einen Kontrast zu jener wuchtigen Kraft, die sie entfesseln können. Klare, schimmernde Gitarrentöne breiten sich wellenartig durch dichten Hall und subtile Delays aus, während sich einzelne Linien oft in sanftem Kontrapunkt miteinander verflechten. Während sich diese Ebenen schichten, intensivieren sie sich allmählich und steuern auf jene Momente zu, in denen Verzerrung und Lautstärke die einst fragile Atmosphäre in etwas Immenses und Kathartisches verwandeln.Wenn die Musik ihre emotionalen Höhepunkte erreicht, tritt die Perkussion zwar bestimmender hervor, bleibt dabei jedoch behutsam in die Gesamtatmosphäre eingebettet. Oh Hiroshima beweisen beständig ein wachsendes Selbstvertrauen darin, die Grenzen ihres Sounds auszuloten. Durch die Verschmelzung von Harmonien, einer immersiven Produktion und einem tief intuitiven Gespür für das richtige Tempo haben Oh Hiroshima ein Album geschaffen, das von Intimität durchwoben ist und sich zugleich weit und raumgreifend anfühlt. Für Freunde von Alcest, Mogwai, God Is an Astronaut. CD, klassisch schwarzes und farbiges (limitiertes) Vinyl erhältlich.

Aus der fruchtbaren skandinavischen Post-Rock-Landschaft hervorgegangen, haben sich Oh Hiroshima einen Ruf dafür erarbeitet, Introspektion in einen weiten, cineastischen Klang zu verwandeln. Mit ,And the Dead Tree Gives No Shelter" setzen Oh Hiroshima ihr Streben fort, das Gleichgewicht zwischen Verletzlichkeit und Kraft zu verfeinern. Im Kern des Sounds von Oh Hiroshima liegt ein filigranes Wechselspiel zwischen Zurückhaltung und Entladung. Ihre Kompositionen bauen behutsam Spannung auf und lassen jede Ebene organisch entfalten: Klingende Gitarren, ferne Nachklänge und minimale rhythmische Impulse - die scheinbar schwerelos in der Luft schweben - bilden einen Kontrast zu jener wuchtigen Kraft, die sie entfesseln können. Klare, schimmernde Gitarrentöne breiten sich wellenartig durch dichten Hall und subtile Delays aus, während sich einzelne Linien oft in sanftem Kontrapunkt miteinander verflechten. Während sich diese Ebenen schichten, intensivieren sie sich allmählich und steuern auf jene Momente zu, in denen Verzerrung und Lautstärke die einst fragile Atmosphäre in etwas Immenses und Kathartisches verwandeln.Wenn die Musik ihre emotionalen Höhepunkte erreicht, tritt die Perkussion zwar bestimmender hervor, bleibt dabei jedoch behutsam in die Gesamtatmosphäre eingebettet. Oh Hiroshima beweisen beständig ein wachsendes Selbstvertrauen darin, die Grenzen ihres Sounds auszuloten. Durch die Verschmelzung von Harmonien, einer immersiven Produktion und einem tief intuitiven Gespür für das richtige Tempo haben Oh Hiroshima ein Album geschaffen, das von Intimität durchwoben ist und sich zugleich weit und raumgreifend anfühlt. Für Freunde von Alcest, Mogwai, God Is an Astronaut. CD, klassisch schwarzes und farbiges (limitiertes) Vinyl erhältlich.

Hot on the heals of their spectacular self-titled debut album, The Handover is back with their second long form composition, New Old Medicine. Aly Eissa (oud), Ayman Asfour (violin), and Jonas Cambien (vintage organ/synth) have been cutting their teeth on the international touring circuit for the past two years, landing from town to town in their seductive spaceship to blow people's minds and then dematerialize into the void. An outline for a new piece began to emerge along the route and late last year during a stop in Berlin, this metamorphosis of the trio's sound was recorded in pristine form by Rabih Beaini at Morphine Studios.
Attempting to define the music is not as important as allowing it to define itself - from person to person, village to village. All we can do is suggest what may resonate to lure you into the arena; psychedelic, folkloric, Egyptian, etc., as these excerpts from the liner notes suggest: "Though one long piece, New Old Medicine moves through several unofficial chapters. It originates in the psychic depths with a pensive melody. Gradually solidifying, the organ’s first solo ushers the piece into a swaying, reverent dance. This dance nears its end with a vigorously percussive section on oud, handing it off to the violin for a climactic solo. A momentary pause, then the rhythm thickens, and the musicians ride untethered through the midnight. This frenzy is followed by a calm repose on placid water. But this calm is merely a deep inhale before the final charged ascent into cosmic rapture."
Don't sleep on this one!

The album is a powerful reaffirmation of human creativity: "My music has always been about connection, bringing enduring old stories into conversation with contemporary life," Portman says. "This album is a collective, entirely human-made effort, and it's richer because of it." Renowned for her luminous songwriting and distinctive voice in contemporary folk, Portman steps into bold new territory with an album that charts a heroine's midlife journey through dark woods in search of wonder. Drawing on ballads and folktales, Dominion of Spells explores themes of burnout, misogyny, motherhood, miscarriage and personal transformation, weaving lived experience with mythic imagery and traditional folk narratives. The title track, Dominion of Spells , reclaims a 17th- century phrase once used to diagnose women as "disordered", drawing on the myth of the wandering womb and the long history of medical misogyny. Portman transforms these ideas into a vision of a freer, fairer realm where women's bodies are understood rather than feared. The first single, Turn Again , is a tender meditation on parenthood, inspired by her young son's imaginative shapeshifting games and echoing the Tam Lin ballad, where steadfast love breaks a powerful spell. Elsewhere, the album explores women's right to move safely after dark, genderswapped retellings of heroic quests, miscarriage, phone addiction and the restorative power of creative practice.

Norway's Dodheimsgard was formed in 1994 by Vicotnik & Aldrahn. The early incarnation was that of a raw & melodic black metal band, with their debut album also featuring Fenriz of Darkthrone on bass, before the poisons of a more schizophrenic concoction started to take hold. One of the top bands & visionaries of the mid-90's Norwegian Black Metal evolution, DHG are widely hailed as masters of dark & psychotic psychedelia-tinged extremity. 'Satanic Art' was originally released in 1998 & is considered a significant turning point for the band, as the compositions became less traditional in their structure & delivery, & instead became far more abstract & twisted. Besides the duo of Vicotnik & Aldrahn, the line-up also featured members of other notable Norwegian acts such as Aura Noir & Fleurety, with studio work assistance from Garm of Ulver.

What happens when the mathematical rigor of Johann Sebastian Bach is stripped of its classical facade? With the album SRDNG x LPZG, the duo AMAS, together with double bassist Frithjof-Martin Grabner, delivers a radical answer on May 15th, 2026. The work does not merely translate Bach’s legacy; it consistently reimagines it within the aesthetics of Minimal, Dub-Techno, and Ambient. The creation of this extraordinary abstraction spanned three years and two geographical poles: the raw isolation of Sardinia and the academic precision of Leipzig.

The project found its origin in the seclusion of Pula, at the southernmost tip of Sardinia. There, AMAS extracted and digitally dissected the rhythmic and tonal essence of 14 selected works by Bach. In a temporary local studio, these minimalist sequences fused with field recordings of the surroundings to form a hypnotic framework of electronic structures. Back in Leipzig, this foundation met Frithjof-Martin Grabner. In an intense session held in a hall of the historic HMT Leipzig, spontaneous improvisations emerged that breathe the spirit of Miles Davis’ approach to "Ascenseur pour l’échafaud": free play based on rudimentary sketches, an intuitive reaction to the material—comparable to Davis’ iconic scoring of silent film images. It is a deliberate prioritization of atmosphere over technical perfection. Grabner utilizes the full spectrum of his instrument, creating sounds that, in post-production, often blur the line between analog depth and synthetic texture.

The result is an organic symbiosis: the vastness of Sardinia (SRDNG) meets the intellectual density of Leipzig (LPZG), while the strictness of the Baroque dissolves into the repetitive energy of Minimal Techno. To do justice to this conceptual ambition, the album will be released in an uncompromisingly audiophile edition. Limited to 200 copies worldwide, the double LP is pressed on 180g vinyl and features a front cover with a special 3D effect, continuing the visual tradition of the AMAS series. An album for listeners who understand Bach as a living origin of modern sound art—and for lovers of electronic music seeking a new, organic soul within the repetitive depth of techno.

2026 Repress

Smile Sessions presents its most ambitious release to date, the highly anticipated second edition of the Workout Sessions series!

This double vinyl showcases an electrifying lineup, featuring both renowned artists and fresh talent, all coming together to create a diverse soundscape. Listeners can expect a dynamic mix of old school grooves, cutting-edge modern techno, and tribal influences, expertly crafted to ignite the dancefloor. This release is more than just a collection of tracks; its a celebration of the vibrant techno community and the energy that drives it.

Re issue of the album on LP as previous versions had all sold out and were deleted.
Global Dance phenomenon Sammy Virji’s sophomore album ‘Same Day Cleaning’ sees the renowned party starter deliver UK Garage to the world like no one before. The new album is rooted in Sammy’s unmissable club ready production style and features a slew of legendary rappers & producers. The project lands after an insane year of global festival and headline touring for Sammy. ‘Same Day Cleaning’ follows Sammy’s hugely successful ‘If U Need It’ and his follow up singles including club mainstay ‘Damager’, with Interplanetary Criminal. The album also features Sammy’s massive link up with British icon Skepta, ‘Cops & Robbers’. ‘Same Day Cleaning’ is bigger, bolder and promises to propel Sammy Virji even further onto the global dance-music stage

There are two versions of this album:

1. numbered 100 copies of limited black 180g vinyl made in collaboration with U JAZZ ME Records

2. transparent orange 180g vinyl

LINER NOTES:

" When AJ Lee stepped back into the ring in September 2025 - after a ten-year break - she introduced herself to a new generation of fans with the words: 'If you haven't heard of me, I am your favorite wrestler’s favorite wrestler.' That is exactly what came to my mind as a lead for this blurb when Pokusa asked me to write it. Because that’s what they are: your favorite indie darlings' favorite indie darlings (even though no one uses that term anymore, let alone identifies as such). They are your favorite cool jazzcats’ favorite jazzcats. And they are probably your favorite young jazz act - if you don’t usually (or ever) listen to jazz.

This, I always thought, is their greatest strength. Half the battle (in my eyes) is recording a sick jazz album - one that a jazz magazine would fawn over. The real win is getting someone wearing a heavy metal T-shirt into it; someone who’s never listened to jazz and has never stepped foot in a place like Pardon, To Tu, but heard Pokusa and decided to change that. I am such a person. I didn't learn about jazz because of them, but they’re definitely the reason I started rating it.
Głowy (Heads) is, in a way, a classic album. If someone played it for me and - relying on my lack of knowledge and gullibility - tried to convince me that it was recorded in the Polish Radio Studios in 1975, at Akwarium Club in Warsaw in 1985, at Club Rura in 1989, somewhere in Tri-City in '94, or at Mózg in Bydgoszcz, I would probably believe it. Its 'classicness' goes hand in hand with its timelessness. I could write about how the album fits into the catalogs of Lado ABC, GOWI, or Biodro Records. I could dig for connections to Yass, Tzadik, or a number of other things.
But what Teo, Natan, and Tymek create here is as important in its experience as it is in its music. For me - an artist active in a similar time - each Pokusa album, including this newest release, is a record of a period of time and the experiences hidden between the notes. The Indian spices in food served before a show in Mózg. A headache from all the cigarettes smoked listening to tapes in Eufemia. Marveling at the graffiti over the sink in Młodsza Siostra. The narrow steps at Chłodna 25. The wider but slippery steps to Pogłos. The quirky and uncomfortable steps in Ziemia. The mosquitoes at Ladomek. The dilemma of whether to wear a nice polo instead of a T-shirt to SPATiF. The wonder of turning off Monciak into Dwie Zmiany. Why is a club like this on such a strip? Why is Pokusa playing here? And why do they sound so good?
On one hand, you can find journalists writing that Pokusa grew out of the classic free jazz of the 1960s; some might mention Albert Ayler. On the other hand, there’s Unsound Festival and young critics writing about 'post-jazz.' All of them are correct. This is universalism. This is that timelessness. Whether you pick up this album the day it comes out or in the year 2046, it will be good. In twenty years, people will still reach for it. Of that, I am certain."
Michał Turowski

There are two versions of this album:

1. numbered 100 copies of limited black 180g vinyl made in collaboration with U JAZZ ME Records

2. transparent orange 180g vinyl

LINER NOTES:

" When AJ Lee stepped back into the ring in September 2025 - after a ten-year break - she introduced herself to a new generation of fans with the words: 'If you haven't heard of me, I am your favorite wrestler’s favorite wrestler.' That is exactly what came to my mind as a lead for this blurb when Pokusa asked me to write it. Because that’s what they are: your favorite indie darlings' favorite indie darlings (even though no one uses that term anymore, let alone identifies as such). They are your favorite cool jazzcats’ favorite jazzcats. And they are probably your favorite young jazz act - if you don’t usually (or ever) listen to jazz.

This, I always thought, is their greatest strength. Half the battle (in my eyes) is recording a sick jazz album - one that a jazz magazine would fawn over. The real win is getting someone wearing a heavy metal T-shirt into it; someone who’s never listened to jazz and has never stepped foot in a place like Pardon, To Tu, but heard Pokusa and decided to change that. I am such a person. I didn't learn about jazz because of them, but they’re definitely the reason I started rating it.
Głowy (Heads) is, in a way, a classic album. If someone played it for me and - relying on my lack of knowledge and gullibility - tried to convince me that it was recorded in the Polish Radio Studios in 1975, at Akwarium Club in Warsaw in 1985, at Club Rura in 1989, somewhere in Tri-City in '94, or at Mózg in Bydgoszcz, I would probably believe it. Its 'classicness' goes hand in hand with its timelessness. I could write about how the album fits into the catalogs of Lado ABC, GOWI, or Biodro Records. I could dig for connections to Yass, Tzadik, or a number of other things.
But what Teo, Natan, and Tymek create here is as important in its experience as it is in its music. For me - an artist active in a similar time - each Pokusa album, including this newest release, is a record of a period of time and the experiences hidden between the notes. The Indian spices in food served before a show in Mózg. A headache from all the cigarettes smoked listening to tapes in Eufemia. Marveling at the graffiti over the sink in Młodsza Siostra. The narrow steps at Chłodna 25. The wider but slippery steps to Pogłos. The quirky and uncomfortable steps in Ziemia. The mosquitoes at Ladomek. The dilemma of whether to wear a nice polo instead of a T-shirt to SPATiF. The wonder of turning off Monciak into Dwie Zmiany. Why is a club like this on such a strip? Why is Pokusa playing here? And why do they sound so good?
On one hand, you can find journalists writing that Pokusa grew out of the classic free jazz of the 1960s; some might mention Albert Ayler. On the other hand, there’s Unsound Festival and young critics writing about 'post-jazz.' All of them are correct. This is universalism. This is that timelessness. Whether you pick up this album the day it comes out or in the year 2046, it will be good. In twenty years, people will still reach for it. Of that, I am certain."
Michał Turowski

Xistence Records is destroying the boundaries between house and techno. The Rise E.P. simply goes to show you a good label does not lose it's competency after 4 years of releasing music. This 4 tracker sounds sublime! If you like deep emotional melodic music, you should have this 12”.
Difficult to pick a standout track as they all offer something different…

The original version of Resilience is a stunning track, reminds of the early Octave One sound with a great mixture of percussion, classy bassline, nice layering of textures and melodies.

While Gerald Mitchell (Underground Resistance/Los Hermanos) retouch is a soulful stripped back tune with elegant drum work, linked together by a uplifting synth pattern.

Sunset To Sunrise, a delightful piece of haunting electronica. It’s a real journey back to the birth of Los Hermanos. Class!

Meteoric Rise original version came out as digital earlier on the label, Journey Around The Sun Mix here has the UR sound. It’s more complex, Detroit lesson in syncopation and rhythmic programming with chord stabs and shuffling drum work drives this one forward..epic!

“Without Hope None Of Us Have Anything “

Occibel and GRiNCH join forces for a split EP navigating the space between electro and house. Drawing inspiration from the early 2000s, the two artists deliver a complete journey where colourful synth riffs interact with heavy basslines and crunchy drums. Late Nights, Early Mornings explores a wide emotional palette, ranging from club-oriented grooves to nostalgic moods.

The A side focuses on Occibel’s work. Devil May Care (A1) opens the EP with a powerful statement, where a driving bassline and shimmering synths evoke the spirit of the 80s. Doors of Perception (A2) takes a darker turn, blending distorted textures with spooky synth lines for an explosive result.

GRiNCH takes over the B side with two solo tracks and a final collaboration. Precision Deluxe (B1) is a techy cut merging funky elements with a bouncy bassline and haunting vocal touches. Failure System (B2) builds around a hypnotic groove and sexy futuristic vocals, delivering an effective peak-time weapon for the dancefloor. Closing the EP, Nosta Roller (B3) sees both artists teaming up to craft a melancholic electro banger the perfect finale to a late-night journey.

180g Heavy double vinyl LP with liner notes by Tyran Grillo. Limited Japanese Obi for the first pressing. Original artwork by Russell Mills and photography by Jean-Baptiste Mondino.

The third Time Capsule is a body of dub reinterpretations by celebrated producer Bill Laswell of Ethiopian singer Gigi. Curated by Tokyo record collector, music researcher and seasoned reissue supervisor Ken Hidaka, it is the first time Illuminated Audio is pressed to vinyl after its CD release in 2003.

Ejigayehu Shibabaw was born in 1974 in Chagni, northwestern Ethiopia and by pursuing a career as a singer, went against her father’s strict, traditional gender roles. As Gigi, she embraced the same musical freedom she had strived for in her personal life, incorporating the Ethiopian church, funk, hip-hop, West and South African music into her work. She first settled in Nairobi, then Addis Ababa, where she quickly established herself as one of the city’s leading singers. A move to San Francisco in 1998 led to a long and fruitful creative partnership with bassist and producer Bill Laswell.

Around the same time, Chris Blackwell had stepped away from Island Records to start the art house film company and label Palm Pictures. He took an interest in Gigi and together with Laswell, pulled together an all-star cast of musicians for her self-titled US debut album, including Herbie Hancock, Pharoah Sanders and Wayne Shorter. It won international critical acclaim, not just for its musicianship but for making Gigi a “defining voice for the Ethiopian expatriate community”, as journalist Tyran Grillo praises in his Time Capsule liner notes. From the nation-defining 1896 victory over Italian invaders to the quiet revolutionaries who wear simple shemma garments, Grillo believes the themes in Gigi make it “a shower of sunlight on her homeland for those ignorant of its struggles.”

After its success, Blackwell encouraged them to go back into the studio to rethink the album and Illuminated Audio was born. “Anyone can make a voice sound worldly”, Grillo remarks, “but rare are those who can make one sound inner-worldly.” Gigi was clear with Laswell to give her vocals a minor role “because it’s already been done.” Instead her Amharic verse is fleeting, exhaling through the textures like ghostly fragments; soaring yet muted. Yet the album is still titled under her name, an assertion by Laswell of her central role in the album’s creation. Not only was it a fully endorsed project by Gigi, but she would be present throughout its development, giving feedback on half-finished ideas as Laswell played them back in the studio. “It works perfectly”, she reflected after the album’s release. “We wanted to capture the whole spirit of each track, and Bill’s remixes create a different music language that really puts you in a pleasant place”.

This new vocabulary takes its lead from a technical approach that Laswell had been perfecting during a furtive creative period at the turn of the millennium. Much like his ambient interpretations of Miles Davis (Panthalassa, 1998), Bob Marley (Dreams of Freedom, 1997), and Carlos Santana (Divine Light, 2001), Laswell approached Illuminated Audio by returning to the original multitrack masters. Gigi wasn’t just reworked, but recomposed into an expansive lattice of instruments, submerged in a watery ambience of dub and trance undercurrents.

Sonically, this new language that Gigi refers to, is manifested by the original album’s more understated parts being pushed to the fore. Explaining his contrasting methods, Laswell saw Gigi as being “put together in a way that fits”. Contrastingly, in Illuminated Audio, “a lot of things that I featured in the remix weren’t as audible in the original.” Instrumentation laying near-dormant, deep in the mix, are brought to the fore: the acid rock guitar and Wayne Shorter’s saxophone on ‘Tew Ante Sew’, Graham Haynes’ flugelhorn on ‘Nafekeñ’, Laswell’s bass on ‘Kahn’, the melodica in Mengedegna or the floating synths and talking drums in ‘Gud Fella’.

Brought to his attention by mentor DJ Nori, Hidaka describes Illuminated Audio as a “masterful sonic exploration into ethereal ambience and dub” and made sure this reissue also contained a full remaster to give its “deep musicality” much better dynamics and density in the overall sound. Hidaka admits that Laswell's music “is sometimes so out-there, it is often misunderstood” and, indeed, to dub album non-believers this might seem like a prolific producer imposing himself on another artist’s work; eternally developing rearrangements that never quite get to its destination. But that’s missing its true power and triumph. This is more than the reissue of a remix, but “a wholly unique musical entity”, as Hidaka describes. Illuminated Audio refers to the illuminated manuscripts that comprise the major part of Ethiopian art and its new compositions stand in proud solitude as a rare body of reworks that both informs and enhances their originals.

We are pleased to announce the first FEX live album, Don't Look Back. The release features selected recordings from two concerts in Paderborn and Uelzen, both captured in 1985. All tracks on the album are previously unissued, including entirely unheard songs such as It's a Hard Life, Just Get Back, Legend, and Waiting Song, alongside a previously unreleased version of Subways of Your Mind, widely known as "The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet."
One of the most striking aspects of the album is the remarkable sound quality of the live recordings, as well as the strength of the performances themselves - particularly given that FEX were still considered a newcomer band at the time. The four-piece lineup consisted of singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter Ture Rückwardt, Michael Hädrich on keyboards and occasional second guitar, Norbert Ziermann on bass, and Hans-Reimer Sievers on drums. In 1985, the band was preparing for broader exposure through a nationwide tour organized by the small promotion company HBM-Musikbüro.
The album opens with the psychedelic Skyscraper, a track Rückwardt reportedly regarded as a personal favorite to perform. Hädrich contributes dynamic synthesizer layers, while Ziermann underpins the track with a distinctive slap bass groove. This is followed by the energetic rock number It's a Hard Life, which once again demonstrates that the band possessed multiple songs capable of matching the impact of their best known track Subways of Your Mind.
After this energetic opening, the album shifts into a more restrained mood with the synth-pop ballad I Got My Eyes On You. It is followed by Strange Feeling, presented here in a particularly compelling live version that arguably surpasses the previously released studio demo featured on the Skyscraper LP, with Rückwardt delivering one of his most expressive vocal performances. On Goldrush, another fan favorite, it is Hädrich's DX7 synthesizer work that stands out.
Don't Look Back continues to flow seamlessly, moving between styles such as new wave, synth pop, and a blues-influenced form of classic rock. On It's Good To Know, a song addressing the theme of stardom, the band returns to a heavier rock sound. In contrast, the synth-driven Just Get Back reflects on the conflict in Northern Ireland, then ongoing at the time. Lines such as "It's the money, it's the money why they come along" are directed at mercenary soldiers, while "even Sunday's a killing time" directly references Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2.
Previously known songs such as Dirty Slapstick and Heart in Danger lead into We Don't Want It No More, perhaps the band's most striking pop ballad. It is easy to imagine that the track had the potential to achieve radio success in the 1980s. The following piece, the epic Legend, explores themes of loneliness and love simultaneously. With poetic and abstract lines such as "some isolate in the falling rain" and "that's why I count all the reasons they call out for living, sadness is falling inside," it builds an almost eerie atmosphere.
One of the final highlights of the album is Subways of Your Mind, recorded in Uelzen. In this version, Rückwardt's vocal performance is even more on point than on the previously issued recording from Paderborn. Another notable moment is the driving, 1970s-inspired rock 'n' roll track Waiting Song. Both the composition and its live performance carry an energy that could easily stand alongside the repertoire of bands such as AC/DC. It was usually the track that FEX ended their concerts with, calling out each band member at the end of the song.
This leads to a broader reflection: it is striking that FEX did not achieve a wider breakthrough at the time. The performances captured here suggest a band capable of delivering consistently, song by song, note by note. It is not difficult to imagine FEX performing in large venues and engaging sizeable audiences. In reality, however, most performances in 1985 took place in front of relatively small crowds. The recordings featured on this album originate from the Roxy club in Paderborn and a small, unknown venue in Uelzen, likely in front of fewer than fifty attendees.
An essential figure behind these recordings is the engineer known only under his nickname Hase (German for "rabbit"), who was responsible for capturing not only these concerts but many other surviving FEX recordings. Bringing his own mixing desk to performances, he developed a deep familiarity with the band's material and was able to shape the live sound with precision, including the timely use of vocal effects. The original recordings existed only on cassette and required careful and extensive restoration work. Zoey Cairs was finally responsible for bringing them to their present quality.
This album marks the beginning of the Live Waves series, following the rediscovery of additional recordings that have gained international attention since November 2024, when they surfaced through what has been described as the largest "lost wave" music search to date. The title of this first live LP Don't Look Back carries a certain paradox. While the album invites listeners to revisit recordings from forty years ago, FEX themselves were always oriented toward the future. In that spirit, further releases of brand new material are already planned.
The cover artwork is once again based on an image by Magnussen from the Kiel archive, depicting the Prinz-Heinrich-Brücke. The bridge, once located in the northern part of the city, no longer exists. As a symbol, however, it remains fitting: a bridge stands for movement and connection - qualities that FEX sought to embody on tour, bringing their music to different places and audiences.

Fresh from flexing his scalpel skills via an impressive double 12-inch for Hot Biscuit Recordings, The Mighty Zaf once more joins forces with regular studio buddy Linkwood for two more tried-and-tested reworks. 'Get Another Love' is particularly potent, with the duo combining elements from a vintage disco-soul workout - glistening guitars, bass, vocals, strings - with a vintage-sounding drum machine beat which alternates between sweat-soaked Chicago-house jack and post-electro swing. 'He Made You Mine', meanwhile, is a straight edit of a slow, loved-up, immersive and horn-laden disco-soul gem that switches from loved-up downtempo loveliness to punchy dancefloor excellence midway through.

'Double Seven, released by Trojan in late 1973, was the last album Lee 'Scratch' Perry would release on the label for some considerable time, and it was essentially the final album project he put together before establishing his own Black Ark studio. Opening track 'Kentucky Skank' sets the tone with a slow creeper whose frying sounds underscore its role as a praise song to the Colonel's KFC recipes; the cosmic Moog blips come courtesy of Ken Elliott at Camden's Chalk Farm studio, also prominently featured on U-Roy's double-tracked, stereo-panned gambling ode 'Double Six.' David Isaacs' 'Just Enough' was cut a few years prior, which makes it slightly out of phase with the rest of the set, though the enigmatic 'In The Iaah' sounds mightily fresh, with its uncredited chorus said to come courtesy of the Wailers. Perry's own 'Jungle Lion' has hilarious roars from the maestro at the start, strangely grafted atop a reggae re-make of Al Green's 'Love and Happiness.'

'Overall, Double Seven melds the soul, funk, reggae and dub elements that were constant in Perry's work during this phase. His enhanced audio spectrum and endless reference points would keep his music continually apart from that made by his peers.'
—David Katz (excerpt from the liner notes)

NOSUCHKEY makes a bold debut on the Art of Memory label with a deadly four track EP of masterfully reduced but stylish and evocative minimal techno. NOSUCHKEY is actually a side project from Nico Purman. He served up the first two releases on the label and this new alias is focused on straight forward techno. Over more than a decade Purman has established himself on Vakant, Crosstown Rebels and Curle, and now heads in an exciting new direction designed to make a huge impact on the floor. Opener 'Stages' is post minimal techno with a focus on mind melting melodic riffs that ripple over the rooted drums. It is sci-fi in style with a hint of Detroit greats like Jeff Mills and really takes you into the future. The excellent 'FMFMFM' is another fluid bit of deep techno that is wired up with languid synths constantly wrapping and warping round the drums. Keeping up the pressure is 'Lunch', with a stripped back but impactful techno style built on rubbery kicks and with modulated synth lines constantly shapeshifting throughout the mix. Direct but dynamic, it is excellently timeless techno that leads on to closer 'ACD RDFN'. There is urgency, paranoia and cyber tension in this one that really keeps you locked as it journeys deep into a blackened yet cinematic cosmic abyss. NOSUCHKEY is a false address, a lack of a word, a character or sign that makes a whole code unable to find its final path: The Specified Key does not exist.

PURE GARAGE RETURNS WITH A CAREFULLY CURATED SELECTION OF COLLECTIBLE CLASSICS.

Pure Garage, the best-selling UKG compilation of all time, returns with a fresh stack of high value collectible classics on DJ friendly vinyl.

With a host of gold & platinum selling compilation albums under it’s belt, plus countless sold out events across the UK, Pure Garage is known and trusted by both hard-nosed purists & the casual listener.

This latest foray coincides with an incredible resurgence in interest for the UK Garage sound, bringing together 8 high collectible infectiously funky cuts, spread across a DJ Friendly 2 slices of vinyl.

Pure Garage Collectible Classics Volume 1 opens with Buggin Me by garage pioneer Zed Bias alongside Al Brown, a groovy bassline, funky beats and a great vocal hook combine perfectly to showcase the mighty Zed Bias at his funky best.

Set It Off, by Chris Mack / Flavour, is a truly collectible record. Originally only available on vinyl as a limited white label press, copies of Set It Off have been trading hands on sites such as Discogs for as much as £130… It’s worth buying this compilation purely to get hold of this track on vinyl!

Another track that is going for big money on reseller sites is Romantic 2001 by DJ Deller. With this minimal 2 step riddim having sold for up to £120. This is definitely one for the collectors.

Funkaholics aka Jeremy Sylvester rounds off the first piece of vinyl on this album with the bass heavy Down 2 Da Ground.

Vinyl 2 kicks off with the sing-a-long classic from 1998, Anthill Mobs’s track Don’t Leave Me, followed hotly by the speed garage sounds of Body Grooving by M.F. Project.

Finally, Deep Impact drops My Fantasy followed up with a regular name of the Pure Garage live event line ups, Scott Garcia drops his soulful club classic Music Takes You, rounding out an impressive batch of tracks representing everything exciting about the UK Garage genre.

PURE GARAGE COLLECTIBLE CLASSICS VOL 1 will be released on double vinyl 16th December 2022!

“Danny Elfman’s musical score was to die for, and
it was incorporated into ‘Wednesday’’s joyfully
bleak coming-of-age story so brilliantly.” -

 Double LP on Purple Goth with Smoky Shadow
vinyl, with full colour gatefold sleeve and inner
sleeves.
 Composed by four-time Oscar nominee, two-time
Emmy winner Danny Elfman (‘Milk’, ‘Big Fish’,
‘Men in Black’, ‘Good Will Hunting’, ‘Live from
Lincoln Center’, ‘Desperate Housewives’, ‘The
Simpsons’) and three-time Emmy nominee Chris
Bacon (‘The Tick’, ‘Bates Motel’, ‘Smash’,
‘Gnomeo & Juliet’, ‘Sherlock Gnomes’,
‘Immanence’).
 Elfman also composed music for Tim Burton’s
‘Beetlejuice’, ‘Batman and Batman Returns’, ‘The
Nightmare Before Christmas’, ‘Mars Attacks!’, ‘Big
Fish’ (for which Elfman earned one of his four
career Oscar nods) and ‘Alice in Wonderland’,
among others.
 Chris Bacon is a protege of the great James
Newton Howard, and won an HMMA for ‘Gnomeo
& Juliet’, which he shared with James and Bernie
Taupin (Elton John).
 Online - Promoted through all Lakeshore Records social
media.

For the first time ever on vinyl Four new instrumental tracks, produced, recorded, composed & played by Dam-Funk. Pitchfork described “Free” the EP closer “… distills his daily inspirational thoughts into a breezy, sun-kissed glow, delivered with his usual cool sincerity. Of course, the style is purely West Coast, but the message is universal: funk is freedom. And in Dâm's world, funk is the future.”

Chicago's finest lyricist MC Juice, infamous from the mid 90s from beating Eminem in the Rap Olympics, is back with a scorching 9 track EP (3 instrumentals and an accapella included) on 12" vinyl! Following on from his two 45s on Nobody Buys Records and well as the hit album The Man, all of 3 of which rapidly sold out this is some of Juice's best work displaying his razor sharp wordplay and effortless flow to its fullest. The sound scape provided by Bankrupt Europeans for their 3rd collabo with Juice ranges from the upbeat & funky original version of All Day to the murky oboe of its remix, the dramatic strings on Where You Go and the sinister vibes of Unseen, in short, the perfect set up for Juice to get loose! We are beyond excited to be delivering some of MC JUICE’s finest ever work and there is a general feeling around Nobody-Buys-Records HQ that this may just be our finest release yet. Between the absolutely incredible artwork by the immensely talented Big Crunch, the beautiful marble vinyl, and the exquisite beats and rhymes, this EP is quite simply the perfect summer package. As always, every record is hand numbered!

Follow up to Goodge's 2023 album Echoes Of Yesterday. Previous releases found on Hip Dozer and Cascade Records. Tracks found on the popular Spotify Mellow Beats playlist. 11th in 'Jet Set' Cold Busted series. Designed and manufactured similar to the vintage 60's style rice paper sleeves. In his latest EP, Sunday Soul, Goodge takes listeners on a four-track journey through the heart of funk, masterfully blending elements of R&B, jazz, and chilled lo-fi. Released as part of Cold Busted's Jet Set series, this four-song offering follows Goodge's 2023 album Echoes Of Yesterday and showcases his dedication to crafting timeless music. "Lights Out" kicks off the EP with heavy funk and stirring breakbeats, accompanied by a scratchy guitar that summons the revolutionary spirit of the '70s. Horns serve as a call to action, while a rollicking bass line and chunky electric piano might inspire listeners to go out and fight crime. "Promised Land" follows, featuring a formidable funk bass guitar and lead guitar chords that rhythmically play off the delightfully busy drums, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of the city's bustle. The title track, "Sunday Soul," is a rowdy affair with a speech-over-beats leading to crispy snare rolls and chiming electric piano. Shaker magic, staccato horn bleats, and spiral flute bits combine to create a swirling vintage-hued photograph of sound. The EP concludes with "Within Myself," a spacier sonic experience that could serve as the soundtrack for chasing someone across rooftops. It's funk spelled with a capital K. Sunday Soul is a must-listen for fans of of the heavier side of funk, solidifying Goodge's position as a master of his craft, creating a nostalgic yet fresh soundscape that keeps listeners grooving back for more.

Originally released on CD in Japan in 2003, as a love letter & thank you to his Japanese fans. Recorded at home, produced, engineered & mixed by Matthew Sweet (bass, guirars & vocals) with the classic ‘Girlfriend’ era lineup of Ric Menck (drums), Greg Leisz (guitars) and the genius electric lead guitar of Television’s Richard Lloyd. The sleeve art is by renowned artist Yoshimoto Nara. In the liner notes, Sweet describes the album's title as an attempt at reverse English: "If I did it correctly, the title should seem a little strange or wrong, but still meaningful! The true definition is supposed to be a 'love you' life, one devoted to loving someone or something, even life itself!"

“an excellent modern guitar pop album, filled with great hooks and harmonies and irresistible ringing six-strings”
Allmusic

“Kimi crackles with Girlfriend‘s energy, as Lloyd and Sweet’s guitars provide antagonistic foils as they did more than a decade before on cuts like “Tonight We Ride.”
Rolling Stone

For her new and most radical album »Electroacoustic Works for Halldorophone«, Martina Bertoni used the electronic instrument at EMS Stockholm to create four pieces that are massive in scale and incredibly intimate, sonically restrained and emotionally overwhelming—almost ambient and always demanding your full attention.

Martina Bertoni returns to Karlrecords with »Electroacoustic Works for Halldorophone,« her most radical album yet. The foundation for the four electroacoustic pieces was laid during a residency at Stockholm’s legendary Elektronmusikstudion (EMS) that the Berlin-based cellist and composer used to explore the curious instrument, originally designed by Halldór Úlfarsson in 2008, as an algorithmic system in order to examine tunings and the mathematical relationships between Aiming to analyse and understand their interaction beyond the composer’s control, Bertoni sought to engage more deeply with the concepts of time, tuning, and, most importantly, control. Accordingly, her four »Electroacoustic Works for Halldorophone« seem both massive in scale and incredibly intimate, sonically restrained and emotionally overwhelming— almost ambient and always demanding your full attention.

While the halldorophone—famously used by Hildur Guðnadóttir for her »Joker« score—roughly resembles a cello and can be played like one, it is an electronic instrument. The vibration of its strings is being picked up, amplified, and then routed through a speaker. This creates a feedback loop that becomes increasingly complex depending on how much gain is added to individual strings. Úlfarsson gave Bertoni a carte blanche for how to handle the instrument, but she stresses that she relied on »minimal interventions—some string strumming and plucking« that set the interactions of different sounds and frequencies into motion. »I decided to not approach it like a cellist would,« she explains. »Instead I used it as a kind of generative organ by turning it into a feedback machine, with tuned feedback triggering more feedback depending on the tuning, which was based on tetraphonic scales that I could apply on the four main strings as well as the sympathetic group of strings.«

Bertoni recorded the material in the EMS studio, later composing and arranging the four complex pieces in her home in Berlin, after which they were mixed and mastered by Ciaran O’Shea. While this can be considered a compositional abstraction process, traces of her concrete work as a performer are firmly ingrained in the music. »The halldorophone doesn’t have a line output, just a double set of speakers, which is why I recorded all sounds with two microphones in the EMS studio,« she explains. »That’s why there’s plenty of breathing sounds here and there—label owner Thomas Herbst and I jokingly refer to the album as my ›chamber music record‹.« And indeed, there is a striking sense of intimacy to these four pieces throughout which individual sounds, harmonic frequencies, and even subtle rhythmic figures seem to move both on their own accord but also according to a underlying vision that steers their interplay.

Indeed, »Electroacoustic Works for Halldorophone« is an album built on and marked by contrasts. The soothing polylogue of single sounds in the higher register on opener »Omen in G« is counterpointed by massive bass drones, while the second piece, »Nominal in D,« plays a cunning game of repetition and difference by combining thick textures with all kinds of rhythmic elements. »Fades in C«—the longest of the four pieces, clocking in at 17 minutes—unlocks the emotional potentials of the sonic qualities of the halldorophone, sounding at once serene and anthemic, and »Organon in D« closes the album by underscoring how Bertoni’s unconventional approach allows her to seamlessly transform simple, quiet tones into complex, towering walls of sound.

Emotional Response presents the first of 2 EPs by Laura Sparrow aka LNS, the Calgary raised, Berlin based producer and DJ with 8 acid-tinged cuts that are equally expansive and inspiring, personal and inventive.

After her debut Malinge Range (cassette) on fellow native Canadian 1080p label in 2016, LNS moved to Berlin and has released a steady stream of 12”s, exploring ambient, dub, electro and techno. Initially appearing on Vancouver émigré’s Jayda G’s (alongside Fett Burger) Freakout Cult label before settling at DJ Sotofett’s cult WANIA label and more recently on the legendary and ‘original’ German techno label, Tresor.

A love of the Roland TR-303, alongside deep diving into breakbeat creation, manipulation, mutation and production, plus some intrepid mixing and post-production assistance, development and support with DJ Sofofett, have led to a collection of some of her favourite music to date.

LNS-ID 1 and LNS ID 2 are the result. Recorded during a burst of creativity through dedication, new studio equipment and learning techniques, as well the necessity of artistic expression in the moment.

Two sets of four tracks based on the acid tradition in the more restless corners of 90s and early 00s Braindance. Acid lines drive the melodies, while drums move between sliced break fragments and the familiar sounds of the Rolant TR-606 and TR-808.

Pads drift in with a warm glow or at times, quiet ghostly tension. The results are music that leans towards atmosphere and memory, something almost nostalgic that was built for those of us who still chase the more expressive edges of acid.

Emotional Response presents Volume 2 of the LNS-ID series. Atmospheric, infectious, at times nostalgic, warm yet ghosty, the tension of Laura Sparrow’s music is her exploration in electronic music.

An introduction to DJing and music production has been a natural progression, applying skills in new and fresh formats. Built on the heritage of Chicago and Detroit house, alongside old IDM and electro, her first productions might have been raw, but the creativity was lit.

While her recent productions have explored club orientated, loud cut records, in collaborations with DJ Sotofett, that represent the sound found in her residency on the Globus floor at the Tresor club, LNS’s interest in the solo productions of the LNS-ID recordings and more organic-style explored in the recent Misiats EP burns bright.

LNS-ID 1 and LNS ID 2 are her latest offering. Two sets of four tracks based on the acid tradition in the more restless corners of 90s and early 00s Braindance. Acid lines drive the melodies, while drums move between sliced break fragments and the familiar sounds of the Roland TR-606 and TR-808.

Pads drift in with a warm glow or at times, quiet ghostly tension. The results are music that leans towards atmosphere and memory, something almost nostalgic that was built for those of us who still chase the more expressive edges of acid.

Easygoing Acid Express, Alive Acid, Blue Acid and Gentle Acid. Get the message. We call it Acid.

Mit "Deep Hate" präsentiert Marc Dwyer (Buzz Kull) aus Sydney sein bisher intensivstes und zugleich raffiniertestes Werk. Die vier neuen Tracks bilden eine mitreißende Suite aus Industrial-Pop-Hymnen an der Schnittstelle zwischen Darkwave, Minimal Synth und Industrial Dance Music – unerbittlich und treibend, durchdrungen von einer Atmosphäre der Distanz und Sehnsucht. Jeder Song verkörpert den Puls der modernen Nacht, für die Außenseiter, für das Herz, das in der Leere noch schlägt. Eine moderne Fortsetzung der Tradition von Depeche Mode (Black Celebration) und den energiegeladenen Rhythmen von Front 242, neu interpretiert durch eine moderne Linse. Dwyer tourt mit Cold Cave, Boy Harsher und Molchat Doma. "Deep Hate" ist sein erster Release seit 2022 als 4-Track-Vinyl und CD mit zusätzlichen Remixen von PIG, Kontravoid, Cold Cave und Spike Hellis.

“Bâzsâzi” sees the group rearranging their oeuvre for the dancefloor, starting with a raw excerpt of Zolfonoon, taken from their first ever show in August 2023, before they had a name. Caleb dons his Wavemap alias to rework it into a tunnelling, heads-down groover, in the lineage of Mike Dehnert and Luke Hess. Raf Reza (as Raf Rizzla) sends Parisa shapeshifting through the hardcore continuum with a nod to UK Drill, in continuation from his recent debut Ekbar Telephone Explosion. Jason (as Neonlichter) turns Delkash into a jungle montage – all mutant bass and vocal tessellations.

It’s time to unleash the mini-album from pothOles: Today Tomorrow Whichever Comes First. This project started well over a decade ago and has evolved into six tracks. It’s a lush journey of deep house, built on scattered breaks, sample chops, and growling acid lines. The release features unique sonic textures, including field recordings captured during a sabbatical in Western Kenya back in 2011. The full pothOles package.

For the first time ever, this Common Labour wax arrives in a fully printed sleeve, featuring amazing artwork by Jessica Michaela. Don’t miss out on this limited run—only 195 hand-stamped and numbered copies are available worldwide.