quête:love nation

After humble lo-fi beginnings in the Australian Art-Pop Underground, Donny Benet has expanded his cult-like following across the Globe with a resonant Array of danceable Repertoire dealing with Love- and Affection. New album "Mr Experience" marks a new chapter, informed by a wealth of musical- and personal development.

For Mr Experience, Donny envisioned a Soundtrack to a Dinner-Party- Set in the late 1980's. While his earlier Recordings drew Inspiration from DIY Pop Conspirators such as Ariel Pink & John Maus, Donny channelled the Stylings of Bryan Ferry & Hiroshi Yoshimura as the Impetus for new Material, evident on the Intimacy found on ‘Girl Of My Dreams’ and it's lush production- with a soothing whistle-along Chorus for good Measure!

Sincerity has been a key component of Donny Benet’s output since the beginning. His songs deal with genuine Emotion served on a kitsch Platter. An alter-ego manifested in the beginning of the 2010's, Donny has blurred the Lines of Artifice to create a back- Catalogue that can embrace- and challenge, often simultaneously, - the notion of Irony in Art.

"Mr Experience" moves further away from ironic Notions as Donny explores lyrical- and musical themes which embody Observations of Maturation in his audience, his tightknit musical Community- and himself. While ‘mature’ is a term that often rings hollow as an album descriptor, the term couldn’t be more apt for Mr Experience.

Previous album The Don was created with the luxury of time. The phenomenal Response to that Album across Europe- and the United States - fuelled by accompanying Music Videos clocking in Views in the Millions- meant that there were scant Windows of Opportunity to write- and record a follow-up.

With a legacy in Sydney’s music community, working with Sarah Blasko, and tightknik collaborators Jack Ladder & Kirin J Callinan, Donny Benet is accustomed to collaboration on the Stage- and in the Studio, mostnotably on the 2014 full-length release Weekend At Donny’s.



“There is such immense talent evident in every aspect of the Donny Bene experience - the vision of the character, the steadfast adherence his narrative and the musicality of Benet himself all combine to makesomething truly genius.” - Double J, Australin.

“Donny Benet makes feminine music for everybody” - Vice, Netherlands.

“The Don does not sound like amusical copying machine”. - 3voor12 National, Netherlands.

“The set was punctuated with virtuosic solos and exquisite harmonies, and added another layer of genius to the show.
We almost couldn’t handle it... Donny for president!" - Indie Berlin.

“Everyone loves Donny Benet” - Feature in Gonzai, France.

“Phenomenal Australian Showman... Offers Top-Class Dance Music with Virtuose-Bass Guitar- and Keyboard Parts & incredible Sound-Colour feel.” - Podujatie.sk, Slovakia.

Donny has toured Europe five times since the start of 2018 and has played in the UK, Austria, Germany, Slovakia, France, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Greece and Sweden. The Don will revisit Europe twice in 2020, once for his own headline shows in May then back again in August for festivals!

From the deepest trenches of deadstock 45s and the unsung annals of soft rock infamy, we present SR4HT02: (Till You're) Back In My Arms.

Universal Cave and the Street Road Band cover Dan Strimer with Insured Sound's cult anthem (Till You're) Back In My Arms which was originally released as a 45 in 1977 on Lost Nation Records out of Guysville, Ohio. When Universal Cave featured Back in My Arms on Soft Rock for Hard Times Vol 8 in 2023, we reached out to Dan Strimer to tell him how much we loved his record, and quickly made a friend who helped us release a cover of his song 47 years after it first came out. Dan is still making music to this day and there are even rumors of some unreleased recordings making their way out in the near future.

On vacation in Hawaii when we released Soft Rock for Hard Times Vol 8, Alex Tebbs Mitchell of Universal Cave kept coming back to Dan's catchy, rural classic rock tune. When Alex returned to Philadelphia, he assembled the Street Road Band to record a laid back, 'southwestern Balearic' cover version with André Ethier on vocals, Charles Simon on guitar, Jesse Spearhawk on Pedal Steel, Alex Tebbs Mitchell on Rhodes and bass, Ryan M. Todd on synthesizers, and Shawn Ryan and Brian Cassidy on additional programming and arrangement. The result is a blissful soft rock ballad inspired by the likes of Chris Rea and Mark Knopfler.

After recording the cover, we called in the UK's finest Balearic maestro's Coyote to take the multitracks to the White Isle and back for a remix worthy of Cafe Del Mar. Coyote send the song into a dreamy, dubby, deep house groove, confirming that the record is, in fact, Balearic.

Mixed by Alex Tebbs Mitchell
Mastered by Mat Leffler-Schulman

"Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee" said the famous boxer Mohammed Ali, in reference to his legendary strike. This punchline also works wonderfully in music, listening to Roseaux's third album. A French success story, created with all modesty and honesty by the Parisian trio: Emile Omar, Alex Finkin and Clément Petit.

The three musketeers of sound cultivate their know-how, now acclaimed by critics and an ever-growing audience since their first project in 2012. It took them time to take a step back and gain perspective in order to offer us a return that is both joyful and resounding.

Roseaux takes root on the banks of soul, folk, jazz, and songs from all eras, a cascade of inexhaustible sounds, where the three composers draw their inspiration and merge their experiences.

The leaves of Roseaux soar to the breath of wonderful voices, chosen with precision by the three friends, like that of the American singer Aloe Blacc, present since the beginning of the adventure, essential enchanter of the three episodes.

Conceived as a dreamlike escapade full of emotions, on the fringes of the massive, instantaneous and often disembodied production, Roseaux is a totally artisanal group, a sort of UFO in the French musical landscape, which operates on instinct and above all on desire.

Thus, Roseaux has become an expert in bringing together, for the duration of a record, the artists who specifically form the DNA of their host: captivating voices, a plot on the piano and cello, but also encounters and reunions, in a poetic and deliberately nebulous universe.

A welcoming nebula, where the listener is invited to listen and immerse themselves without hindrance, in a luxuriant, wild, exciting sound forest. This third album is the work of 3 music lovers, capable of switching roles: writing, arrangements, production, from which emerge this time, eleven tracks with chiseled melodies including three colorful and unusual instrumentals.

A journey between melancholy and euphoria, which led Roseaux to the ends of the planet, from the Caribbean to Europe via Africa to unearth other vibrations and unique performers: the captivating Grenadian-British singer Ala.ni, the little English afropop prince from Ghana, Ghetto Boy, and the disturbing Swedish Isabel Sörling, sign here a first flamboyant collaboration with the group.

While the talented Haitian-Canadian Mélissa Laveaux, the hypnotic Scandinavian singer Olle Nyman, the sparkling French-Canadian Anna Majidson and our remarkable national Ben, already present on the second part, still manage to create a surprise by revealing new aspects of their range.

Roseaux's voices are decidedly impenetrable and its magic is renewed today by making the strength of all these scintillating elements dialogue, to be discovered in a setting of softness and voluptuousness.

Nature is full of reeds, this one is unique.

PRESENTED IN AN OPAQUE GREEN WITH BLACK AND ORANGE SPLATTER PRESSING HOUSED IN A DELUXE GATEFOLD JACKET

One year after coming out of early retirement and releasing his 11th studio album Can't Stay Away, Too $hort dropped his 12th studio album You Nasty in the year 2000. With over twenty years in the game, Too $hort don't stop mackin' or rappin' and spits his pimp game over West Coast funk-laden tracks with some Dirty South influences for the Y2K. Get On Down in partnership with Sony Music's CERTIFIED is proud to present You Nasty for the first time on vinyl. The album is pressed on colored vinyl with 3 bonus instrumentals and packaged in a deluxe gatefold jacket.

Aunes is a rare solo album from peripatetic Australian cellist-composer-performer Judith Hamann, presenting six pieces recorded across several years and countries. Developing the collage techniques and expanded sound palettes heard on their previous releases, Aunes makes use of synthesizers, organ, voice and location recordings alongside the dazzlingly pure, enveloping tones of Hamann's cello. The record takes its name from an old French unit of measurement for fabric, varying around the country and from material to material. Unlike the platinum metre bar deposited in the National Archives after the Revolution as an immovable standard, an aune of silk differed from an aune of linen: the measure could not be separated from the material. In much the same way, in these six pieces_which Hamann thinks of as `songs'_formal aspects such as tuning, pacing, melodic shape and timbre are not abstractions applied universally to musical material but are inextricable from the instruments and sounds used, even from the places and communities in which the music was made. Audible location sound embeds the music in its place of making, as in the delicate duet for church organ and wordless singing `schloss, night', where shuffles and cluttering in the reverberant church space form a phantom accompaniment, gradually displaced by a uneasy shimmer of wavering tones from half-opened organ stops. `Casa Di Riposo, Gesu' Redentore' documents a walk up a hill to an outdoor mass in Chiusure, layering voices near and far with footsteps, insects and other incidental sounds. Like in the work of Moniek Darge or Luc Ferrari, location recordings are folded on themselves in space and time, their documentary function dislocated to dreamlike effect. On other pieces, it is the emphatic presence of the performing body that grounds the music, whether in the intimate fragility of Hamann's softly sung and hummed vocal tones or the clothing that rustles across a microphone on the opening `by the line'. The idea of a music inextricable from its material conditions is perhaps most strikingly communicated on the album's briefest piece `bruststärke (lung song)', composed from layered whistling recorded while Hamann suffered through an asthma flare up, the results halfway between field recordings of an imaginary aviary and the audiopoems of Henri Chopin. More than any of Hamann's previous solo works, a strong melodic sensibility runs through Aunes, even when, like on `seventeen fabrics of measure', the music hangs together by the merest thread. At other points, Hamann's love of pop music is more obvious: the rich synth harmonies of `by the line' could almost be a melting fragment of a backing track from Hounds of Love. The expansive closing piece `neither from nor toward' exemplifies the highly personal musical language that Hamann has developed in recent years through constant solo performance (and a rigorous discipline of instrumental practice), pairing two overdubbed voices with the boundless depth and harmonic richness of just-intoned cello notes, calling up Ockegham or Linda Caitlin Smith in its elegiac slow motion arcs. Hamann's most personal work yet, Aunes arrives in a striking sleeve reproducing a section of a painting made from sewn pieces of dyed wool by Wilder Alison, a friend and fellow resident at Akademie Schloss Solitude, one of the temporary homes where much of this music was recorded.

Elvis' debut LP, titled Elvis Presley, was the first rock album to reach number one on
the US charts. It was recorded for the RCA label, which had paid what was then a
king's ransom to buy his contract from Sam Phillips' Sun Records in Memphis. The
album was produced by Steve Sholes, head of RCA's Country & Western and Rhythm &
Blues division, and released in March 1956.
"This was as startling a debut record as any ever made, representing every side of
Elvis' musical influences except gospel - rockabilly, blues, R&B, country, and pop were
all here in an explosive and seductive combination. Elvis Presley became the first rock
& roll album to reach the number one spot on the national charts, and RCA's first
million dollar-earning pop album." - ***** Bruce Eder, AllMusic

Arny Margret, Iceland’s remarkable and poetic upcoming singer-songwriter, is due to release her second album ‘I Miss You, I Do’ on March 7th via One Little Independent Records. The follow-up to 2022’s celebrated, minimalist folk debut ‘they only talk about the weather’ sees her working with new producers in America to develop and hone a sound that’s more textured, expansive, and mature.

‘I Miss You, I Do’ incorporates sessions from Arny Margret’s trips to New York City, North Carolina, and Colorado, as well as those recorded in Iceland. During extensive international touring, she wrote prolifically and spent time getting to know producers and musicians who each brought their own unique and individual talents to the project. Arny’s atmospheric and introspective material has been layered with country-inflected full band ensembles, keys, banjo, harmonium, slide guitar and more, adding an ambience that only enhances her natural ability to convey crystal-clear imagery within thematically rich writing.

In pursuit of her creative vision, Arny enlisted producers Josh Kaufman, Andrew Berlin, Brad Cook, and Guðm. “Kiddi” Kristinn Jónsson. Josh Kaufman is best known for his work with Grateful Dead founder Bob Weir, The National, This Is The Kit, Hiss Golden Messenger, Josh Ritter, and The War on Drugs. Andrew Berlin, GRAMMY nominated for his work on Gregory Alan Isakov’s record ‘Evening Machines’, also mixes national punk rock staples such as A Wilhelm Scream, Rise Against, and Teenage Bottlerocket. Brad Cook served as a producer for Bon Iver, Big Red Machine, Waxahatchee, Hand Habits, Kevin Morby, and Whitney amongst others. Arny also returned to Iceland to record with her long-time collaborator and friend Kiddi Jónsson in Reykjavík, Iceland.

Profile 1
KONISHI yasuharu
Band leader, songwriter, arranger and producer of the now disbanded Pizzicato Five (1985- 2001). Although having 2 successful world tours and 5 international albums under his belt, with fans ranging from London’s Karminsky Experience to Karl Lagerfeld, many of his fans know him as a DJ, spinning in Tokyo’s hotspots such as Shibuya’s ‘Organ Bar’. He tours regularly throughout Japan and abroad. In the Jackson 5 Remix Album, his remix ‘I want you back (readymade 524 mix)’ received an extraordinary amount of national radio play.
The remix album itself has scored healthy rankings in major record stores. In 1998, his own project ‘Punch the Monkey!’ (in which he remixes the theme tune of a popular Japanese cartoon series ‘Lupin the Third’) sold over 700,000 records, and this, some say, began Japan’s remix rush. His achievements truly invaded the mainstream when in 2000, he produced the No.1 single ‘Oha-Rock’ which became a social phenomenon in itself. Most
recently, he set up his own record label, ‘readymade international inc.’ from he which he plans to release new exciting solo works.
His talents also embrace film and photography and he is well known as a director in promotional videos, shows and advertisements. T-shirts and original goods which Konishi personally designed are sold in select shops such as BEAMS of Shibuya.
He is also a writer having regular columns in various magazines, and has also written several books. A collection of his essays have been published under the title ‘Kore wa koi de wa nai’ (’This is not love’
)
Profile 2
IKEDA masanori (Mansfield)
Began his DJ career in London, 1991, while working in Soho’s Soul Jazz Records. After becoming resident DJ at ‘Blow-Up’ in London’s Wag Club, he has toured the country and the rest of Europe. With his friends Karminsky Experience and Gentle People, he has also organised numerous club events, compiled CDs and produced radio programs. Returning to Japan in 1997, as the DJ with the rarest records in the East, he immediately made his name Djing at many popular events up and down the country. He is recognised for rocking dancefloors on a global scale having completed a very well-received European tour in 2000.
Apart from his DJ work, he has contributed remixes for Konishi Yasuharu’s ‘Punch the Monkey!’. His solo releases include his mix CD series ‘Spin Out’ , ‘Spin Out 2’ (V2 Records Japan). His albums ‘6 Complexions of Mansfield’ and ‘It’s a mans’s man’s field’ (readymade records) released under his alias Mansfield have established his name as a sound creator. He is expecting to release a new album from readymade international early 2002. This
is the DJ/composer that everyone’s talking about.

The Tubs' second album, Cotton Crown, sees the Celtic Jangle boyband venture into darker, more personal territor y while continuing to hone their highly addictive brand of songcraft. It 's a true level up album which sees the band expand their sonic palette to take in a kaleidoscopic range of influences: everything from soulful pub rock (Chain Reaction) to Husker Du aggression (One More Day) to melancholy sophisto-pop (Narcissist) gets a look in. As Pitchfork noted, The Tubs see jangle as a `vast world of moods and muses' and Cotton Crown sees them continuing to explore this world and creating a distinctly Tub-ular sound in the process. This is in no small part down to Owen `O' Williams' vocal performance- often compared to a young Richard Thomson- and his frank, bleakly funny lyric writing. Cotton Crown sees him delve further into his favourite themes of love-psychosis, unsympathetic mentally ill behaviour, and the humiliations of being a musician in London. This time around, however, there's a palpable sense of risk in his self assessments/confessions. No more so in the track's closing track Strange- an accounting of the clumsy, intrusive, well-meaning social interactions that took place in the period following the suicide of his mother (the folk singer Charlotte Greig.) As Williams says: "I'd tried a few times to write a song about it. The result had always seemed either mawkish, simplifying or like I was hawking my trauma. But then this one came out, and it felt right because it looked at something smaller: the weird, unsatisfying, strangely funny ways everyone, including myself, acted after the dust settled." The album artwork features an image of Williams as an infant being breastfed by Greig in a graveyard- a promotional shot taken around the release of her debut album (the re-issue of which was featured in The Guardian in 2023.) The essential trick Cotton Crown plays is to offset Williams' lyrical bleakness with joyous, hook-laden blasts of pop perfection. This is largely down to the guitar work of George Nicholls, who, across the album, effortlessly slips between the virtuoso jangle of Marr, the driving folk-rock of Pentangle and the chorus-heavy hi-fi grooves of contemporary bands like Tops or The 1975. Add to that the breakneck rhythm section of Taylor Stewart (Drums) and Max Warren (Bass)- who attack each song with power-pop ferocity, recalling Guided by Voices at their drunken-yet-tight best- and you've got yourself a recipe for indie rock greatness. The band's debut `Dead Meat' was a word-of-mouth sensation that saw the band earn accolades from Pitchfork, The Guardian, MOJO, SPIN and more. They even gained some celeb fans: the inimitable Mark Proksch (The Office (US), Better Call Saul, What We Do in the Shadows) starred in the video for their "Round the Bend" single & punk legend Iggy Pop has praised them on his BBC 6Music radio program. Standing in opposition to the UK norm of post punk, and hookless high-minded indie prog, the album was described by Kitty Empire (Observer) as a "shot in the arm for indie rock". The band's hard touring and raucous, beer y live show have seen them stand out at festivals like Greenman, End of The Road, Melbourne Rising and Canela Party. The band (minus Stewart) were previously members of Joanna Gruesome- who won the Welsh Music Prize, toured the UK and US extensively, and were praised in Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, The NY Times, The Guardian and others. Lan Mcardle (Joanna Gruesome, Ex-Void) also provides backing vocals on several tracks. The Tubs are part of the Gob Nation collective- the London-based network of bands, writers and promoters who were recently profiled in The Guardian.

The Tubs' second album, Cotton Crown, sees the Celtic Jangle boyband venture into darker, more personal territor y while continuing to hone their highly addictive brand of songcraft. It 's a true level up album which sees the band expand their sonic palette to take in a kaleidoscopic range of influences: everything from soulful pub rock (Chain Reaction) to Husker Du aggression (One More Day) to melancholy sophisto-pop (Narcissist) gets a look in. As Pitchfork noted, The Tubs see jangle as a `vast world of moods and muses' and Cotton Crown sees them continuing to explore this world and creating a distinctly Tub-ular sound in the process. This is in no small part down to Owen `O' Williams' vocal performance- often compared to a young Richard Thomson- and his frank, bleakly funny lyric writing. Cotton Crown sees him delve further into his favourite themes of love-psychosis, unsympathetic mentally ill behaviour, and the humiliations of being a musician in London. This time around, however, there's a palpable sense of risk in his self assessments/confessions. No more so in the track's closing track Strange- an accounting of the clumsy, intrusive, well-meaning social interactions that took place in the period following the suicide of his mother (the folk singer Charlotte Greig.) As Williams says: "I'd tried a few times to write a song about it. The result had always seemed either mawkish, simplifying or like I was hawking my trauma. But then this one came out, and it felt right because it looked at something smaller: the weird, unsatisfying, strangely funny ways everyone, including myself, acted after the dust settled." The album artwork features an image of Williams as an infant being breastfed by Greig in a graveyard- a promotional shot taken around the release of her debut album (the re-issue of which was featured in The Guardian in 2023.) The essential trick Cotton Crown plays is to offset Williams' lyrical bleakness with joyous, hook-laden blasts of pop perfection. This is largely down to the guitar work of George Nicholls, who, across the album, effortlessly slips between the virtuoso jangle of Marr, the driving folk-rock of Pentangle and the chorus-heavy hi-fi grooves of contemporary bands like Tops or The 1975. Add to that the breakneck rhythm section of Taylor Stewart (Drums) and Max Warren (Bass)- who attack each song with power-pop ferocity, recalling Guided by Voices at their drunken-yet-tight best- and you've got yourself a recipe for indie rock greatness. The band's debut `Dead Meat' was a word-of-mouth sensation that saw the band earn accolades from Pitchfork, The Guardian, MOJO, SPIN and more. They even gained some celeb fans: the inimitable Mark Proksch (The Office (US), Better Call Saul, What We Do in the Shadows) starred in the video for their "Round the Bend" single & punk legend Iggy Pop has praised them on his BBC 6Music radio program. Standing in opposition to the UK norm of post punk, and hookless high-minded indie prog, the album was described by Kitty Empire (Observer) as a "shot in the arm for indie rock". The band's hard touring and raucous, beer y live show have seen them stand out at festivals like Greenman, End of The Road, Melbourne Rising and Canela Party. The band (minus Stewart) were previously members of Joanna Gruesome- who won the Welsh Music Prize, toured the UK and US extensively, and were praised in Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, The NY Times, The Guardian and others. Lan Mcardle (Joanna Gruesome, Ex-Void) also provides backing vocals on several tracks. The Tubs are part of the Gob Nation collective- the London-based network of bands, writers and promoters who were recently profiled in The Guardian.

The Tubs' second album, Cotton Crown, sees the Celtic Jangle boyband venture into darker, more personal territor y while continuing to hone their highly addictive brand of songcraft. It 's a true level up album which sees the band expand their sonic palette to take in a kaleidoscopic range of influences: everything from soulful pub rock (Chain Reaction) to Husker Du aggression (One More Day) to melancholy sophisto-pop (Narcissist) gets a look in. As Pitchfork noted, The Tubs see jangle as a `vast world of moods and muses' and Cotton Crown sees them continuing to explore this world and creating a distinctly Tub-ular sound in the process. This is in no small part down to Owen `O' Williams' vocal performance- often compared to a young Richard Thomson- and his frank, bleakly funny lyric writing. Cotton Crown sees him delve further into his favourite themes of love-psychosis, unsympathetic mentally ill behaviour, and the humiliations of being a musician in London. This time around, however, there's a palpable sense of risk in his self assessments/confessions. No more so in the track's closing track Strange- an accounting of the clumsy, intrusive, well-meaning social interactions that took place in the period following the suicide of his mother (the folk singer Charlotte Greig.) As Williams says: "I'd tried a few times to write a song about it. The result had always seemed either mawkish, simplifying or like I was hawking my trauma. But then this one came out, and it felt right because it looked at something smaller: the weird, unsatisfying, strangely funny ways everyone, including myself, acted after the dust settled." The album artwork features an image of Williams as an infant being breastfed by Greig in a graveyard- a promotional shot taken around the release of her debut album (the re-issue of which was featured in The Guardian in 2023.) The essential trick Cotton Crown plays is to offset Williams' lyrical bleakness with joyous, hook-laden blasts of pop perfection. This is largely down to the guitar work of George Nicholls, who, across the album, effortlessly slips between the virtuoso jangle of Marr, the driving folk-rock of Pentangle and the chorus-heavy hi-fi grooves of contemporary bands like Tops or The 1975. Add to that the breakneck rhythm section of Taylor Stewart (Drums) and Max Warren (Bass)- who attack each song with power-pop ferocity, recalling Guided by Voices at their drunken-yet-tight best- and you've got yourself a recipe for indie rock greatness. The band's debut `Dead Meat' was a word-of-mouth sensation that saw the band earn accolades from Pitchfork, The Guardian, MOJO, SPIN and more. They even gained some celeb fans: the inimitable Mark Proksch (The Office (US), Better Call Saul, What We Do in the Shadows) starred in the video for their "Round the Bend" single & punk legend Iggy Pop has praised them on his BBC 6Music radio program. Standing in opposition to the UK norm of post punk, and hookless high-minded indie prog, the album was described by Kitty Empire (Observer) as a "shot in the arm for indie rock". The band's hard touring and raucous, beer y live show have seen them stand out at festivals like Greenman, End of The Road, Melbourne Rising and Canela Party. The band (minus Stewart) were previously members of Joanna Gruesome- who won the Welsh Music Prize, toured the UK and US extensively, and were praised in Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, The NY Times, The Guardian and others. Lan Mcardle (Joanna Gruesome, Ex-Void) also provides backing vocals on several tracks. The Tubs are part of the Gob Nation collective- the London-based network of bands, writers and promoters who were recently profiled in The Guardian.

Band leader, songwriter, arranger and producer of the now disbanded Pizzicato Five (1985-2001). Although having 2 successful world tours and 5 international albums under his belt, with fans ranging from London’s Karminsky Experience to Karl Lagerfeld, many of his fans know him as a DJ, spinning in Tokyo’s hotspots such as Shibuya’s ‘Organ Bar’. He tours regularly throughout Japan and abroad. In the Jackson 5 Remix Album, his remix ‘I want you back (readymade 524 mix)’ received an extraordinary amount of national radio play.
The remix album itself has scored healthy rankings in major record stores. In 1998, his own project ‘Punch the Monkey!’ (in which he remixes the theme tune of a popular Japanese cartoon series ‘Lupin the Third’) sold over 700,000 records, and this, some say, began Japan’s remix rush. His achievements truly invaded the mainstream when in 2000, he produced the No.1 single ‘Oha-Rock’ which became a social phenomenon in itself. Most
recently, he set up his own record label, ‘readymade international inc.’ from he which he plans to release new exciting solo works.
His talents also embrace film and photography and he is well known as a director in promotional videos, shows and advertisements. T-shirts and original goods which Konishi personally designed are sold in select shops such as BEAMS of Shibuya.
He is also a writer having regular columns in various magazines, and has also written several books. A collection of his essays have been published under the title ‘Kore wa koi de wa nai’ (’This is not love’)

SUNAGA tatsuo (sunaga t'experience)
DJ and Music Producer. Basing his activities around his own club ‘Shibuya Organ Bar’, holds regular club nights throughout Japan. Apart from his own mix CDs such as the ‘Organ b. SUITE’ which many say is in a class of its own, has produced remixes for the ‘Soul Source 2: Jackson 5 Remix’ and Yasuharu Konishi’s ‘Punch the Monkey’. He began his own label ‘AFTERS OR’ in 1998,acting both as artist and producer. Releasing records under the alias of ‘Sunaga t experience’ on avex/cutting edge records, the ‘It’s you’ 12 inch made record sales of 7,000 records, an incredibly large number in the vinyl market. His name is known in Europe through such labels as IRMA and SCHEMA records, and has remained in the forefront of the industry since the beginning of the Tokyo club scene.

2025 marks the return of Cologne-based electronic outfit Urban Homes with their first new music in over eight years, following an unintentional hiatus driven by side projects, relocations, the pandemic, and the unpredictability of »life.« After over eight years, the duo is back with their first new material: a fresh batch of purely instrumental downtempo and dub-influenced tracks, marked by a somber and atmospheric vibe that distinctly separates this new material from their previous work. Inspired by themes of extraterrestrial life and the paranormal, the four new tracks compiled on the »U.F.O.« EP release were crafted during recording sessions split between Cologne and Berlin before languishing for years on neglected hard drives, finally »ripening« into their current form.

Formed in 2008, Urban Homes initially emerged as a post-punk group, debuting live in 2009. Their first release—a four-track demo tape recorded in late 2010—already hinted at an evolving sound that would soon embrace a more experimental and electronic direction. By 2011, the band swapped their live drums for a drum machine, a shift that would profoundly shape their sound in the years to follow. Over the years, Urban Homes has explored a broad sonic landscape, merging electronic production, rhythm-driven compositions, and experimental song structures. Drawing influences from early house, balearic, disco, dub, avant-garde electronica, and pop, their music continues to defy easy categorization.

In March 2013, the duo released their debut album »Centres«, earning the Pop NRW Prize for Best Newcomers that same year. Their 2016 follow-up, »Jams«, was met with critical acclaim. A love letter to dance music's roots, Jams fused pop sensibilities with open-ended experimentation, built from years of MIDI-driven jam sessions that were painstakingly edited and reconstructed. Both released by Altin Village & Mine, »Jams« was also licensed by the Japanese label Fennely / Moorworks for an exclusive CD edition in 2017. Over the years, Urban Homes supported their releases with numerous tours and festival appearances across Germany and a memorable tour of Japan in 2017.

The first-ever vinyl reissue of 1988’s I Wanna Have Some Fun, perennial pop icon and pin-up Samantha Fox’s third album. The only British female solo artist to score three Top Ten hits on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1980s, Samantha made her name as the nation’s favourite Page Three girl before launching an enviable music career.

I Wanna Have Some Fun features Sam’s irresistible Stock/Aitken/Waterman-produced cover of Dusty Springfield’s ‘I Only Wanna Be With You’ (#16 UK, #31 US) the gold-certified, Full Force-helmed title track (#8 US) and the acidinflected club favourite ‘Love House’ (#32 UK). Samantha’s most danceable, transatlantic and eclectic set so far, I Wanna Have Some Fun reached #46 in the UK and #37 in the US, giving her a third consecutive gold certification. Pressed on striking transparent red vinyl with black and yellow splatters to complement the original aesthetic, this edition boasts painstakingly rebuilt artwork and a newly designed inner bag featuring full lyrics.

A strictly limitededition picture disc is also available. I Wanna Have Some Fun is reissued alongside Samantha’s 1986 debut, Touch Me, and her eponymous 1987 sophomore album.

The first-ever vinyl reissue of 1988’s I Wanna Have Some Fun, perennial pop icon and pin-up Samantha Fox’s third album. The only British female solo artist to score three Top Ten hits on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1980s, Samantha made her name as the nation’s favourite Page Three girl before launching an enviable music career.

I Wanna Have Some Fun features Sam’s irresistible Stock/Aitken/Waterman-produced cover of Dusty Springfield’s ‘I Only Wanna Be With You’ (#16 UK, #31 US) the gold-certified, Full Force-helmed title track (#8 US) and the acidinflected club favourite ‘Love House’ (#32 UK). Samantha’s most danceable, transatlantic and eclectic set so far, I Wanna Have Some Fun reached #46 in the UK and #37 in the US, giving her a third consecutive gold certification. Pressed on striking transparent red vinyl with black and yellow splatters to complement the original aesthetic, this edition boasts painstakingly rebuilt artwork and a newly designed inner bag featuring full lyrics.

A strictly limitededition picture disc is also available. I Wanna Have Some Fun is reissued alongside Samantha’s 1986 debut, Touch Me, and her eponymous 1987 sophomore album.

Carrying the torch of psychedelic cumbia, with a healthy dose
of surf guitar and Amazonian dancefloor flourishes from Peru
and Brazil alike, Fiesta en la Jungla by Los Dexter’s de Uchiza
is the first release from the newly formed London-label Ritmo
del Barrio. Originally released in 1982, it captures the finest
cumbia being made in Peru at the time, decked out with
frenetic surf-rock guitar riffs, rhythms floating on crisp
cumbia percussion and occasionally punctuated by carimbó
breakdowns native to the Pará region of north-eastern Brazil.
The album is filled with energy, a gem that was always
intended to animate any dancefloor. Peruvian cumbia came to national attention in the late 60s
through the recordings of Juaneco y su Combo, Los Destellos
and Los Wembler’s de Iquitos, but it’s had many revivals, and
Fiesta en la Jungla arrived when the style was going through a
major transition. In 1977, a passenger plane carrying most of
the members of Juaneco y su Combo crashed, killing everyone
on board. In 1980, Los Destellos retired, and Los Wembler’s
released their tenth and final record, they were ready for a
break. This left a big void in Peruvian music. Wasting no time,
Los Dexter’s Emerson Ruiz Mosquera took the opportunity and
gave his band new life, filling the band’s ranks with young and
energetic musicians who were hungry for success. He built the
new band around a solid base of dexterous guitars, a dynamite
rhythm section, and added oodles of percussion and an electric
organ, giving them a powerful psychedelic sound that called
back to the sounds of the original chichamasters, but added a
new sheen. Along with bands like Los Shapis and Los Walkers
de Huánuco, Peruvian cumbia was reborn as chicha in the
1980s, and was now the sound of Peru’s barrios up and down
the country.
Based in the city of Uchiza, on the edges of the Amazon basin,
Los Dexter’s were uniquely located in central Peru, closer to the
largest urban centres of the country than Amazonian outposts
like Pucallpa or Iquitos, and therefore better positioned to
travel to the furthest reaches of the country with ease. In a
sense, Los Dexter’s were a bridge between the Amazon and the
rest of Peru, a bridge over which the sounds of Amazonian
cumbia could travel to the rest of the country on their way to
becoming one of the most ubiquitous elements of Peru’s musical
identity. Fiesta en la Jungla represents Los Dexter’s in their third
iteration. Led by Emerson Ruiz Mosquera, who was just a
young boy in 1970 when his older brother founded the group
with four of his friends, the ensemble by the time of Fiesta en la
Jungla included Orlando Abad on the timbales and lead vocals,
Lucho Bendezú on lead guitar, Javier Quiroz as second
guitarist, Alejandro Almeira on bass, Rufino Bustamante on
keyboard, Ramon Siu on bongos and bells, Ivan Rios on conga,
and Emerson as musical director and composer. Remarkably,
most of the group’s members helped to write at least one
track, Los Dexter’s were a collective endeavour.
Reissued on vinyl for the first time by Ritmo del Barrio, this
record is essential for any collector of Peruvian cumbia.
Showcasing the unique sound of Los Dexter’s, it carries hits
like “Fuga en la Selva” and “El Shiringuero”, which are sure to
set any dancefloor on fire, combined with slower, carimbó-
infused cumbias like “Fiesta en la Jungla,”and “Agua de
Cachilde.” Its closing track, “Tragedia en Uchiza'', is a key
piece of local history and tells of the flooding of the
Chontayacu River in 1982, a mortal tragedy that affected
thousands of people. Despite the subject matter, the album
maintains a joyful vibe throughout, with high energy riffs and
irresistible rhythms, contrasted with terse love ballads, like “A
Jhenny.” It is both a piece of musical history, and a sure-fire
tool for the dance floor.
Los Dexter’s became a fixture of festivals and celebrations in
the provinces of San Martin and Huánuco, and from expanded
across the country, taking Amazonian cumbia from the
Peruvian Amazon, to the heights of the Peruvian sierra, the
coastal plains, and the capital city of Lima.

Marking the twentieth/twenty-first anniversaries of ‘Amnesiac’ and ‘Kid A’ respectively, Radiohead announce a deluxe triple-album of both records plus a brand new bonus disc titled ‘Kid Amnesiae’. It features two previously unreleased tracks - ‘If You Say The Word’ and ‘Follow Me Around’ - plus alternate versions of album tracks and B-sides from the era. An absolute essential for Radiohead fans!

f11 FLRNTN, Benjamin Duchenne - "Last Man Standing" (feat Sivan) (1:08)
f12 Nicholas Gunn & Harshil Kamdar - "Here I Am" (feat Alina Renae - Richard Durand remix) (1:08)
f13 DJ TH X TH3 ONE X Sue McLaren - "Everything To Me" (1:08)
f14 Matty Ralph - "Te Adoro" (1:08)
f15 Armin Van Buuren & Vini Vici - "Sarabande" (feat Anna Timofei) (1:08)
f16 Lilly Palmer - "Hare Ram" (1:08)
f17 David Forbes - "Techno Is My Only Drug" (1:08)
f18 Armin Van Buuren - "Blah Blah Blah" (Lilly Palmer remix) (1:08)
f19 Armin Van Buuren - "The Road To Your Destination" (A State Of Trance Year mix 2024 outro) (1:14)

Bandler Ching makes a bold return from within the vibrant, Brussels music scene with their sophomore album, Mercurial. In this latest offering, the band edges even closer to the ever-evolving world of electronics and dance music while retaining the improvisational spirit that has always defined their sound at its core.
On Mercurial, the band navigates the fringes of industrial trap, while expertly bending and pushing the possibilities of their instruments. Ambroos De Schepper's saxophone transcends its traditional role even more, becoming a dynamic, shapeshifting entity capable of evoking haunting melodies one moment and otherworldly harmonies the next. Federico Pecoraro's bass transforms into ethereal ambient pads that drift through the mix like vapor, adding depth. Meanwhile, Olivier Penu's drums form the rhythmic backbone, laying down eclectic grooves that defy the constraints of any single genre, merging seamlessly from trap to electronica, hip-hop, and beyond.
Known for their ability to blend disparate genres and experiment with textures, Bandler Ching forges a new instrumental language, one that feels untethered to convention and free from classification. It's not a genre-crossing experiment-but a daring move towards a new instrumental genre in the digital age.
Fans of experimental electronic icons like Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, and Ceephax Acid Crew will find much to admire in the upcoming Mercurial album- it's a next step in pushing to a new musical territory and boldly casting off the jazz genre in the process.
It's been two years since Bandler Ching first released their debut album Coaxial on Sdban Ultra. Kicking off the album campaign with an album release show in Volta, the Brussels hotbed for a new generation of Belgian artists. What followed was a series of concerts in key venues and festivals across Belgium and the Netherlands to honorable reviews in national and specialized press.

Bartees Strange begann die Arbeit an "Horror" in seinem Homestudio. Eine Session mit Yves und Lawrence Rothman (Yves Tumor, Lady Gaga) lieferte das rhythmische und klangliche Rückgrat für große Teile des Albums. Nachdem Bartees Strange Jack Antonoff (Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey...) kennengelernt hatte und die beiden schnell Freunde wurden, arbeitete Strange an Material für Antonoffs Band Bleachers und Antonoff an "Horror". Die beiden beendeten die Arbeit am Album gemeinsam, indem sie die Songs roh bearbeiteten, editierten, arrangierten und sie in Kleidung kleideten, die Angst einflößt. Während des gesamten Albums legt Strange eine schwierige Wahrheit nach der anderen ab. Auf den 12 neuen Tracks des Albums finden sich genreübergreifende Fäden der Musik, die sein Vater ihm nahegebracht hat - Parliament Funkadelic, Fleetwood Mac, Teddy Pendergrass und Neil Young - die mit Stranges Interesse an Hip-Hop, Country, Indie-Rock und House verschmelzen. Seit dem Release seines 4AD-Debüts "Farm to Table" (2022) spielte Bartees Strange neben eigenen Headline-Touren (und einem Auftritt beim letztjährigen Reeperbahn Festival) im Vorprogramm von Acts wie boygenius, Clairo, Dijon und The National. Während eine Tour zum neuen Album noch angekündigt werden wird, gibt es schon eine Reihe von Release-Shows in 2025 in New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. und London. Geboren in Ipswich, England, als Sohn eines Militärvaters und einer Opernsängerin, verlebte Bartees Strange eine Kindheit, die geprägt war von diversen Umzügen bevor er sich schließlich in Mustang, Oklahoma, niederließ. Später spielte Bartees Strange in Hardcore-Bands in Washington D.C. und Brooklyn, während er in der Regierung von Barack Obama und der Bewegung für Umweltschutz arbeitete. In letzter Zeit wurde seine Musik auf mehreren populären TV- und Film-Soundtracks verwendet, darunter bei The New Look von Apple TV und I Saw The TV Glow von A24-Studio.

The Dutch band Time Bandits, formed by Alides Hidding, had national and international success. In 1981 the Time Bandits scored a big dance hit with “Live it Up”, which ended up in the number 1 spot of the American Dance Charts.

Characteristic of the Time Bandits is the professional sound of funk, disco, soul and rock and the unmistakable voice and guitar sound of Alides Hidding. In 1983, the song “I’m Specialized In You” came in second in the dutch top 40. It was a monster hit with more than 90,000 copies sold in the Netherlands and 450,000 in France. The following single “Listen To The Man With The Golden Voice” also made it to the top 10.

In October 1983 the single “I’m Only Shooting Love” reached the top 10 while the band also continued to break through internationally. The single did very well in France, Portugal, America and Australia and reached the number 1 spot in the New Zealand single charts. The Time Bandits went on tour to Australia and New Zealand and another string of hits followed.

The “Endless Road” music video was filmed in Australia during the band’s 1985 tour. The video has been viewed over 2,5 million times on Youtube.

The vinyl edition of Greatest Hits features all their hits, various remixes and 3 fan-favorite bonus tracks; “Reach Out”, “Dancing On A String” and “Endless Road (High Energy Dance Mix by Ben Liebrand)”.

This is limited edition of 500 copies, pressed on transluncet pink coloured vinyl. This 2-LP set includes an insert.

Blue Valentine Vinyl. Sometime in 2005, a lone box of master tapes escaped an estate sale and made its way through a network of collectors, record dealers, and "junkers" into the hands of leading Ohio soul expert Dante Carfagna, who linked them to Columbus, Ohio's mysterious Prix label (See: Eccentric Soul: The Prix Label). A bit of research turned up Prix proprietor George Beter, who identified most of the unlabeled material. All it took was an endless series of phone calls and letters and two fields trips in Columbus. But one complete mystery wended its way onto our final Prix compilation. "You and Me," a simple but irrepressible demo credited only to Penny & the Quarters, was found tacked onto a mixed studio reel. Our survey of every willing lifer left on the Columbus soul scene, including retired DJs, producers, and important local artists, produced not so much as a glimmer of recognition at the name Penny & the Quarters. Though we loved the song from the first play, it may've ended up a bit buried on our original compilation, as #18 of 19 tracks.Four years later, Eccentric Soul: The Prix Label hadn't exactly become a huge seller, although listeners had repeatedly told us that the unfiltered studio demos that fill out the record's back half were true diamonds in the rough. But neither Penny nor her Quarters had appeared to claim credit for their efforts. Then, completely out of left field, we heard from respected screen actor and avowed Numero fan Ryan Gosling that Penny's piercing bit of stripped down doo-wop was being considered for inclusion in Derek Cianfrance's indie-weeper film Blue Valentine. What we didn't know was that "You and Me" had won a major role in what became an indie circuit hit, and that Penny & the Quarters would instantly assume the role of world's most famous unknown doo-wop group.Every week is a slow news week in Columbus, Ohio, and early January 2011 found the city recovering from the thrill of elevating Ted Williams_the formerly homeless guy with the awesome voice for radio_into a national news sensation. But both major daily newspapers in town, as well as the city's alternative weekly, also ran stories about how a lost and unknown Columbus soul group had become the musical centerpiece of a film already garnering Oscar buzz. That mainstream spotlight aimed at Blue Valentine and Penny & the Quarters did the trick: we finally made contact with the widow of Jay Robinson, lead Quarters' singer and songwriter. Robinson, it turned out, had also been the leader of Columbus doo-wop pioneers The Supremes (later known as "The Columbus Supremes," for reasons which should be obvious). Jay Robinson never did give up on the dream of writing a hit record; even so, the posthumous realization of his dream is cold comfort for his widow and daughter. With their blessings, we returned to those estate sale masters and pulled down another neglected track ("You Are Giving Me Some Other Love") from the still-unknown Penny and her now-partly-known Quarters. "You and Me" is a song that could not be suppressed: not when Prix failed to release it; not when Penny & the Quarters were forgotten; not when Numero stuck it at the bitter end of a much overlooked compilation. Its evolution from estate sale trash to silver-screen gold has finally returned it to big-hole 45, where it probably should have lived all along.

The first-ever vinyl reissue of the classic 1986 debut album from perennial pop icon and pin-up Samantha Fox. The only British female solo artist to score three Top Ten hits on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1980s, Samantha made her name as the nation’s favourite Page Three girl before launching an enviable music career.

Touch Me features four hit singles: the international smash ‘Touch Me (I Want Your Body)’ (#3 UK and #4 US), ‘Do Ya Do Ya (Wanna Please Me)’ (#10 UK), ‘Hold On Tight’ and ‘I’m All You Need’. Immediately establishing Samantha’s signature pop-rock sound, on its original release the album hit #17 in the UK, going silver, before reaching #24 in the US with a gold certification. Pressed on striking black vinyl with white and pink splatters to complement the original aesthetic, this edition boasts painstakingly rebuilt artwork and a newly designed inner bag featuring full lyrics. A strictly limited-edition picture disc is also available. Touch Me is reissued alongside Samantha’s self-titled second album and 1989’s I Wanna Have Some Fun.

‘Insides is a cracking album of shifting ambient moods, riding on the cusp of technology without forgetting emotive credence’ 9/10 FUTURE MUSIC
Originally released in 2009 Insides is Jon’s third solo album and will be made available from the 18th December 2020 on the Just Music label, following on from his first two Just Music albums, Opalescent and Contact Note. It paved the way for both Immunity (his hypnotic breakthrough solo album) and Diamond Mine (his collaboration with King Creosote) which attracted Mercury nominations and for his recently released fifth solo artist album, Singularity.
The epic Light Through The Veins from Insides, which bookends Coldplay’s Viva La Vida album, is always a crowd favourite and is played by Jon as one of the closing tracks at almost all of his venue and festival shows. Small Memory, also from Insides has been streamed almost 57 million times on Spotify alone where Jon has 355, 462 followers and nearly 2 million monthly listeners.
Cited by The New Yorker as “One of the most celebrated electronic musicians of his generation”, electronic artist, producer and composer Jon Hopkins has forged a reputation for music that marries the dance floor to the devotional, and for live performances that are visceral, generous and charged with a rapt, sensuous beauty.
Jon has remixed artists as diverse as Flume, David Lynch, Moderat, Disclosure, Four Tet, Wild Beasts and Purity Ring. Other projects include collaborations with Natasha Khan of Bat For Lashes and Bonobo, as well as productions for London Grammar and Coldplay. His film credits include his Ivor Novello nominated score for the indie sci-fi classic Monsters, The Lovely Bones (scored with Brian Eno and Leo Abrahams), How I Live Now, Uwantme2killhim? and Rob and Vanentyna in Scotland. He also scored the National Theatre Live production of Hamlet and his work has appeared in many films and adverts.
‘Lilting piano and strings give way to industrial glitch with a calculated force, shifting the mood from tranquillity to terror’ 7/10 CLASH
‘Hopkins is a conjurer, an illusionist, symbolically combining imagery and sounds that shouldn’t work together, creating new dimensions of listening’ KRUGER

The first-ever vinyl reissue of perennial pop icon and pin-up Samantha Fox’s self-titled 1987 sophomore album. The only British female solo artist to score three Top Ten hits on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1980s, Samantha made her name as the nation’s favourite Page Three girl before launching an enviable music career.

Samantha Fox boasts five hit singles: the Stock/Aitken/Waterman favourite ‘Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now’ (#8 UK), the memorable Full Force collaboration ‘Naughty Girls’ (#3 US), ‘I Surrender (To The Spirit of the Night’, ‘I Promise You’ and ‘True Devotion’. Developing Samantha’s sound with a compelling mix of pop, rock and hip-hop stylings, the album made #22 in the UK and #51 in the US, gaining her second straight gold certification. Pressed on striking transparent caramel vinyl with gold and silver splatters to complement the original aesthetic, this edition boasts painstakingly rebuilt artwork and a newly designed inner bag featuring full lyrics.

A strictly limitededition picture disc is also available. Samantha Fox is reissued alongside the 1986 debut album, Touch Me, and 1989’s I Wanna Have Some Fun

The first-ever vinyl reissue of perennial pop icon and pin-up Samantha Fox’s self-titled 1987 sophomore album. The only British female solo artist to score three Top Ten hits on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1980s, Samantha made her name as the nation’s favourite Page Three girl before launching an enviable music career.

Samantha Fox boasts five hit singles: the Stock/Aitken/Waterman favourite ‘Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now’ (#8 UK), the memorable Full Force collaboration ‘Naughty Girls’ (#3 US), ‘I Surrender (To The Spirit of the Night’, ‘I Promise You’ and ‘True Devotion’. Developing Samantha’s sound with a compelling mix of pop, rock and hip-hop stylings, the album made #22 in the UK and #51 in the US, gaining her second straight gold certification. Pressed on striking transparent caramel vinyl with gold and silver splatters to complement the original aesthetic, this edition boasts painstakingly rebuilt artwork and a newly designed inner bag featuring full lyrics.

A strictly limitededition picture disc is also available. Samantha Fox is reissued alongside the 1986 debut album, Touch Me, and 1989’s I Wanna Have Some Fun

Der Pianist Louis Philippson begeistert seine Generation mit emotionalen und virtuosen Videos auf Social Media für die klassische Musik. Für sein Debütalbum "Exposition" verfolgt er die gleiche Idee und verbindet eigene Kompositionen mit neuen Arrangements bekannter Melodien klassischer Werke, sowie von Anime- und Pop-Songs. Selbstgeschriebene, epische Stücke wie "Supernova" und das groß-orchestrierte "C'est toi" stellt er seinen reduzierten Klavierminiaturen wie "Paulette", "Memories of Moldau" und "Dragon's Lullaby" gegenüber. Seine Eigenkompositionen ergänzt Louis Philippson durch frische, farbenfrohe Arrangements von Melodien aus verschiedenen Genres. Nach dem Motto von Duke Ellington, dass es "nur gute oder schlechte Musik" gibt, vereint er eine poetische Klavierversionen von "OMG" der K-Pop-Band NewJeans mit einer dynamischen Bearbeitung von Tschaikowskys Klavierkonzert, kreiert elegische Klavierversionen über Melodien aus Mahlers Symphonie der Tausend oder "In Trutina" aus Carl Orffs Carmina Burana, und spielt Puccinis "O mio babbino caro" begleitet von einem Cello. Auch Anime-Klassiker wie "A Town with an Ocean View" und "Lover's Oath" spielt er am Konzertflügel.Über sein Debüt-Album sagt Philippson: "Die Entstehung von 'Exposition' war eine unglaubliche Reise. Ich wollte ein Album schaffen, in dem ich alle Genres verbinden kann, die mich inspirieren. Es gibt so viele großartige Melodien, die man neu auf dem Klavier entdecken kann. Mein Ziel ist es meine Generation für die Schönheit der Klaviermusik auf neue Weise zu begeistern."Lange vor seiner TikTok-Karriere wurde Louis Philippson im Alter von sieben Jahren auf YouTube von seinem zukünftigen Klavierlehrer entdeckt, einem Professor an der Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf. Dort wurde er später Jungstudent und nahm an zahlreichen nationalen und internationalen Klavierwettbewerben teil, darunter der prestigeträchtige Bach-Wettbewerb, den er gewann. Während der Pandemie im Jahr 2022 startete Louis Philippson seinen TikTok-Kanal und begeistert seitdem die Gen Z mit Vlogs, Humor und eindrucksvollen Klavierdarbietungen. Seine Posts haben inzwischen über 750.000 Follower erreicht. Philippson hat bereits mit einer Vielzahl von Künstlern aus unterschiedlichen Genres zusammengearbeitet. Unter anderen dem Konzertpianisten Martin Stadtfeld, der Geigerin und Influencerin Esther Abrami sowie dem italienischen TikTok-Pianisten Gabriele Bagnati. Ein besonderes Highlight seiner Kooperationen war die Zusammenarbeit mit der Sängerin Teya Dora für eine akustische Version ihres weltweiten Top-50-Hits "Dzanum".

Especial welcomes new artist DJ 1985 to the label. As so often, the idea of pushing new music has been the raison d'etre of the past decade. An EP of a love for Acid, from the breaks anthem of the title We Trippin’ to exploring the ethereal and even mind-melting Ambient House and Balearic of how the Roland TB-303 has become a fundamental element in the history of electronic music.

Soviet born; Belgrade exile Stanislav Grishchuk is DJ 1985. A man of many monikers, came to House later, originally progressing from Breaks, Hardcore and onto Drum and Bass as DJ Saint Man, a Mixmaster in the truest sense, switching it up to include Ghetto House and Booty, DJing led to producing, finally seeing DJ 1985 emerged to encompass Acid, Bleep, Breakbeat, Chicago and beyond.

A DJ supreme from the old school – check his Boiler Room mix for live vinyl dexterity – his productions nod to Aphex Twin and the Rephlex / UK lineage, the Techno. Electro of masters Underground Resistance and Drexciya and on to Italo, Italian House and early 90s New Jersey and New York’s golden period and of course the masters Kraftwerk, all influence the sounds of this debut EP.

Starting as 808 and 909 Electro and Techno jams, all the tracks are recorded live, MPC, synth and drum machines, no computers involved. We Trippin’ is built around the “Think” break, with trippy 303 line, some 808, synths and off we go “we trippin”.

Dolphin and Sirens was inspired by the Boka Bay dolphins of Montenegro, near where the recording was made. A flotation bath of warm dreamy acid beats and aquatic found sound, fast, shifting breaks, the Adriatic Sea of Croatia and beyond beckoning.

Catland’s title is a nod to Stanislav’s love of all the feline, but the breaks’n’303 cut is an endlessly uplifting spark, celestial, a cosmic evolutionary odyssey.

DJ 1985 completes his debut EP with the aptly titled The Last One. Spherular, mysterious, this rise of spatial breaks is a reawakening of symbolic music that is touched by both East and West. Stanislav’s music intersects, trans-national, almost spiritual and psychedelic. Live jamming, more hearted, the snap electro percussion, dream-laden pads are twinned with an ethereal otherness via the endless possibilities of the TB-303.

03 See’s J Diggns return to his Hip Hop roots with the 01 - colour scheme signifying HIP HOP. As the world needs more Love right now on the A side. J remakes and blends the classic Skull snaps drum beat with melodic summer vibe bringing back a bush babee classic from 96. Mos Def..initely one for the Hip Hop lovers at 93 BPM. On the B Side. It’s a J Atomic Dawg - remix and revisiting the 96’ version - A Coolio remix to match the timeline of the A Side. - Because “till I die it’s still one nation under a groove” Mashing up classic samples and the OG atomic feel with twist into Dancehall. One for the dogs on the streets with hard hitting beats. If you have the other versions on 45 you are ready for the mega mix

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, two-time Grammy® Award-winning Hip-Hop icon, Kennedy Center Honoree, actor, author, NAACP Image Award winner, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder/CEO of Rock The Bells, LL COOL J continues his trailblazing career with upcoming album 'The FORCE'.

LL’s highly anticipated 14th studio album The FORCE (Frequencies of Real Creative Energy) set for release September 6th follows over a decade long hiatus. The record was executive produced by Hip-Hop innovator and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Q-Tip, of A Tribe Called Quest. With this album, LL will help celebrate the 40th anniversary of the creation of Def Jam Recordings. As LL was the label’s first release, there is no better way to represent the legacy of Def Jam Recordings on its 40th year

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, two-time Grammy® Award-winning Hip-Hop icon, Kennedy Center Honoree, actor, author, NAACP Image Award winner, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder and CEO of Rock The Bells, LL COOL J has created one of the most multifaceted careers and brands in entertainment and continues to display his wide range of talents with every project.

Four decades after he first burst onto the scene, LL COOL J continues his vibrant, trailblazing career. LL COOL J helped elevate the burgeoning rap and Hip-Hop scene of the 80’s, which developed into the musical and cultural phenomenon that is Hip-Hop as we know it today. Of LL’s many contributions to the culture, he also is credited with the creation of the acronym “G.O.A.T.” - short for “Greatest of All Time.”

First introduced to the world in 1984 as a Def Jam Recordings’ flagship artist, LL is the first rap artist to amass ten consecutive platinum-plus selling albums, including his critically-acclaimed debut album, RADIO, and the international, timeless anthem and album of the same name, MAMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT. LL’s hit singles include “Going Back to Cali,” “Doin’ It,” “Around the Way Girl,” “Loungin’”, “Headsprung,” and Hip-Hop’s first rap ballad “I Need Love.”

Up next, this fall LL is back to make his latest artistic contribution and continue to elevate Hip-Hop culture after over a decade long hiatus with the release of his highly anticipated new album, The FORCE (Frequencies of Real Creative Energy), executive produced by Hip-Hop innovator and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Q-Tip, of A Tribe Called Quest. With this album, LL will help celebrate the 40th anniversary of the creation of Def Jam Recordings.

In December 2017, LL became the first rapper to earn the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor, which is America’s highest achievement for any performer. In addition, he received his star on the world-renowned Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 21, 2016.
In March 2018, LL launched his own SiriusXM timeless Hip-Hop channel entitled “LL COOL J's Rock The Bells Radio,” garnering millions of daily listeners. The channel features a wide range of innovative and timeless Hip-Hop content, music, interviews, and in-depth retrospectives curated, programmed, and presented by the award-winning artist himself. Since founding the radio station, Rock The Bells has developed into a global platform that has become the preeminent voice for timeless Hip-Hop. Rock The Bells focuses on content, commerce and experiences that honor the CULTURE and the core elements of Hip-Hop – MCs, DJs, Breakers, Graffiti Artists – and more. Rock The Bells hosted its inaugural eponymous music festival in Queens, New York in August 2022, which sold out back-to-back years in 2022 and 2023, where LL headlined both festivals.

LL COOL J was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on October 30, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio for the 36th annual induction ceremony. Considered by most as the crowning achievement for one’s musical career, the ceremony was a celebration of LL’s lasting impact on Hip-Hop and the music industry.

In Summer 2023, LL COOL J, Rock The Bells, and Live Nation Urban kicked off his first arena tour in 30 years across North America called The F.O.R.C.E. Tour, inspired by the name of LL’s forthcoming album. Living up to the acronym for Frequencies of Real Creative Energy, the lineup for this tour was personally curated by LL COOL J. Building off their amazing performance together on the GRAMMY® Awards earlier that year celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop, all dates featured collaborative live performances with preeminent Award-winning Hip-Hop band The Roots, the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff, and DJ Z-Trip.

LL hosted the GRAMMY® Awards for an unprecedented five years in a row from 2012-2016, for which he earned rave reviews. In addition, he hosted and produced the GRAMMY® Nominations Concert Live Special for seven years and has also been a presenter at the Emmy®, Golden Globe® and SAG Awards. Most recently, at the end of 2023, LL helped produce CBS’ live concert special A GRAMMY Salute To 50 Years Of Hip-Hop, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award.

LL has always been an avid philanthropist involved in numerous causes, including literacy for kids as well as music and arts programs in schools. Founded in 2005, LL’s charity “Jump & Ball” – which takes place every August in his hometown of Queens, New York – aims to give back to his local community by offering an athletic and team building program dedicated to bringing wholesome fun to young people.

Between being a musician, actor, philanthropist and entrepreneur, LL COOL J is the ultimate multi-hyphenate whose career continues to expand and where he remains one of the most beloved and innovative brands in entertainment. He currently resides in both New York and Los Angeles.

Denmark"s leading outlet for jazz April Records presents their first debut of 2025 from a brand new quintet of some of the country"s most well known and respected young musicians - collectively called Oh People. Inspired by the works of Duke Ellington in the 20"s and combining them with sounds that came to life over half a Century later with a palpable sense of joy and love, "Part-Time Elegance" is set to release on January 17th on April Records. Exploring the idioms and tropes of the golden age of jazz, the record is built from deep pocket swing, lovesick ballads, percolating latin grooves, and upbeat melodies that can"t help but bring a smile to one"s face. With undertones of contentment and playfulness, each song evokes a sound and style of some of the 20th"s Century"s greatest jazz composers before evolving into passages of animated improvisation from Denmark"s finest new-generation soloists. Anyone who has been keeping up to date with Denmark"s prolific scene will recognize the members of "Oh People" from their solo projects and contributions to many of the nation"s leading jazz innovations. Jonas Due"s trumpet can be heard in the DR Big Band, and popular modern outfit OTOOTO. Andreas Toftemark cut his teeth working and learning as a musician in New York, before returning to Denmark to establish himself with two releases under his own name, receive the prestigious Bent Jædig Prize, and become one of the country"s busiest artists. Casper Christensen"s deep roots in the jazz tradition and Brazilian, coupled with the warm, acoustic sound of his guitar have seen him perform with the likes of Nana Rashid, Jesper Lodval and his own quartet. Lasse Morck has released three albums under his own name, drawing on South American musical traditions as well as literature and mythology. Henrik Holst has spent over a decade contributing his talents to Danish outfits like the Kathrine Windfeld Big Band and Jeppe Zacho Quintet, as well as international jazz legends Mike Stern, Gilad Hekselman and Immanuel Wilkins.

Gracie Abrams veröffentlicht am 21.06.24 ihr mit Spannung erwartetes zweites Album „The Secret Of Us“. Nach zwei gefeierten EPs war das letzte Album ”Good Riddance” (2023) das erste musikalische Statement in voller Länge – Gracies Definition von vertonter Poesie und intimem Pop - mit lebensnahen Texten und ganz viel Tiefgang. Wie auch schon der Vorgänger ist „The Secret Of Us“ wieder von Aaron Dessner (The National) produziert. Schon als Achtjährige zu ersten eigenen Songideen inspiriert, gab Gracie Abrams ihr erstes musikalisches Lebenszeichen Ende 2019 von sich. Für ihre ersten beiden EPs „Minor“ und „This Is What It Feels Like“ als Rising Star gefeiert, verzeichnen viele ihrer bisherigen Songs (u.a. „I miss you, I’m sorry“, „21“ und „Feels Like“) Streamingzahlen in zwei- bis dreistelliger Millionenhöhe. Für ihr letztes Album „Good Riddance“ wurde Gracie Abrams für einen Grammy in der Kategorie „Best New Artist“ nominiert. Zuletzt war Gracie Abrams als gefeierter Support Act auf einigen Taylor Swift Konzerten zu sehen.

Celebrate 30 years of "Children", the iconic track that redefined electronic music and captivated the world. This special edion vinyl is not just a tribute to Robert Miles’ masterpiece but a must-have collector’s item for music lovers. Pressed with exceptional audio quality and featuring an exclusive design, the vinyl includes remastered and rare versions that highlight the meless, dreamy melodies that topped charts in 18 countries and sold millions of copies worldwide.

Skeletal Family are: Anneka Latta - Vocals, Stan Greenwood - Guitars, Roger "Trotwood" Nowell - Bass, Ian "Karl Heinz" Taylor - Keyboards / Saxophone, Adrian "Ozzy" Osadzenko - Drums and Percussion. Formed in 1982 with vocalist Anne Marie Hurst, their debut album 'Burning Oil' topped the National UK Indie Charts for three weeks in Autumn 1984 above other contemporary northern bands The Smiths and New Order. The band subsequently recorded seven BBC Radio One sessions for John Peel, Janice Long & Kid Jensen. They Signed to Chrysalis Records in 1986. Their discography includes the studio albums: 'Futile Combat', 'Sakura', 'Songs of Love Hope and Despair', 'Day of All Days'. The current line up came together in 2021, with the introduction of vocalist Anneka Latta with the band performing live at 'Wave Gotik Treffen' in Leipzig and 'Darker Waves Festival' in Huntington Beach, California as well as various dates in the UK and USA. Their latest album 'Light From The Dark' was recorded at Paul Weller's 'Black Barn' Studio and received critical acclaim already earlier this year.

I Will Find You” takes listeners on a journey through Mathame’s greatest inspiration, Franchino, who’s love for electronic music inspired not only the brothers, but the entire nation. As this track reveals itself, the duo’s devotion to creating meaningful music that is deeply rooted in their own influences reverberates throughout as they translate its gripping sonic identity through their own, distinct lens.

Throughout their career, Mathame (brothers Matteo and Amedeo Giovanelli), have been elevating fans to new heights through their sophisticated compositions that infuse cinematic soundscapes with ethereal energies and raw, real emotions that command movement. While Franchino’s version of this track was originally introduced in 1993 and influenced some legends of the italian progressive techno pioneer scene such as Ricky Le Roi and Mauro Picotto, the Mathame record is actually a rework of Clannad’s theme song from the soundtrack of the 1992 film “The Last of Mohicans”, which the duo first incorporated into performances during their 2019 Cercle set in Mexico City.

“I Will Find You” has since become an anthemic and defining element of Mathame's performances, inclusive of the duo’s 2023/2024 world tour, and has already garnered critical acclaim. The release of “I Will Find You” carries a special endorsement from its original composers, Clannad. The Grammy and BAFTA award-winning band has expressed their delight in seeing their music embraced and reinterpreted by not only new generations, but new genres, as the duo breathe new life into the track's legacy.

From the solitude of volcanic Mount Etna to stages around the world, Italian DJ and producer duo Mathame connect audiences around the globe through transportive music that transcends genres, generations and dimensions. More than another DJ duo, Mathame are sonic alchemists whose productions unfold as poignant odysseys that blur the lines between reverie and reality. Defying convention through their sound, the brothers masterfully immerse listeners into the futuristic realms they conjure, pulsating with sensorial magic and ethereal energies that linger in the air akin to candles in a great cathedral. Their first LP, “MEMO” was a technically driven masterpiece, paving the way for colossal collaborations with global talents like Tiësto and John Summit and amassing over 6 Million streams on Spotify and support from the likes of industry authorities such as Forbes’ 15 Best Albums List of 2023.

The arrival of their solo record “I Will Find You” signals a return to their shared artistic vision and will be released in tandem with the announcement of the duo’s Ibiza Residency concept - NEO - at the beloved electronic temple, Amnesia. Born from an inspirational journey in Tokyo, Japan this past year, Mathame will introduce their most groundbreaking concept to date that masterfully blends the worlds of technology, artificial intelligence and their profound performances with a sense of mysticism that dances between what is seen and what is heard. The cinematic experience - complete with a setup, development and climax - will take place at Amnesia under the HORIZON framework from June 7 to July 5, and from September 13 to 27, with each chapter boasting an eclectic lineup of performances from the likes of The Blaze (DJ Set), Mind Against, NTO and more.

Zum ersten Mal alle großartigen Songs von Vladimir Cosma auf einer Doppel-Vinyl.

Darunter die berühmten 80er Jahre Titel "Dreams" und "Your Eyes". Vladimir Cosma (* 13. April 1940 in Bukarest) ist ein rumänisch-französischer Filmkomponist, Violinist und Dirigent. Vladimir Cosma wurde in eine Musikerfamilie geboren, sein Vater ist der Dirigent Teodor Cosma. Nachdem Vladimir Cosma am Bukarester Conservatorium den ersten Preis in den Fächern Violine und Komposition gewonnen hatte, setzte er sein Studium ab 1963 am Conservatoire national supérieur de musique in Paris fort, wo er mit Nadia Boulanger zusammenarbeitete. 1966 lernte er den Filmkomponisten Michel Legrand kennen, der sein Interesse für die Filmmusik weckte und für den er zunächst als Arrangeur arbeitete. 1967 begann seine langjährige Zusammenarbeit mit dem Regisseur Yves Robert, die bis zu dessen Tod im Jahr 2002 andauerte. Im Laufe seiner Karriere hat er eine Reihe von Regisseuren mehrmals die Filmmusik geschrieben, für Yves Robert (13 Filme), Pierre Richard (fünf Filme), Pascal Thomas (elf Filme), Claude Zidi (zehn Filme), Gérard Oury (fünf Filme), Édouard Molinaro (sechs Filme), Claude Pinoteau (sieben Filme) oder Francis Veber (sieben Filme). Er vertonte außerdem drei Filme von Louis de Funès und zwei von Jean-Paul Belmondo.

The National veröffentlichen mit "Rome" am 13. Dezember ein komplettes Live-Album mit 21 Tracks auf Doppel-Vinyl, als Doppel-CD und natürlich digital. Das Konzert wurde am 3. Juni 2024 in Italien live (ohne Overdubs) aufgenommen wurde. Das Doppelalbum, welches von Peter Katis, einem langjährigen Begleiter der Band, abgemischt wurde, spannt einen Bogen über die mehr als 20 Jahre der Karriere von The National und zeigt, wie jeder Song auf der Bühne sein ganz eigenes und neues Leben entfaltet hat. Man muss diese Band live gesehen haben, die mittlerweile Stadien und große Arenen füllt. Warum das so ist, hört man auf "Rome". Aufgenommen in dem architektonisch beeindruckenden und nach dem berühmten italienischen Filmkomponisten benannten Veranstaltungsort "Parco Della Musica Ennio Morricone", zeigt die 21-Track-LP schillernde Versionen großer Songs wie "Bloodbuzz Ohio", "Don"t Swallow the Cap", "I Need My Girl", "The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness", "England" und "Fake Empire" - so wie Live-Interpretationen neuerer Tracks wie "Eucalyptus", "New Order T-Shirt", "Tropic Morning News" und "Smoke Detector". Die Band ändert ihre Setlist von Abend zu Abend, spielt Klassiker aus zwei Jahrzehnten und kombiniert diese mit Tracks aus den letzten Alben - kein Konzert ist wie das andere und beschert den Zuschauern jedes Mal im wahrsten Sinne ein einzigartiges Erlebnis. "Rome" ist geprägt von Raritäten wie dem Show-Opener "Runaway", "Lemonworld", "The Geese of Beverly Road", "Lit Up" und einer Tour-de-Force-Paarung von "Humiliation" vom von der Kritik gefeierten Album "Trouble Will Find Me" mit "Murder Me Rachael" von dem früheren Album "Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers". Als Zugabe gibt es in Rom die Wahlkampfhymne "Mr. November", "Terrible Love" von High Violet und das abschließende Fan-Singalong "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks". In ihrer Live-Kritik bezeichnete der Guardian The National als "eine die Ära definierende Band auf dem Höhepunkt ihrer Kräfte... als dieses atemberaubende zweieinhalbstündige Epos zu einer gemeinschaftlichen Katharsis wird". Auch der Rolling Stone UK schrieb: "Es ist klar, dass die Band...ihren Platz an der Spitze seit einem Jahrzehnt verdient hat.... Eine Show, die einfach euphorisch ist und die Band auf einem neuen Höhepunkt sieht." Das Doppel-Livealbum "Rome" ist das Zeugnis dafür.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Member Little Richard is a musical institution. The Architect Of Rock ’n’ Roll’s 1970 return. Pressed on opaque pink vinyl. Mastered by Grammy®-winning engineer Michael Graves. Lacquers cut by Jeff Powell at Take Out Vinyl/Sam Phillips Recording Service in Memphis. Packaging contains liner notes from Bill Dahl. Some successful recording artists are lucky to enjoy a lengthy career and perhaps one successful comeback after their popularity wanes over time. Rock ’n’ roll pioneer and absolute legend, Little Richard, achieved several. In the ’50s he racked up a non-stop string of smashes for Specialty Records with producer Bumps Blackwell like the blistering cuts, “Tutti Frutti,” “Long Tall Sally,” and “Rip It Up.” The Georgia Peach was deemed too uninhibited and unpredictable for TV variety shows to present to the nation, but the records were undeniable hits. He was clearly, an artist far ahead of the culture and times. Little Richard returned in 1970 with The Rill Thing and instead of sticking around his adopted home of Los Angeles, Richard set out for Rick Hall’s FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama to record the album for Reprise, joined by Bumps, who was now his manager. The opening track, “Freedom Blues,” was released in April of 1970 and hit #28 on the charts. The second cut, “Greenwood Mississippi,” was also released as a single in August and also made a Billboard appearance. The marathon title track (running a whopping 10 minutes and 20 seconds) was an intense funk jam that was captured in one take. The album also featured covers of tunes by The Beatles and Hank Williams—it was a different sound by far than the savagely rocking attack he’d ridden to fame like a rocket at Specialty close to a decade and- a-half earlier, but it was every bit as effective. The Rill Thing bore the slogan “The Little Richard Sound” on its labels. “He was at his peak with his vocals on there,” says guitarist Travis Wammack admiringly. “He was just singing his booty off!” The Rill Thing is back as a 12" long player, and pressed on opaque pink vinyl with a printed inner sleeve that includes liner notes by Bill Dahl.

Transversales Disques proudly presents Thelonious Monk / Live in Paris (1966).
LOST ORTF RECORDINGS. A unique pianist and composer, Thelonious Monk (1917-1982) is one of the greatest jazz legends of all time. Thelonious is surrounded by his legendary quartet featuring Charlie Rouse (saxophone ténor), Larry Gales (bass),and Ben Riley (drum).
First ever official release of this lost ORTF recording performed live in Paris at Studio 104, Maison de la Radio.Release with the full permission and cooperation of the National Audiovisual Institute (INA).
Deluxe Tip-On Jacket / Exclusive Liner notes

The Norwegian indie-pop super-group with members from Making Marks, The Little Hands of Asphalt, Mildfire, Flight Mode and Elva return with a third album of original Christmas songs.

Get into that alternative, Nordic Christmas spirit! Christmas III at its heart is an alt-Christmas album: the songs are firmly rooted in December’s festivities, albeit not usually relying on the season’s traditional reference points. The songs hone in on the more ambivalent sides of Christmas - family, customs and the passing of time - with a keen eye towards the holidays’ most obvious function in countries close to the Artic circle: getting through the cold and dark times to celebrate the winter solstice and the turning of the sun. Drawing from Sufjan Stevens’ epic indie Christmas compendium and Phil Spector’s wall of sound classic A Christmas Gift From You, Christmas III is built on shimmering guitars, snow filled piano lines, gentle strings, springy vocals and dynamic drums - all steadily conducted by Sunturns’ own Sjur Lyseid (Flight Mode, The Little Hands of Asphalt) in the producer’s seat at his Globus studio in Oslo. With 3 songwriters (Ola Innset, Einar Stray & Sjur Lyseid) contributing to Christmas III, there’s an ever shifting sense of reflections. Parenthood and the struggles of the dark Norwegian winter is behind Ola’s track First Winter. “Sometimes I feel bad about bringing children into such a difficult world. Not so much with respect to daylight and the seasons, they’re just going to have to learn how to live with it, but with many other things – like war, poverty, climate change and even just death.” Back In Town might have been inspired by a discussion over whether Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back In Town” is a Christmas song or not, but it’s written about his youngest daughter Klara, to his elder daughter, about taking holidays with your family in a town you once lived. Einar pulls in Phoenix and Mew by the way of Jesus and Mary Chain on Crash Course Christmas, resulting in a seasick wave of a pop tune. “It’s a song about the guilt of not prioritizing your relationships. It’s been year of rainchecks and Christmas finally gives you some time to reflect. You’ve experienced so much and changed so much as a person that you almost forget your origins. Coming home for Christmas can then be a ritual of finding your way back to what you left behind." Drawing on the knitwear from the film Love, Actually, Turtle Neck, taps into the Backstreet Boys by way of Mac Demarco, with a sneaky reference to the legendary Norwegian Christmas hit En Stjerne Skinner I Natt. Album closer This Christmas / Next Christmas leans in on the hook for the Norwegian Christmas TV show Jul i Blåfjell, a multi-generational seasonal staple (essentially a daily children’s advent calendar kids show). “The song is about your parents ageing and needing your help – possibly really far away - while at the same time having your own children to take care of”. The cover artwork is a homage to Christmas dress codes for Norwegian men. Suits and shirts are a rarity in day to day life, but there are a handful of occasions that require some form of formal attempt at a suit: New Year’s Eve, National Day, weddings & funerals, and Christmas Eve: resulting in various degrees of sartorial elegance on the day (and on this instance, a hot summer’s day stifling the Christmas vibes, with ambiguous apparel instructions ahead of the photoshoot!).

Merry Christmas! Sunturns are Ola Innset – vocals, guitars, banjo. Sjur Lyseid – vocals, guitars. Einar Stray – vocals, keyboards, guitars. Eivind Almhjell – guitars, bass. Simen Herning – guitar. Jørgen Nordby – drums.