quête:m a beat!

Album was made in two version (with two different covers). Classic black vinyl and limited (hand numbered 100 copies) with color vinyl. Both versions has 180g vinyl records.

Himalaya Collective is probably the biggest crew of beatmakers in Poland (more than 30 official members). Collaborations are the theme of this third album for U Know Me Records, resulting in a multi-genre album that showcases Himalaya Collective's strength in all its glory.

"After two years since "Latawce", we are back with our third vinyl album released by U Know Me Records. We have been working on a unique, fully collaborative project for over a year. Each track is a result of cooperation - without restrictions on the choice of artists and collaborators.

The idea was simple: each member of the collective was to enrich their track with the vision of another person. They could be producers, vocalists, instrumentalists - both from within the collective and from further corners of the world. This is how a network of artistic connections was created, which reflects the way in which Himalaya Collective has been growing since 2016 - as a team united by passion, inspiring each other and involving other exceptional people in cooperation.

Thank you for your patience, see you again."

Sfere Luminose is a rare and breathtaking masterpiece that stands as a pinnacle of Italian Library music. Featuring the mesmerizing vocals of Nora Orlandi and the legendary jazz drumming of Franco Tonani, this album is an essential gem from the cult label Record TV - Firmamento, a name revered for iconic releases from the late 1960s to early 1970s. The album is produced by maestros Giancarlo Gazzani and Roby Poitevin, with contributions from the acclaimed studio group I Marc 4 and Alessandro Alessandroni.



This stunning work encapsulates the very essence of Italian Lounge music, offering a rich and diverse musical landscape. From cinematic soundscapes and Hammond organ-driven grooves to soft psychedelic arrangements, the album flows with impeccable soul-jazz and bossa nova influences, reminiscent of Piero Umiliani’s finest creations. The signature style of I Marc 4 shines through captivating drum work, while the enchanting interplay of scat vocals and choral harmonies adds a touch of ethereal beauty.



With its refined blend of jazz, lounge, and Morricone-esque beats, Sfere Luminose is an unmissable listening experience for aficionados of the genre. It's a collector's grail and a timeless treasure that captures the magic of Italy’s golden age of music, and we're proud to bring this back on vinyl, remastered from the original mono sessions, including 4 bonus tracks and artwork restoration by Luca Barcellona.

This super rare Gospel-Soul record, originally released on the short-lived US funk/disco label Cheri Records, sees its very first reissue since 1982. Original copies are almost impossible to get a hold of with only a limited number of first edition copies in circulation. Produced by the legendary Julius Brockington, this record comes packed with gritty beats and powerful harmonies. Now pressed on heavyweight colour edition vinyl.

Stefan Ringer brings his signature depth and smoky soul to another one of his crucial releases this time on FWM Entertainment. This limited 7" kicks off with 'Wanna Be Bad' which is a cut drenched in Detroit style. The warm pads rise out of the mix over crisp snares and a melodic bassline. It's melancholic and enchanting in equal measure. 'Got Me 123' then brings some roughshod drums and perc and chopped-up vocals to make for a perfect backroom beatdown. Do not sleep on this limited 7" from one of house music's most original artists.

Scala Muziek presents its second vinyl EP, Next Horizon, building on the success of the debut release. After a remarkable year of music and events, this EP embodies the spirit of exploration that defines Scala. Produced by label head Pascal Benjamin, the four tracks blend hypnotic grooves with forward-thinking soundscapes—each crafted to leave a lasting impression.

A1: Personallity opens the EP with minimalist, richly textured rhythms. Its bouncy, infectious groove and subtle shifts in bass and melody create a dynamic flow, making it perfect for both dancefloor energy and introspective moments. Pascal’s attention to detail shines through, balancing personal and expansive sounds. A2: Progress delves deeper into rolling rhythms and uplifting sonic layers, with ethereal synths floating above a driving beat. The track unfolds gradually, building momentum with a continuous, evolving motion. B1: On the flip: Shifting Grounds brings a sense of exploration, with gurgling synths and subtle modulations creating a cerebral yet physical experience. It's an atmospheric, groove-laden track perfect for late-night sessions. B2: Far From Clear closes the EP with a moody, introspective energy. Eerie vocal snippets and sharp minimalism weave together to create a haunting, mysterious atmosphere, rounding off the release with a deep dive into uncharted sonic territory. With Next Horizon, Scala Muziek offers a refined selection that showcases Pascal’s artistic growth and the label’s commitment to immersive, forward-thinking music.

Following his recent EP, The Circle of Life, on Pushmaster Discs, Milan's rising techno star Maike Depas returns with a brand-new release on his renowned The Innovation Studio Records. Titled “Sexy Devil Horse”, it is a powerful 10-track collection, featuring many iconic international artists from the Hard Techno space such as Etruria Beat’s headmaster Luca Agnelli, Dutch-based sensation OGUZ and the “Demon of hard techno” also known as Michael Katana, as well as Southern Italian talents CHRS and Gianni Di Bernardo.
This release marks a pivotal moment in Maike Depas’ journey to become one of the highest rated talents in the Hard Techno scene. It will also be followed by a key paradigm shift his label’s business model in 2025. For this occasion, Maike has lined up an amazing group of artists to celebrate those who have shared his musical vision along the way.

The title is meant to be provocative and captivating, just like its content: catchy and fresh enough to attract ravers and clubbers from around the world. Its artwork was created by the master Luden Works. It features a plastic female figure with an undefined appearance, yet with sensual curves and a powerful surge of energy, like a wave enclosed in a sphere, representing Maike’s and The Innovation Studio Records’ logos.
From the galloping rhythm of “Sexy Devil Horse” and “Hear The Sound” to the groovy and elegant “Ce Soir” there is an immediate feel about the artist’s singular touch and eclecticism. Same goes for the tangible contrasts which make a key element of this release, where the minimalistic mood of “StarKiller” and its maximalist counterpart “Dark Serenade” carry the listener through a full-spectrum emotional rollercoaster.
Hard Techno and Psy Trance vibes go hand in hand with ‘90s Trance and Rave echoes, creating a blend of recognisable and innovative samples that can resonate with many different types of audience and like-minded artists. This aspect is fundamental in the direction Maike and his team have decided to take.

It all comes from afar: starting with a classical musical background – playing the piano at Conservatory level for many years, including Berlin’s own Funkhaus. This theoretical and practical knowledge, mixed with a long-time passion for electronic music, made it easier for Maike to shape and cultivate his authentic sound since a very young age.

As part of its evolution, The Innovation Studio Records will officially open its doors to new talent and renowned artists starting in 2025. The team’s vision is to create an international reference point for quality and innovation, shaping a brand-new artistic movement based on combining the modern vision of our generation with our cultural heritage from the past, thanks to the team that we put together, both in terms of approach and technique.
It'll be a structure built from the ground up, combining the best of analogue technology in a modern workflow with the highest level of music hardware, audio monitoring and studio design. In their view, there are two types of productions: those that stay ‘inside the box’ and those that get into your heart.

The desire to unite instead of dividing, to join forces instead of competing, is the key to Maike’s success and a real drive to turn the studio lights on every single day. Despite playing a lot with dystopic, cyberpunk-like atmospheres throughout his artistic journey, music doesn’t feel like a means to escape reality for Maike. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

The definition Maike uses the most to describe what The Innovation Studio Records wants to become is “a mysterious display cabinet”: a place where an artists will never know what emotion will arise or what direction will be taken next. Although hard work, professionalism and common inspiration will ultimately still be its main fuel, a true sense of community and empathy will be crucial to shape the future Maike and his team have in mind for it.
In a very romantic way, the idea is to re-create the same atmosphere from the Italian Renaissance masters’ workshops. Places where different artists - with opposite backgrounds and styles - could all mingle and inspire each other, in order to foster the creation of something unique. A collective effort for a greater good.

About MAIKE DEPAS
Young hard techno DJ-producer Maike Depas (born Michelangelo De Pasquale) has seen the future of music and it’s called metaverse: “In the future it will blow up,” he predicts. “And it’s going to revolutionize the way we experience music.” Bowled over by Skrillex and Martin Garrix by the age of eight, and DJing at smaller Milan clubs by the time he was eleven, Depas went on to study composition and piano at the prestigious

Milan Conservatory before learning ‘life- changing” lessons from the best in the business at Catalyst’s 4-week Advanced Sound Design course in Berlin’s Funkhaus . His production gets inspired by huge 90s trance synths as much as pounding hard techno from artists such as Kobosil, In Verruf and Amelie Lens.
2024 marked the launch of MAIKE DEPAS 2.0, a tectonic audio-visual shift that entails a wide array of content from DJ sets livestreamed from Berlin’s Teufelsberg and other dystopic locations around Europe to cyberpunk-inspired outfits designed by Demobaza, a cyberpunk-inspired casual couture brand best known for their sustainable Dune X Demobaza collection. Over the course of a developing metamorphosis from a flesh-and-bone individual to a mysterious CGI character, Depas is another step closer to revolutionize the dance music scene through the metaverse.

Amsterdam Bound East countries kind of Tribe.
In the DSP a bit also ?
Quiet close from the spiral tribe old records in a sense too...

Bassy and mental , soundmorphing evolutions, no vocal samples... Sound. Sound and Beats... A night cruiser !

Notice a Locked Groove end of A side :)

10 Jahres-Jubiläums-Edition von ODESZA’s wegweisendem Album ‘In Return’ welches erstmals im September 2014 erschien und die beiden Gold-Status Singles ’Say My Name’ & ’Sun Models’ sowie Klassiker wie ‘All We Need’ enthält. Das Gelb-Rot marmorierte 2LP Reissue enthält mehrere Tracks, die erstmals auf Vinyl veröffentlicht werden wie z.B. Remixes von RÜFÜS DU SOL, Hayden James, ILLENIUM, Lane 8 und Beat Connection.

Format: Gelb-rot marmoriertes Doppelvinyl (140g) im Gatefold mit farbigem Bellyband.

Marysia Osu’s debut album, “harp, beats & dreams,” is a captivating journey of self-exploration and emotional expression, blending classical harp with innovative electronic production. A graduate of Brownswood’s ‘Bubblers’ academy and a key member of Levitation Orchestra, Marysia brings a unique background, including a classical music degree from Trinity Laban. The album, entirely homemade, captures intimate moments and raw emotions, featuring notable tracks like “seatime,” which celebrates self-acceptance, and “memento mori,” inspired by stoic philosophy. Collaborations with artists such as Emma Barnaby (cello), YUIS (flute), and Plumm (clarinet) enrich the project, which reflects Marysia’s classical training infused with modern experimental sounds. The album offers an absorbing and elevating listening experience, perfect for those seeking a peaceful, calming sonic sanctuary in an uncertain world

After the hit making debut EP from Harri Pierson sold out in under a week, he returns with the modestly titled 'The Most Balearic Record In The World'.

The international jet-set raconteur lands on the mythical White Isle with such bravado he must have the "Grandi Palle !!" and it is testifiable that Harri is not without merit.

The song comes in vocal and cheeky instrumental version for the truly adventurous. A simple 80's break beat, claps, groovy bass and then the magic begins. The lyrics are what you make of them. Tongue firmly in cheek.

All is forgiven though when the record is so catchy and cool. You can feel the sand under your toes, the sound of the waves calling, the blue, blue sky overhead.

You and me...and her?

Stretch and Enjoy returns to the AKO Arcade Series with two soulful jungle grooves.

Share your dub is a groove that rolls and then the amen drops with edits and deep subs but doesn't lose that soulful element and keeps moving on the dance floor.

Hold On is a soulful jungle banger that just rolls and rolls which takes you on a journey with sweet vocals, melodic pads, rolling breaks, and deep bass lines. One for the movers and groovers.

Black Truffle is back with a delicious new EP, "Gourmet Edits", which takes you on a four-course adventure through the vintage disco territory, blending Jazz-Funk and Latin elements.
Black Truffle's distinctive style is characterised by skilful reinterpretations of hidden treasures from the 70's with a passionate focus on preserving the essence of the original material...

'Disco Meringue' is a crispy piano-driven appetiser with Latin flavour. Its syncopated piano riffs imbue it with a jazzy vibe that makes it a great tool to seamlessly transition between disco, Latin, and modern deep house in your set.

'Drum Tartar' is a percussive tour de force that oscillates between groovy Jazz-Funk and spicy Bossa-Nova, culminating in a thundering drum break that continues for an impressive third of the track.
'Consomme' is the EP's bread and butter for the dance floor layering pulsing percussion, wailing organ riffs, crunchy guitars, curious vocoders and many sax and organ solos that keep on taking it higher and higher resulting in a sizzling high-energy banger.
For dessert, we have 'Souffle', a fluffy big-band Jazz number with a funky Disco beat that gradually develops into an ecstatic culmination with a choir.

In making his long awaited return to Periodica, Milord steps away from the mysterious electro and new age mysticisms of past releases, and instead delivers the freaked out boogie funk free-for-alls brain-bending disco dubs, and summertime pop perfections of ‘Party Line’.

The club mix is an extended excursion through hypnotizing and ever-evolving club psychedelia, with wild phonecal detritus accenting a riffing and body-rocking banger led by svelte lyricisms, energized chants, and future gazing vocoder treatments. Elsewhere, the dub is a building body bomb of Afro-tribal grooves techno bass, echoing cascades of drum fx, and pianos soaked in interstellar aether. And for the ultra infectious radio mix, touches of Kraftwerk meet sunshine pop jam band as a molten bubblegum bass guitar bounces on an earworm drum groove, while all around, vocals soar and six-strings jangle through solar-soaked licks.

Remastered Re-issue!

Marvin Dash, Germany's best kept House Music secret. Real House Music headz have been following his versatile productions between Detroit House and Minimal Techno since the mid 90's. Back then many didn't know Marvin is really Ronald Reuter, hailing from the middle of Germany, Thuringia.

About 30 years ago Ronald and his buddy Jens Kuhn aka Lowtec teamed up for music production on their own terms in the vibrant House, Techno scene of East Germany. This scene was pure DIY: Parties somewhere out in the country, heartfelt, down-to-earth people and raw underground tunes from analogue machines. Their productions were way ahead of their times, but found a cult following by and by...

There's many great Marvin Dash records, but his main piece of work remains „Model Turned programmer“ on C-Rock's Stir15. Deep as hell, iconic soundscapes, 100% pure!

Bloody banger with some Hardtek/Freetekno very Hardfloor tunes...
The Khenda B1 is a future classic for sure !

The Holiday Album That Turned Mariah Carey into the Queen of Christmas: Featuring the Standard “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” the Singer’s Blockbuster Merry Christmas Exudes Joy, Spirituality, and Conviction
Sourced from the Original Master Tapes, Presented in Audiophile Sound for the First Time, and Strictly Limited to 3,000 Numbered Copies:

Mobile Fidelity’s UltraDisc One-Step 180g 33RPM LP Set Plays with Superb Detail, Openness, and Definition
1/2" / 30 IPS / Dolby SR analogue master to DSD 256 to analogue console to lathe

Mariah Carey didn’t become the Queen of Christmas just because of her fervent love of the holiday. Or as the result of a brilliant marketing plan. The iconic singer earned her title by way of her blockbuster Merry Christmas, a 1994 album that quickly joined the likes of Bing Crosby’s White Christmas, A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole’s The Christmas Song as an all-time holiday vocal classic. Featuring a balanced mix of inspired originals and well-chosen covers, Carey’s fourth studio record has only grown in stature as new generations discover its magic. Mobile Fidelity’s 30th anniversary edition reissue of Merry Christmas makes her spellbinding performances and upper-tier register come alive like never before.

Sourced from the original master tapes, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing, and strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies, the pioneering label’s UltraDisc One-Step 180g 33RPM LP set of Merry Christmas plays with superb detail, depth, and dimensionality. Available in audiophile quality for the first time since its original release three decades ago, and featuring the bonus track “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” the nine-times-platinum set breathes with a newfound openness and transparency that enhance the spirituality, passion, and festive tenor of Carey’s singing.

Benefitting from superb groove definition, a nearly inaudible noise floor, and dead-quiet vinyl surfaces, the music takes on a heightened energy and anticipatory emotion synonymous with the holiday season. Carey’s signature vocals explode with liveliness and dynamics, the full scope of her acrobatic range presented in clear, transparent sound that practically places her on a small stage in your listening room. This collectible version also breathes with the kind of warmth, intimacy, and coziness you want from a landmark vocal album.

Recorded when Carey helped put “diva” back into everyone’s vocabulary, Merry Christmas gave the New York native another smash right out of the box. What nobody knew at the time was the degree of the album’s staying power — and how, many years removed from its initial promotion cycle, its legend would still grow and even spark a 2010 sequel. Having re-entered the Top 200 charts every year since 2019, Merry Christmas ranks as one of the three most commercially successful holiday LPs ever made and, in due time, will likely earn the top distinction in that class. A global blockbuster, it seamlessly ties together Christian, gospel, and secular threads and speaks to a boundless audience, independent of denomination.

Most obviously, the record remains inescapably connected to “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” an uptempo anthem that towers as a holiday standard and one of the biggest-selling singles in history. Punctuated with celesta chimes, sleigh bells, springy keyboards, and joyous beats, the song echoes the simple albeit engaging melodies and doo-wop style of beloved holiday classics of yore — and blends such elements with contagious dance-pop rhythms to create an atmosphere rich in joy, wonder, and excitement. Radiant with golden soulfulness and sincere conviction, Carey’s exuberant singing and on-point phrasing put it all over the top. And how.

The song stands as the only effort in Billboard history to top the Hot 100 chart during at least three separate runs. Carey’s blockbuster has already hit No. 1 during five runs, spanning every year between 2019 and 2024. That’s just one of the many records the singer holds — and only one of the multiple highlights from Merry Christmas, which includes two other Carey-penned originals, “Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)” and “Jesus Born on This Day.”

Though slightly lesser known, Carey’s remarkable rendition of Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” further links her album with the big, lush, Wall of Sound heritage that helped inspire its production. Carey’s heartfelt take and transformation of the traditional “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” into an animated tune that even adults can believe, as well as her clairon reading of “Joy to the World” — cleverly augmented with bits of Three Dog Night’s 1971 hit of the same name — further reinforce her status as Queen of Christmas.

At the peak of her powers, Carey finds equivalent success when tapping more spiritual veins. Witness the reverence she brings to the timeless carol “Silent Night,” the piousness she invests in “Jesus Oh What a Wonderful Child,” and the sacred feeling she conveys throughout “O Holy Night.” You’ll also never think of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “Gloria (In Excelsis Deo)” the same way again after hearing Mimi pour her heart and soul into them, and pair the songs together.

Indeed, it’s Carey’s pliable voice, melismatic technique, and five-octave range — on display here in definitive fashion — coupled with her undeniable love for Christmas and understanding of the religious significance of the season that make Merry Christmas a must-have holiday staple. And on Mobile Fidelity’s LP, something you better add to your wish list.

Da Beatminerz defined the dark, gritty sound of underground Hip-Hop in the '90s. Formed in 1992 by brothers Walter “Mr. Walt” and Ewart “DJ Evil Dee” Dewgarde, the production duo pioneered Hip-Hop's brooding vibes, a tonal shift that came with the release of Black Moon's classic debut album Enta Da Stage. As producers of the seminal 1993 project in its entirety, Da Beatminerz set a precedent for hardcore Hip-Hop.

Their sample-heavy, gutter tracks laced with heavy basslines, and hard kicks and snares helped reshape the music genre. Da Beatminerz continued to refine their distinct sound and identity with countless classic records for other artists and two albums of their own (2001’s Brace 4 Impak and 2004’s Fully Loaded w/ Statik) over the course of their illustrious 30-year career.

Stifled Creativity is the duo’s first full-length album in 20 years.

“We started working on this album in 2009... We had one focus and the focus was to stick to our core sound. We just wanted to bring back our traditional way of attempting a classic album. Everybody has their own type of hip hop that they love. Well, this is ours.” - Mr. Walt













m Adore HER (feat. Keith Murray)



q It’s All 4 U [REPRISE] (feat. Halley Hiatt & AZ)













[m] Adore [HER] (feat. Keith Murray)



[q] It’s All 4 U [REPRISE] (feat. Halley Hiatt & AZ)













[m] Adore [HER] (feat. Keith Murray)



[q] It’s All 4 U [REPRISE] (feat. Halley Hiatt & AZ)

Music To Varnish Owls By. Does Geoff Bastow have a claim for the best album title of all time? It's certainly up there. It's also one of the hardest to find library funk records. But don't let the eye-catching name fool you into thinking this isn't serious business.

As a key member of Giorgio Moroder's team, the legendary Geoff Bastow shouldn't need any introduction. You'll be familiar with his singular brilliance as the brains behind the much-sampled boogie/disco classics "You Don't Like My Music (Hupendi Muziki Wangu?!)" and "Don't Stop", released by his group, K.I.D.

But 1975's Music To Varnish Owls By is where it all began for our hero.

It's packed with incredibly soulful, soothing music that - despite being utilised a few times by Knxwledge - remains still largely un-mined. So, beat-makers, get cracking. And instead of that hyper-rare original, spend that £300 on something else.

Born in 1949, Bastow was a Munich-based English songwriter and record producer. Originally working as a guitarist and pianist in dance bands around his home county of Yorkshire, he moved to London in the early 1970s and then Munich in around 1976. He was one of the main architects of the Munich disco sound of electronic innovator Giorgio Moroder and also released heaps of killer library records for legendary labels like Bruton (with brother Trevor), Impress, JW Music Library and the Munich-based Sonoton between the 1970s-2000s. Bastow died tragically young, in Berlin, Germany on 16 March 2007, at the age of just 57. But he left behind a truly incredible electronic music legacy. He deserves to be much better known and this reissue should bring him to a fair few more ears. Let's see why...

Light-hearted opener "The Rough With The Smooth" contains a killer open drum break and is basically guitar-drenched flute-laced piano-funk. However, the first genuine highlight, "Beautiful People", is just majestic. Reflective, pastoral and silky smooth - as the title suggests, it's just straight beautiful; a chiming, deeply soulful instrumental that has to be heard to be believed. Sampled by Knxwledge but nobody else of note, which is crazy. Slo-mo soul beat "Tumbleweed" is another stone cold track just desperate to be laced by a skilled MC. Laconic, lysergic funk with nostalgic overtones, the guitar is prominent but the flute and glock really elevate it to perfection.

"Bits And Bats" is clav-enhanced Blaxploitation-esque street-funk with tough bass and crunchy drums that, despite its hardness, manages to flirt with breeziness. All in all, sumptuous, pounding wah-wah brilliance. Another huge one, up next. The insistent piano-funk head-nodder "A Change Of Pace" is a total sleuth-funk jammer, with a wonderfully soft snare and more hypnotic, melancholic flute lines. Man, we'd love to hear Alchemist chop this up. It even sounds a bit like Bastow was keeping things thoro with this one. Closing out Side A, the bright and breezy Bossa of "Janelle" makes it a perfect run of six untouchable gems. As elegant as it is sleazy, it sounds like it could've been on the classic KPM greensleeve, Piano Viberations.

Side B opens with the Ramsey Lewis-inspired "Time And A Half", a deceptively simple bass, drums and piano workout, decorated with stylish percussion with some great chord changes and hints of drama via a great bass solo. The heavy "Supersplash" is a doped-out drama suite with fuzzy wah-wah guitars, electric piano and glock. "Fillet Of Soul" is a catchy wah-wah propelled shuffle with piano and vibes, super dynamic but also incredibly chill.

"Well Above Average" is exactly that, a funky instrumental that serves as a straight ahead guitar-soul workout. Oozing bass-driven class, it gets better with every listen. Some open drums for your delectation, too. The fuzzy clav-and-vibes funk of "The Clan" - also understandably sampled by Knxwledge - is a monster head-nod slow jam whilst, seeing us out, the uber-relaxed "Sing Song" rounds things off in bright fashion with its slow but insistent clav, electric piano and glock greatness. Swoon.

As ever, the audio for Music To Varnish Owls By has been carefully remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, ensuring it sounds better than ever. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at Record Industry in Holland. The original, iconic sleeve has been restored here at Be With HQ as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue.

Rafael Cohen’s Spanish-language solo project Las Palabras gives the D.C. punk scene veteran and member of dance-rock group !!! (Chk Chk Chk), the words to reveal himself as a Latin alternative artist and what he calls “a cautious believer”. Fe, Faith his second Las Palabras album, and first on the Barcelona label La Castanya, “deals with what it means to have faith, what it means to have doubts, and what it means to stay open to the idea that something untouchable and unknowable may exist”.
Written and produced by Cohen in his home studio in Brooklyn and mixed by Black Pumas guitarist Adrian Quesada, Fe builds on nylon-string guitar and electric bass with live drums and synthesizers in songs that embrace elements of 70s Brazilian funk and an amalgam of beats from hip hop to bachata, interspersed with contemplative ballads on which Cohen’s voice and guitar can be quiet enough to hear the rumble of a bus going by in the background.
“Fe” is colored by musical influences that include those Brazilian grooves, but also shades of Sade, Sounds of Blackness and eighties electro funk group Zapp. The arrangements spotlight the rhythm section, with drums played by Chris Egan (!!!, Solange, Blood Orange) and featuring Alberto Lopez (LCD Soundsystem, Stanley Clarke) on percussion. Cohen credits Adrian Quesada for the album’s warm, worn-in tone: “He made the beats sound a lot bigger and gave it an ’80s hip hop feel. He really understood the references and brought his background in Latin music to it”

Rafael Cohen’s Spanish-language solo project Las Palabras gives the D.C. punk scene veteran and member of dance-rock group !!! (Chk Chk Chk), the words to reveal himself as a Latin alternative artist and what he calls “a cautious believer”. Fe, Faith his second Las Palabras album, and first on the Barcelona label La Castanya, “deals with what it means to have faith, what it means to have doubts, and what it means to stay open to the idea that something untouchable and unknowable may exist”.
Written and produced by Cohen in his home studio in Brooklyn and mixed by Black Pumas guitarist Adrian Quesada, Fe builds on nylon-string guitar and electric bass with live drums and synthesizers in songs that embrace elements of 70s Brazilian funk and an amalgam of beats from hip hop to bachata, interspersed with contemplative ballads on which Cohen’s voice and guitar can be quiet enough to hear the rumble of a bus going by in the background.
“Fe” is colored by musical influences that include those Brazilian grooves, but also shades of Sade, Sounds of Blackness and eighties electro funk group Zapp. The arrangements spotlight the rhythm section, with drums played by Chris Egan (!!!, Solange, Blood Orange) and featuring Alberto Lopez (LCD Soundsystem, Stanley Clarke) on percussion. Cohen credits Adrian Quesada for the album’s warm, worn-in tone: “He made the beats sound a lot bigger and gave it an ’80s hip hop feel. He really understood the references and brought his background in Latin music to it”

Following a four-year hiatus from solo releases, the British musician Matt Karmil returns with the soft-focus gentle beauty and subtly stealthy beats of new LP, ‘No Going Back’.

With inspired moments of creation happening incrementally, the album came together amidst a busy mixing/remixing/ mastering/co-production schedule. Artists who’ve enlisted his^multiple skills includes Bicep, Underworld, Mall Grab, Jayda G, DJ Koze, Neneh Cherry, Sofia Kourtesis, DJ Fett Burger, Matias Aguayo and Carmen Villain.

Feeling the benefits of this new approach, ‘No Going Back’ is the strongest expression of Matt's artistic vision to date, honing the spectrum of styles for which he’s renowned, all smudged together by a warm, gauzy haze. The microhouse anthem ‘SFP’ is followed by the broken tech science of ‘No Going Back’, the spectral dub techno spookiness of ‘Old Haunts’ and the sublime misty shimmer of ‘The Last Time’.

Further switching things up is the oddball dancefloor experimentalism of ‘Still Something There,’ the washed-out electroid balm of ‘Things Really Happen’, and the epic dark ambient closer ’15 mins’.

In the Summer of 2024, J Rawls released his first House Music album. Now get ready for the REMIXES! The A Side features remixes to a couple of fan favorites from the album BUMP THE FLOOR. Tall Black Guy remixes Alone (Tall Black Guy’s Limit Being Alone Remix) giving it his signature blend of soul and house! Song two, Yappo, is remixed by the eclectic Detroit beat smith, Blair French, whose ambient style compliments the EP. On side B, we have a couple of unreleased gems from J Rawls. The first is an extended cut of EFE in which Rawls has a little bit of fun adding on to one of his favorites on the album! The last song is a Rawls edit of the classic song Private World by Side Effect.

The Confidence of Knowing by Talib Kweli and J Rawls offers a quintessential hip-hop experience that honors the genre’s classic roots. This album marks the duo’s first collaboration since Rawls produced “Brown Skin Lady” on the influential Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Blackstar album, a hip-hop landmark from 25 years ago.

With this release, Kweli and Rawls showcase their artistic growth and maturity, blending masterful lyrics with authentic boom-bap beats to take listeners on a journey through hip-hop’s soul. Tracks like the introspective “Breath, Eyes, Memory,” the nostalgic “Turnstyle,” and the homage to the Native Tongues in “Native Sons” exemplify their dedication to preserving hip-hop’s essence.

Featuring an impressive lineup of guests—including Jimetta Rose, Blu, DJ Rhettmatic, TriState, Coast Contra, Buckshot, Skyzoo, Planet Asia, Phil Da Agony, IDK, Middle Child, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Diani, Solene, and NIKO IS—the album celebrates the depth and diversity of hip-hop culture.

Moka Only is a hip-hop legend with a career spanning nearly three decades. Hailing from Vancouver, he's renowned for his prolific output, introspective lyrics, and unique blend of melodic rap and thoughtful storytelling. His music explores themes of personal growth, societal issues, and introspective reflections, making him a respected voice in the hip-hop landscape.

Moka's highly anticipated new album, "Arbutus Canyon” is a deeply personal tribute to his formative years on Vancouver Island, the album is a sonic exploration of the region's landscapes, culture, and memories. Inspired by the iconic Arbutus tree and the Arbutus Canyon, a real geographic location near Victoria, the album is a rich tapestry of sounds and stories. Moka's signature beats evolve while remaining true to his established style, creating a seamless continuation of his previous work, "In and of Itself."

Throughout "Arbutus Canyon," listeners will encounter coded references to adventures and experiences on Vancouver Island, as well as cryptic elements that invite deeper exploration. The album features a variety of interludes, including the extended "Arbutus Intermission," providing a unique listening experience.

Well over a decade since their last collaborative LP, Philadelphia legend Freeway has once again teamed up with Seattle superproducer Jake One for their second full-length collaboration: “Stimulus Package 2”. Having been a key part of countless hit albums over the past 20 years, Jake One crafts timeless and versatile soundscapes that connect with both underground and mainstream hip hop audiences, and few sound more at home over his beats than Freeway. All-star guest appearances on the album include Black Thought, Jadakiss, Conway the Machine, Sauce Walks, Peedi Crack, Scholito, and Symba.

Conundrum Records proudly presents The Primitive Loops, a three-track EP from acclaimed Japanese techno producer Toru Ikemoto. Known for his uncompromising approach, Ikemoto delivers a set of stripped-down, functional tracks that dive deep into the darker, hypnotic side of techno. With throbbing low-end, urgent rhythms, and gritty textures, each track on this release embodies the signature Conundrum aesthetic.

Rounding out the EP, Southern California's own Lindsey Herbert reinterprets Don't Play 170 with her signature touch, layering vocals over a relentless beat that adds a fresh intensity to Ikemoto's original.

This album is a gritty yet sophisticated journey through life’s harsh realities and ultimate triumphs. Hailing from two vastly different worlds, Fashawn and Little Vic bring unique stories and sounds that blend the raw with the refined. Fashawn, raised amidst the gangs and struggles of Fresno, California, brings an unapologetic realism to his verses, detailing the roads that took him from survival to success. Meanwhile, Little Vic’s roots trace back to Long Island, New York, where he grew up with the influence of the Orena family’s notorious reputation. Known for his lyricism and mastery of the MPC, Vic’s production is the perfect companion to Fashawn’s storytelling, layering gritty boom bap beats with live instruments that add richness and texture.

The theme of the album is like a fine dining experience—a nod to elegance—while peeling back the layers to reveal the raw, often darker realities simmering behind the scenes. Little Vic’s production flexes between hard-hitting rhythms and delicate, soulful sounds, creating a soundscape that mirrors the rags-to-riches journey both artists represent.

Brought together on the East Coast by executive producer Ricky Grey, Fashawn and Little Vic spent an intense week creating this project, crafting a work that feels as alive and textured as the streets that shaped them. Each track is an experience, serving up an unfiltered taste of both struggle and success, designed to leave listeners both stirred and inspired.

Die schwedischen Rocker Devil's Cigarette präsentieren ihr Debütalbum 'I Wanna Be On TV'! Beeinflusst von Rock-Ikonen wie The Stooges, MC5, The Beatles, The Hives, The Soundtrack Of Our Lives und The Hellacopters, kreieren Devil's Cigarette eine einzigartige Mischung aus energiegeladenem, düsterem und rasantem Rock 'n' Roll.

Dieses Album ist ein "slow grower" und auch nach 10 Jahren klingt dieses dunkle Werk des New Yorker Duos noch frisch und berührend. Vor 10 Jahren kam das raus, nun legt das Label BB*ISLAND das lange vergriffene Vinyl in einer limitierten Sonderedition nochmal auf. Gepresst auf "Sparkling Starlight" Vinyl, verpackt in einem DeLuxe cover. Dazu gibt's ein gefaltetes Poster mit den Lyrics und eine Postkarte mit Downloadcode. Der Download beinhaltet neben den Albumtracks auch noch einen exklusiven 1-stündigen Interviewpodcast mit Shee Keeps Bees. She Keeps Bees, aus Booklyn, sind die Singer/Songwriterin/Gitarristin Jessica Larrabee und Schlagzeuger/Produzent Andy LaPlant, die seit 2006 über selbstproduzierte Aufnahmen und zahlreiche Konzerte zu einer besonderen Einheit zusammengewachsen sind. Ihr Ausgangspunkt war ein roher, soulful Bluesrock, in der Presse wurden Vergleiche zu Patty Smith, White Stripes (...in reverse" :Guardian), The Kills, PJ Harvey oder Cat Power gezogen. Die geben eine erste Ahnung wo's lang geht, hinken dann aber doch, ob der ganz eigenen Chemie und Qualität dieses Duos. Schönheit durch Reduktion, Direktheit, Leidenschaft, Intimität In diesem Sinne ist den beiden nun ein besonders eindringliches Album gelungen. Eight Houses schwelgt in der rohen Kraft des Subtilen. Ruhe und Raum finden sich hier auch im kontrollierten Chaos, wenn Larrabee's Gitarrenriffs krachen und über LaPlant's stoische Beats schwappen. Dann wieder sind Ihre Kompositionen knapp koloriert, mal mit hageren Piano Linien, mal mit ein paar Bläsern, die sich kurz aus dunstigen Ecken erheben, eine warm rollende Orgel wischt durchs Bild, ein Synthezier zirpt fern. Das Album lebt von Understatement und Spannung, dunkel, bewegend, kraftvoll, erlösend. Ganz im Mittelpunkt steht Jessica Larrabee's Stimme - lakonisch, von besonderem Ausdruck. "she has one of the best voices I have ever heard and she has more soul in one finger than most female singers have in our scene." meint Sharon Van Etten, die hier auch bei zwei Songs, "Is What It Is" und "Owl", backing vocals beisteuert. Für Eight Houses hat das Duo erstmals mit einem externen Produzenten zusammen gearbeitet, Nicolas Vernhes (Deerhunter, The War On Drugs, Dirty Projectors, Wye Oak, Lia Ices, etc.).

The sudden and unexpected passing of one of NYC’s cornerstone producers has inspired a double A Sided sophomore offering of the Tribute Series. This time, the A Side takes you down Player’s Lane with a memorable twist on this mafioso masterpiece. Those funky stabs instantly hit you alongside that kick ass beat to create yet another essential bit for DJs and collectors alike. The AA side beams you sky high, with a notorious blend of a true Big Apple classic. The smooth lead vocal runs effortlessly into the rhymes of Brooklyn’s finest and gives hip hop heads a real delight for their cases and bags. R.I.P

Jazz Funk duo Zaimie is poised to take the music scene by storm with the release of two highly anticipated remixes. The fresh reimaginings of Zaimie's hit tracks—“Smash N Grab,” remixed by the talented Bluey of Incognito, and “Wildfire,” remixed by the acclaimed DJ and Producer Al Kent—are set to captivate audiences and keep dance floors alive.
“Smash N Grab,” known for its infectious beat and vibrant horns, receives a brilliant touch from Bluey, infusing the remix with groovy melodies, soulful undertones and a thumping bassline that are sure to make it a standout track of the season. Meanwhile, Al Kent’s remix of “Wildfire” enhances the song's already captivating essence, transforming it into a disco-infused anthem that encourages listeners to let loose and revel in the moment.
These exclusive remixes will be released on a limited AA side VINYL ONLY run through Splash Music Productions, making them a must-have for collectors and enthusiasts alike. Each track showcases Zaimie's artistry and innovation, promising to bring a fresh dose of excitement to their discography.

The last great rock LP from Nigeria's post civil war underground. Be Nice to the People was recorded in 1977 by Fela producer Odion Iruoje as he chased the runaway success of high school band Ofege. The Western world was in the throes of peace, love and flower power as Nigeria descended into civil war in 1967. The rock scene that developed during the following three years of bloodshed and destruction would come to heal the country, propagate the world-wide ideal of the modern Nigerian, and propel Fela to stardom after the conflict ended in 1970. The members of Question Mark were children when the Nigerian civil war ended and by the time they recorded their only album in 1977 they were college students, chasing rock n' roll dreams as Afro-beat turned to Afro-disco. Theirs is a fiery reminder of a once vibrant scene.

Ach du Scheisse - die neue Platte von Menschabstinenz ist da. "Bitte nicht noch mehr von diesem aggressiven, maskulinen, Testosteron geschwängerten Aggro-Zeug." Bitte nicht noch mehr Gast-Features von Jannis (Deine Nachbarn), Justin & Henne (Rawside),Vito C., Mr Hurley und die Pulveraffen, Tyna, MC Motherfucker, Reis Against The Spülmachine, Joe (The Busters), 100KiloHerz, Luci van Org & Toifel (Berliner Weisse) War so oder ähnlich etwa nicht euer erster Gedanke!? Wir geben euch Recht und schneiden darum dem Gegröle und Gehate die haarigen Eier ab - Testosteron/off. Was bleibt ist ein liebevoll schnoddriges, emotionstriggerndes Punk Potpourri, gemixt aus Alkohol und Schlaftabletten, irgendwo zwischen Stumpf- und Tiefsinn, doch so viel mehr als nur ein ,fuck you all". Schnallt euch an und begleitet uns auf eine Reise zwischen den Welten des guten und schlechten Geschmacks. Segelt mit uns hoffnungstrunken auf den Meeren bitterer Tränen und klettert mit uns über die Gipfel der eigenen Empörung, hin zu der Erkenntnis, dass am Ende nichts bleiben wird, was all das wert gewesen wäre. Also hoch die Tassen und laut gedreht: Testosteron/off - kommt mit reichlich Anlauf aber ohne Gleitgel. Ein dickes Ding! ,Gewimmel nicht auf Pimmel gereimt, sondern auf Himmel. Sehr gut! Kannste so schreiben. Wenn de als kleener Piepel an Punk rangeführt werden sollst, ist das das Richtige." Totze Scholz - Beatsteaks 300 Stück in weiß-rot-marmoriertem Vinyl, handnummeriert.

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.

Celebrating two decades of excellence, Marc Romboy’s Systematic Recordings marks its 20th anniversary with a remarkable triple 12” vinyl release. Featuring an all-star lineup, this collection showcases the imprint’s legacy while pushing the boundaries of electronic music. Kicking off the compilation is none other than Carl Cox with “Ice,” an unexpected electro masterpiece. Combining warm strings and lush chords with a powerful 808-driven beat, the track transports you straight to the golden era of 1984.

Label founder Marc Romboy collaborates with André Winter on “Blackout,” a cutting-edge techno journey packed with innovative and otherworldly soundscapes. Systematic veterans Gui Boratto and Rodriguez Jr. bring their signature touch, while current tastemakers Bawrut, Ivory, and Skatman deliver tracks that resonate with today’s audience. To top it off, acid and house legend Josh Wink contributes “Clark Park,” a standout piece that reinforces his reputation as a true pioneer. This exclusive anniversary release is strictly limited, so don’t miss your chance to own a piece of Systematic history!

BRUK welcomes the daring shapes and inquisitive textures of ELLLL for her debut album, Earth Rotation. Across 13 scuffed cuts and grubby miniatures the Irish producer shapes out a distinctive sound world, steeped in sample science and powered by low-slung grooves. There's no direct message permeating Earth Rotation, but burning issues around embattled ecosystems hang in the air as ELLLL pushes her sound palette until it bites. Extended instrumental techniques lend the album an in-the-room tangibility, while dislocated micro-loops speak to less grounded atmospheres. Starting from densely packed collages and diligently chipping away until spacious, head-knocking arrangements remain, the end results of ELLLL's process call to mind the wayward sample acrobatics that made trip-hop and jungle so emotionally resonant and eerily alien in the same beat. There's rarely anything like conventional boom-bap or a cosily familiar break, but ELLLL finds compelling rhythms in unlikely sources of funk, whether plucked, bowed, sequenced or sculpted. Even when teetering towards techno on 'Titan', her particular approach is gloriously skewed and, by extension, innovative. No matter how serious the techniques involved, Earth Rotation is a celebration of the magic that happens when sound gets mistreated. If there are foreboding ideas lingering in the album's tendency towards dissonance, ELLLL also knows how to inject her work with a necessary mischief, making her a perfect fit amongst the maverick BRUK alumni.

Anglo-Norwegian ensemble celebrating the work of Nordic poet, Nils Christian Moe-Repstad. With Jan Bang (live sampling, samples & programming, synthesizer), Michael Francis Duch (double bass), Erik Honoré (live sampling, synthesizer), David Toop (paper, cardboard, leaves, friction, activated objects, air, aerophones, bone conduction, cassettes, vibration, voice), Mark Wastell (tam tam, gongs, sticks, beaters). Recorded live at Punkt, Kristiansand on 31 August 2023.

A killer fusion of bass, poetry and social consciousness from the King Midas Sound vocalist.

Roger Robinson is one of the most versatile voices in the dub poetry scene today, seamlessly blending the power of the written word with the raw energy of the soundsystem.

Teaming up once again with Dub wizard Disrupt to conclude an album trilogy that began with “Dis Side Ah Town” and “Dog Heart City“, Robinson pulls a wide range of riddims straight from the Jahtari vaults to create “Heavy Vibes“, a killer fusion of bass, poetry, and social consciousness.

With a voice oscillating between soulful falsetto and deep poetry thunder Robinson’s verses hit as hard as the bass, challenging the listener to confront uncomfortable truths, while Disrupt’s richly textured, dub-heavy production ensures the music moves both body and mind. You’ll find yourself dancing, but more importantly, you’ll find yourself thinking.

Coming with stunning cover art by Kiki Hitomi and featuring deadly riddims by Tapes, Naram, Jura Soundsystem, Maffi and Bo Marley, “Heavy Vibes” balances the weight of oppression with a glimmer of hope – the belief that change is possible, that the beat goes on, and that through solidarity and art, new futures can be forged.

Repress of DVS1's highly anticipated album that came out on Axis digital during the pandemic. From the perceiving body to the liminal space of the dream-state, audible frequencies send a neurofeedback message. A paradigm-shift is activated in the mind. A movement from the present hour toward the realm beyond measure. The pulse of a synthesized kick. The distance between evolving rhythms of time & place left behind. Sensations created in forgotten corners of the consciousness are distant, yet familiar. A low-penetrating drum beat pulsates. Hypnotic hallucinations reveal detailed layers, oscillating from the back to the forefront of the dream. Synth programming yields abstract ideas into concrete images. Lucid percussion arranged to paint a deeper shade of architecture in this future-memory-system. Be aware that sensations resonate into imagination without warning. The observer extends from rational thought to a deeper state of understanding. The mind-body experience gives way to a transient response from a shock wave to the steady state. The senses reach entrainment.

M_Sessions - Reworks is offering a contemporary version of Mania D., Malaria and Matador’s music for the 40th anniversary. Bringing the past into the now and into the future.
Monika Werkstatt seemed the perfect choice for new interpretations. Founded in 2015, comprising female electronic musicians and producers from the entourage of Monika Enterprise and Moabit Musik. The loose collective played dozens of improvised concerts around Europe and released a studio album and live recordings in everchanging artist constellations. The M_Sessions involved Pilocka Krach, Beate Bartel, Midori Hirano, Mommo G, Lucrecia Dalt, Antye Greie-Ripatti, Natalie Beridze, Annika Henderson and myself. Here the form of interpretation is focussing on keeping the freedom of their improvised work and adapting it to the collective appropriation of songs. I cannot imagine a better reinterpretation of the material with its real life ups and downs and with its enthusiasm. (G.Gut)

"The three, reunited: Malaria, Matador and Mania D, unter einem Dach, but gutted, replaced with electronic hearts, new beats, new beasts, the time has changed, yet the politics, the problems, the heartache remains the same. 2021 sees the anniversary of the 3 M’s and therewith the production of an album of songs, covering a selection of the bands’ finest output, this time assembled by a new set of feminist misfits; producers, fangirls, instrumentalists, under the strict guidance of original members Gudrun Gut and Beate Bartel. M-Sessions features: AGF, Lucrecia Dalt, Sonae, Midori Hirano, Islaja, Natalie Beridze, Pilocka Krach, Annika Henderson (Anika), Lupe, Gudrun Gut and Beate Bartel. Beginning in West Berlin, in 1979, with the inception of Mania D, spawning Malaria! and later Matador; in a time when music was essential to movement, to escape, to space, to the scene and to the rebellion of the people; three bands stood for trial and error, trial and terror, anti- conformity, and anti-consumerism, for girl power and sticking it to the man, and for just doing whatever the hell they wanted. The three, their existence slightly staggered, with different members, different grudges, different heartbreaks, different instrumental expressions, were joined by a string of barbed wire, piecing pigeon hearts, within the playground that was the desolate ex-capital, now again capital, Berlin; a place where artists and freaks could run free amongst the wrinklies and army dodgers; no microscopes, no rules, no property developers." (ANNIKA HENDERSON)