Pop & Rock News

The histories of BBE Music and the Southport Weekender have intertwined since day one. The first release
on the label, Stop & Listen Volume 1, was compiled by Dr Bob Jones, the venerable UK selector who was
for many years an integral part of Southport's core of resident DJs who helped shape the sound of the
Weekender scene.
Over the past ten years, the label has continued to release multi-genre compilations, mixed with some killer
artist contributions while still finding time to introduce authoritative new collections such as 'The Kings Of...'
series, always working with veterans and newcomers of the finest stripe. It's amongst this musical royalty
that the history of the label and the longest running indoor dance and urban music event in the world
continue to converge: an incredible number of Southport Weekender guest artists have been showcased on
the label, Jill Scott, Roy Ayers, Jazzy Jeff, David Rodigan and Kenny Dope amongst them.
With this in mind, we're most proud to announce a joint venture, building upon this symbiotic relationship
with an anticipated run of joint projects from these two groundbreaking brands: real music for real people
from the world's friendliest party!
First up is LeFtO whom Fact! Magazine described as "your favourite DJ's favourite DJ", affiliated with
Brownswood Recordings, Blue Note, !K7 Records, and one of the most significant tastemakers Europe has
to offer. This bearded early riser is consistently a couple steps ahead of your average early adopter.
He doesn't wait for the next thing to land on his lap, he actively seeks it out, just take a peek at his playlists
on Belgium's foremost national radio station Studio Brussels which received compliments from Rough Trade
Shops, Gilles Peterson and has featured on MTV Hive. However, don't assume that he's only working
futuristic angles - no sir. Firmly rooted in jazz and hip-hop, he sharpened his digging sensibility working at
the now legendary Music Mania record store in hometown Brussels. His passion for jazz resulted in a remix
album for Blue Note. LeFtO is forever moving forwards but always got an ear in the past. Famed for his
gloriously eclectic dj sets, he switches effortlessly between hip hop, funk breaks, neck-snapping beats,
future bass, south-American influences, along with wild African rhythms. He's not only a deejay and producer but also curates his own stage at the Dour Festival and his own nights in the Belgian city of Gent.
World renowned, LeFtO regularly blesses sound systems from Tokyo to Seoul, Singapore to Manila,
Kazakhstan to Germany, San Francisco and Los Angeles, with residencies in Amsterdam and New York.


Walking




Octavia

Funky



Tonunion

Ay) (Yoruba Soul Remix) feat. Leron Thomas


Remix)







Walking






Tonunion

Ay) (Yoruba Soul Remix) feat. Leron Thomas

Young Hare owe their influence to the Frankfurt electronic culture. With approaches coming from House, R&B, and Disco, the current goal of the band is to find a new idea of pop music without sounding overly-pleasing. 'Unbreak My Heart' is an album that purely brings the band's influences and attempts together through emotionality, production, and musical understanding. Live, Young Hare moves between the club context and their unmistakable origin out of the DIY music scene

Smilax Records presents the first single of the Italo-Maltese Joseph Armani, Endless Flame, in collaboration with the artist and producer George Cocks Opeia Nakas.
The song has a special message dedicated to his wife for their wedding anniversary.
A song from the sounds of dance, but with a key of romance that it will become a Hit

01. Radio Edit 3.34
02. Extended Mix 5.20
03. Extended Instrumental 5.18

Smith & Thell return with their third single, following the success of previous hits "Kill It With Love" and Super Dj. The group continues to have its own unique blend of Electro, Dance and Pop in the world and with this the group says "Illusion is a dark side to us. Conclude The song is about a relationship where you have given yourself completely to a specific person , which turns out to be someone else. catchphrase Another duo.

01. Illusion (Radio Edit) 3.09
02. Illusion (Extended Version) 5.20

Mit ihrem mittlerweile vierten Album beweisen Frontal erneut wie schnörkelloser EBM funktioniert. Ausdrucksstark und abwechslungsreich
präsentieren sich die 10 neuen Tracks bei denen Sänger Alex Wobig gekonnt mit seinem Gesang die verschiedenen Stimmungen der einzelnen
Songs hervorhebt. Abgerundet wird das Album mit 2 starken Remixen der bereits etablierten EBM Bands "Orange Sector" und "Jäger90". Der
Titel "Lass uns tanzen" ist die Ansage und beweist konsequent dass der Name auch Programm ist! with their 4th cd-album "Lass uns tanzen"
("let´s dance") german based band FRONTAL show once again what EBM means. FRONTAL presents on this new album 10 new songs plus 2
nice remixes by "Orange Sector" and "Jäger90". The voice of singer Alex Wobig brings every track to the point of the own mood of the song and
the title-track "Lass uns tanzen" ("let´s dance") means what it sounds!

CD1 1. Frontal - Sei stark
CD1 2. Frontal - Küss mich
CD1 3. Frontal - Lass uns tanzen
CD1 4. Frontal - Ich kann's nicht lassen
CD1 5. Frontal - I-Generation
CD1 6. Frontal - Kurz nach vier
CD1 7. Frontal - Heute Nacht
CD1 8. Frontal - An der Bar
CD1 9. Frontal - Winterzeit
CD1 10. Frontal - Das was war
CD1 11. Frontal - Lass uns tanzen (Orange Sector Mix)
CD1 12. Frontal - Ich kann's nicht lassen (Neu interpretiert von Jäger 90)

Mit "RAW AND PURE" präsentieren NZ ihr Erstlingswerk in Form einer EP, deren schweißtreibende Sequenzen und brachialer Gesang ein Muss
für jeden Fan des EBM und Elektro der alten Schule darstellt. Der aggressive Sound der Jungs bringt die Anfangszeit der elektronischen
Körpermusik wieder zurück in die Gegenwart, ohne dabei den Eindruck zu erwecken, dass EBM der 80er Jahre nicht neu interpretiert werden
kann. Ganz im Gegenteil! Die zum Tanzen und Shouten einladenden Tracks auf "RAW AND PURE" beweisen mehr denn je, dass NZ mit ihrem
Sound voll im Trend liegen und Generationen der Szene begeistern werden. Die Verantwortung für das Mastering des Silberlings übernahm kein
Geringerer als SPETSNAZ-Frontman Pontus Stålberg, dessen Gespür für tanzflächentaugliche Szenehits bereits bekannt sein dürfte. with the
new 4-track-mcd "RAW AND PURE" presents band NZ from austria their first release as a mcd-e.p. NZ will give you a fine blend includes
finest-danceable sequences and harsh voices - just in the mood of everybody who likes old-school-EBM and old-school-electro! NZ brings with
their sound the good old times back in today and shows what means "modern old sounds". The songs on this release will satisfied generations of
szene-people while they dancing and shouting on the floors! And last but not least: the mastering of this release was done by Pontus Stålberg -
well known as singer of SPETSNAZ and that is another point for this release!

1 1: NZ - Terror for money
1 2: NZ - Your pure heart
1 3: NZ - Trigger me
1 4: NZ - Russian war

1. Hylas
2. Ghostcity
3. Verwandlung
4. Rukeli's Last Dance
5. Red Eyes
6. Angelene
7. How To Disappear
8. Futuresound
9. Shadow Of The Sun
10. Yearn Yearn
11. Golden Wave
12. Sirens Of The Citylight

Mehr als fünf Jahre gingen ins Land, ehe der bekennende Perfektionist Thomas Azier sein Werk Hylas fertig gestellt hatte. Vom kleinen Jungen in behüteten Verhältnissen hin zum getriebenen, jungen Erwachsenen im Berliner Großstadtdschungel - diese komplexe, spannende Entwicklung hält der heute 26-jährige in seinen intensiven Songs für die Ewigkeit fest.

Im europäischen Ausland hat sich Thomas Azier bereits als feste Größe in Sachen Urban Pop etabliert und seit Anfang 2013 sorgt er auch in den USA für Furore. Eine erste USA-Tour, die gemeinsame Europa-Tournee mit Woodkid, Sold-Out-Shows in Amsterdam und Paris und gefeierte Festival-Auftritte in ganz Europa. Das sind nur einige der beeindruckenden Facts und Erfahrungen, auf die Azier zurückblickt.

Mit dem lange erwarteten Debütalbum überzeugt er als alleiniger Autor, Komponist und Produzent. Hylas vereint auf 12 mitreißenden Urban-Electropop-Tracks die Extreme: Licht und Schatten, Euphorie und Verzweiflung, Mainstream und Underground. Dancefloor, Darkroom und Gummizelle. Mehr geht nicht.

Avey Tare ist dem gut informierten Musikliebhaber natürlich ein Begriff. Das Gründungsmitglied des Animal Collectives kündigte bereits im April des letzten Jahres ein neues Projekt an, für das er sich mit Angel Deradoorian (ex- Dirty Projectors) und Jeremy Hyman (Ponytail, Dan Deacon) zusammengetan hat. Aus dieser Zusammenarbeit entstand das Album "Enter The Slasher House", das Anfang April auf Domino erscheint. Avey Tare selbst beschreibt die Band als "A group of three hippies on a road trip through the backwaters of 2013s rural music scene fall prey to a murderous cannibalistic band, including a leather-masked, guitar-wielding Avey Tare, his knife-wielding keyboard player Angel Deradoorian and their cannibal chief drummer and decaying grandfather Jeremy Hyman."

Musikalisch führt das Album eher zu Teebs Wurzeln zurück, dem von Flying Lotus geprägten Brainfeeder Sound. Sein 2010er Debüt-Album "Ardour" entstand mitten im persönlichen Tumult rund um den Tod seines Vaters. Im krassen Gegensatz dazu entstand der Nachfolger in einer gewissen Gelassenheit. Teebs arbeitet noch immer als Produzent und Maler - nach wie vor unter eigenen Bedingungen. Diese künstlerische Freiheit hat nicht nur seine kreative Stimme gestärkt sondern ihn auch dazu bewegt, seine bislang beste Arbeit abzuliefern. "Estara" beinhaltet lebhafte Melodien, raschelnde Rhythmen, hauchdünne Atmosphären und lose Verbindungen zu Hip Hop, die schon immer in der Arbeit von Teebs präsent waren. Allerdings fügen diese Elemente sich kühner zusammen als je zuvor. Teebs klingt extrem fokussiert und tadellos nuanciert. Er ist nicht länger der aufkommende Beat-Bastler, der einst FlyLos Schützling war. Er hat sich einfach weiter entwickelt, ohne seine Vergangenheit abzuschütteln, mit einem auf seine Art und Weise bemerkenswerten Album. Als Gäste sind u.a. Prefuse 73 und Lars Hornveth (Jaga Jazzist) mit von der Partie!

We are proud to present a selection of songs celebrating the past 5 years of the Sugarcane Recordings Label.
This collection represents some of our favorite and best works to date.

It has been our privilege to host outstanding and unique releases from some of the worlds most acclaimed artists during the recent years. As well as bring new and exciting bands to the forefront of worldwide markets.

We are excited to present this group of songs and to freshly introduce (or re-expose) what we consider master works by masterful artists.

The release includes Gazelle Twin's I Turn My Arm which fashion icon Alexander Wang claimed as inspirational and essential to his 2013 fashion show on CNN News. As well as a remix by renowned film score maestro Clint Mansell (PI, Requiem for a Dream, Black Swan, The Fountain, The Wrestler).

Includes several projects by Jori Hulkkonen acclaimed Finnish musician nominated for an Emma award for his Sin Cos Tan Project.

John Foxx (ULTRAVOX), presents two lovely pieces as a culmination of 3 decades of fan adoring releases.
One of which is a remix by world famous film icon David Lynch taking on a musical rearrangement of Evangeline.

Processory, Bloodgroup, Hercules & Love Affair, CFCF, and Kuedo are highly developed artists that add sweetly to this sugary collection. A set of visionary works that represent the best of Sugarcane Recordings!

SKRILLEX DROPS DEBUT ALBUM, RECESS
ALL 11 SONGS PREMIERED AND SHARED DIRECT TO FANS VIA 'ALIEN RIDE' APP

LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE 'RECESS' LP VIA THE 'ALIEN RIDE' APP AND THROUGH VARIOUS MEDIA PARTNERS AROUND THE GLOBE. ALBUM TO BE RELEASED ON MARCH 18th

Fans worldwide were delighted last week when, on March 7th, Skrillex delivered to them a mysterious app featuring a countdown clock and a retro alien game. Beginning on the eve of March 10th, tracks began to mysteriously unlock every thirty minutes to reveal a new full-length album by the six-time Grammy winning artist. The full album is streaming on via the app and through various media partners around the globe on March 18th.

VINYL ONLY RELEASE - Die italienische Goth-Pop-Sängerin Tying Tiffany veröffentlicht ihr brandneues Album "Drop". Darauf mischt sie gekonnt Post-Punk, Industrial mit Electronica und Pop. Die talentierte Künstlerin aus Padua veröffentlicht seit 2005 unter diesem Namen ihre Musik, die sich mit Themen Dadaismus, Sexualität und Feminismus, eingebettet in Visual Arts, beschäftigt. Ihre Inspirationen und Einflüsse sind sehr vielfältig, meistens sind ihre Songs aber durch eine düstere, nocturnale Atmosphäre und Melancholie geprägt. Obwohl sie hauptsächlich in kulturellen Subkulturen unterwegs ist und DIY ihre kreative Grundlage ist, hat sie auch schon mit Rock-Legenden wie Iggy Pop und The Buzzcocks gespielt, außerdem hat sie mit dem Produzenten Lorenzo Montana noch eine sehr erfolgreiche Instrumentalband als Sideproject und ihre Tracks wurden in großen U.S. TV- und Hollywood-Produktionen (wie "The Hunger Games" und "Catching Fire") verwendet. Das neue Album "Drop" besticht durch ihren eigenen orginiellen Dream-Electronica-Pop, voll von schwirrenden Synths, eindringlichen Vocals und ansteckenden Electro Beats.

We at Fifty Fathoms Deep are proud to release the stunning debut long player from Frederick aka Peter Oakden.

After releasing solo & duo projects throughout 2013 on Local Talk, Deep Shades of House, Miseredits and also a feature on Lay-Far's album 'So Many Ways', Peter will begin 2014 releasing his debut LP on shared label Fifty Fathoms Deep in which he runs with Craig Smith (6th Borough Project).

For someone so relatively new to the game this debut is all the more remarkable given the maturity of sound and quality of production. There's a real narrative to this collection of music that draws the listener in from the very first note, to the very last. This isn't just a random collection of dance tracks or some singles with fillers; this is music with substance that transcends genres. No gimmicks just real lasting quality.

Limited White Vinyl Pressing!

STRESS is the duo of ALAN RIDER and PHIL CLARKE from West Midlands, England formed in 1981. Alan was editor of Coventry fanzine Adventures in Reality, and Phil was editor of Nuneaton fanzine Damn Latin. Stress combined electronic rhythms and keyboards with bass guitar, vocals, percussion, and cut-up samples. They created catchy electronic pop songs that fused accessible & experimental elements with a pointed lyrical edge in the vein of Cabaret Voltaire, Depeche Mode and Joy Division. Their first two albums were cassette releases on Alan's own Adventures in Reality Recordings label. Help Comes Too Late in 1982 followed by Restraint in 1984. In July 1985 Stress released The Big Wheel album and appeared on numerous cassette and vinyl compilations worldwide. More gigs and press followed and the album took the Number 1 spot in the NME's electronic charts. Stress split in September 1985 and re-formed briefly in 1991 to record two tracks. Conspiracy Theory is an 11-song 'best of' compilation album featuring tracks from the first two cassette albums with "The Prayer Clock" from Third Mind Records' Life At The Top compilation LP and "Tear It Down" from the Compulsory Overtime compilation LP. Each song has been carefully remastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. Each LP also includes a 16-page booklet 'Stress Edition' of Adventures in Reality fanzine with photos, equipment list, press cuttings, lyrics and an exclusive Stress badge.

Origamibiro is a collaborative project consisting of three core members: musician, soundtrack composer and producer Tom Hill, visual artist and filmmaker The Joy Of Box, and multi-instrumentalist Andy Tytherleigh. For fans of intelligent multi-instrumental ambient electronica with an organic feel - Julia Kent, Mum, Fred Frith's compositions for dance, Max Richter's ""Blue Notebooks"" and the works of CM von Hauswolff can be considered as references.

Py - Swimming Slow Following the beautiful 'Polyethers' released in Autumn 2013, Py returns with a stunning new single 'Swimming Slow', via Champion Records on the 10th March. Absorbing and passionate, 'Swimming Slow' is a beautifully poised track, burning slowly and heavy with remarkable power.

Py's trademark, soul-rich voice is fully immersive as her distinctive tones twist and turn, intertwining with luscious melodies and dreamy electronics. A recognized talent who has recently worked with the likes of Maya Jane Coles to Two Inch Punch and Claude Von Stroke, remixes for Py's 'Swimming Slow' come from Citizen, Sweater Beats, Gang Colours and Throwing Snow.

Demonstrating the full ability of her unique voice, Py will also record piano, stripped back versions of 'Swimming Slow' at west London's legendary Metropolis Studios, which has seen the likes of Paul McCartney and Madonna grace their studios, to allow her fast-growing fanbase to manipulate Py's voice and beats for their own creative productions.

In a year which has seen the London-based singer record at the prestigious Red Bull Studios, work with an array of talented producers from George FitzGerald to Lapalux and Throwing Snow on her debut mixtape, support the likes of Fenech-Soler and MAUSI on tour and gather support from the likes of Zane Lowe at BBC Radio 1 as well as appearances on Throwing Snow's debut album for Houndstooth and the forthcoming Supreme Cuts album, Py's latest effort is her best yet. Set to accelerate her burgeoning reputation as a creative and forward-thinking vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, 'Swimming Slow' will be the catalyst for the rest of the world to sit up and take notice of Py in 2014.



DJ Support:

Monki, Cassio Kohl, Kastle, Jimmy Edgar, Tensnake, Aston shuffle ,Horse meat Disco, Ray Foxx, Ministry of Sound, Stacey Pullen, plus artist support from Redbull, Mixmag, XLR8R, and more.

Blackest Ever Black is pleased to present the first vinyl edition of the legendary demos recorded in 1981 by Weekend - the trio of Alison Statton, Spike Williams and Simon Booth. Alison Statton began her recording career with Philip and Stuart Moxham in Young Marble Giants, one of the most unique and important bands to come out of the UK post-punk/independent scene. YMGs dissolved in 1981, at which point Statton began writing with Wrexham native Mark 'Spike' Williams, one of the brains behind Z Block Records and a member of the band Reptile Ranch. They joined forces with guitarist Simon Booth to form Weekend, and recorded the exquisite demo versions of 'Drumbeat' (later titled 'Drumbeat For Baby'), 'Red Planes', 'Nostalgia' and 'Summerdays' that are collected on this new 12". At the heart of the record are two truly remarkable pieces: 'Red Planes' and 'Nostalgia'. The former is a dubwise dream-pop epic, Statton's dispassionate, Nico-esque vocal wafting over a clucking Boss DR 55 pulse and seismic bass detonations, while Williams' violin, in Alison's words, "soars and dives and weaves through every possible mood with no inhibitions, creating an almost psychedelic feel, with a menacing undercurrent". It's somehow both starker and more richly atmospheric than the version that appears on the band's debut album, La Varieté (Rough Trade, 1982), not to mention significantly longer - nine minutes in total. Our only complaint is that it doesn't last for nineteen. 'Nostalgia', meanwhile, is surely one of the most perfectly elegiac songs committed to tape in the post-punk era. More fleshed-out than the La Varieté version, the instrumentation here - notably Statton's yearning recorder part ("Very Eno," as Spike astutely observes) - amplifies the emotional resonance of an already heart-stopping lyric. Written by Spike and Dave Hoddel, 'Nostalgia' is a poignant meditation on the attraction, and the danger, of dwelling on the past. Shorn of the jazzy flourishes that would define the subsequent studio version, 'Drumbeat' (later titled 'Drumbeat For Baby') has a brittle, choppier quality more in line with Young Marble Giants than Weekend; it remains one of Williams and Statton's most infectious compositions. The instrumental 'Summerdays', is a different beast entirely to the cut on La Varieté; it's primarily a showcase of Simon Booth's lyrical guitar-playing, at times reminiscent of the courtly psychedelia of early Felt or Vini Reilly, and reminding us of Weekend's role as godparents of the nascent indie-pop movement. Jazz became an increasingly prominent component of the Weekend sound, and by the time of La Varieté - their sole studio LP - they had welcomed jazzmen Larry Stabbins (saxophone), Roy Dodds (drums) and Dawson Miller (percussion) into their line-up. But despite its idiosyncratic brilliance and long-lasting influence (Belle & Sebastian and Kalima are but two groups who owe it an enormous debt), nothing on La Varieté, or on the handful of singles and live recordings Weekend put their name to before disbanding in 1983, comes close to matching the raw, impressionistic power of the '81 demos. The four demos were released as a stand-alone CD by Vinyl Japan in 1995, and included as bonus tracks on Cherry Red's most recent CD reissue of La Varieté; however, until now they have never appeared on vinyl. Licensed from Cherry Red, The '81 Demos (BLACKEST026) is a 12" limited to 1000 pieces, mastered by by Matt Colton at Alchemy and housed in an LP sleeve printed on reverse board stock, with printed inner featuring liner notes by Spike Williams, Alison Statton and Simon Booth.

Still reeling from the release of their critically acclaimed self-titled debut LP, Django Django are pleased to announce that new single 'Hail Bop', will be released on August 13th. Album opener and firm live favourite, Hail Bop sums up everything that makes this band so special. Currently on a second sold-out tour of the UK, the 4-piece kicked the year off with their debut album release and have gone from strength to strength since - a recent Jools Holland live performance made evident why every festival venue so far has been packed to the rafters with an adoring crowd. Their shows at Great Escape and Field Day were completely over-capacity and saw fans battling for entry. 2012 isn't set to slow down with dates in Europe, Japan, Australia and the UK leading them through to two sold-out Heaven shows in October. A Shepherds Bush Empire show is now on sale for December and will top off an immense year for the Djangos. Django Django's story looks set to be a long and compelling one going by the overwhelming response to their debut record and live performances from the public and critics alike. Tracklist A1 Hail Bop A2 Hail Bop (Daniel Avery Remix) A3 Hail Bop (Jealov Remix) —- B1 Bail Hop B2 Skies Over Cairo (Bullion Version) '...Surely this debut won't be topped in 2012. ' 5/5 - The Guardian 'Sweet harmonies with rhythmic originality . . . Gloriously, unpredictably new' - MOJO (4/5)

"Losers Can Win" is the first EP from electro-pop superband Starwalker, comprised of Frenchman Jean-Benoit Dunckel (AIR) and Icelandic composer Bardi Johannsson (Bang Gang). Starwalker is a brand new collaboration between two electro-pop icons: Jean-Benoit Dunckel (Air) and Icelandic composer Bardi Johannsson (Bang Gang, Lady & Bird). The title Starwalker - suitably spatial and curious - is an umbrella term for the duo's new works together. Included in this blossoming canon is the debut EP including singles 'Bad Weather' and 'Losers Can Win', a celestial song featuring the vocals of Keren Ann. The Starwalker project is in part inspired by both the unpredictable nature of Iceland and the clean, classic design of France, and the result pulls you in with its intensity. That is not to say the duo lack a lightness of touch or a sense of humour, however. Starwalker first video - a short visual introduction to the general mood of the project - came out in summer 2013, and their debut single 'Bad Weather', accompanied by a darkly evocative video (directed by Saevar Gudmundsson and Jeaneen Lund) was released in last September. The forthcoming EP, featuring 'Bad Weather', the dream-pop song 'Losers Can Win' with Keren Ann, and 3 other tracks included 'Bad Weather' remix by Icelandic band Bloodgroup will be released in March 2014, the first EP will be accompanied by the sparkly new video of 'Losers Can Win': Bubles ,Wharol pop colors,burlesque sexy women are moving and dancing while Starwalker sing the song in slow motion. The first Album is set to be released in September 2014

Yumi Zouma sind Freunde aus Neuseeland, die in New York und Paris leben. Ihre Musik ist stylish, spielerisch und intuitiver Electro-Pop vom Feinsten. Leichte Gitarren Noten sitzen auf programmierten Drums und bilden das Gerüst für die sanften und suchenden Vocals. Die vier Songs auf Yumi Zoumas EP sind zeitlich und auf Anhieb sympathisch.

'Leave This Island' surges with a drumbeat and ripple of keyboards harnessed with Paul Smith's vocal, before cascading into a sweep of uplifting emotion: a band on top of their game. Recorded in Sunderland with the band's keyboardist Lukas Wooller and Field Music's Brewis brothers - David and Peter, at the helm, 'Leave This Island' 12" comes complete with exclusive B-side 'A Vague Implication', a remix of 'Leave This Island' courtesy of Mogwai and a mix of 'Brain Cells' from the hand of Dave Okumu.

Down a quiet driveway in East London is an old-fashioned studio. It's the home of analogue sound, of warm, dusty machines, where the ambitions of independent-minded artists get turned into classic recordings.

In short, it's where that magic happens.

Arguably a go to studio for rock'n'roll musicians, there is one genre that Toe Rag Studios are certainly not known for, yet. One man plans to change that. It's ambitious, adventurous modern pop's turn.

Colo provided their tracks with a certain layered and deep sound structure. Most tracks are created intuitively.

It almost came to the point that a new release on Ki didn't happen as Nick and Ben, the guys behind Colo, lost their
laptop in the heyday of the album production. Backups Unfortunately none! Their debut album was almost done: ten tracks with about 150 to 200 single audio tracks, many hours of fine detailed work just gone. But fortunately not the whole world is bad and the finder returned the laptop to the hands of
their owners and Colo's debut album by the name of - UR' got pressed on vinyl. The name - UR' is a word play and not a reminiscence to the legendary Detroit label Underground Resistance. The bands name and the title of the album form the word - colo-ur'.

Colo provided their tracks with a certain layered and deep sound structure. Most tracks are created intuitively.
It almost came to the point that a new release on Ki didn't happen as Nick and Ben, the guys behind Colo, lost their
laptop in the heyday of the album production. Backups Unfortunately none! Their debut album was almost done: ten tracks with about 150 to 200 single audio tracks, many hours of fine detailed work just gone. But fortunately not the whole world is bad and the finder returned the laptop to the hands of
their owners and Colo's debut album by the name of - UR' got pressed on vinyl. The name - UR' is a word play and not a reminiscence to the legendary Detroit label Underground Resistance. The bands name and the title of the album form the word - colo-ur'.

On Minutes of Sleep, Scissor and Thread label founder Francis Harris continues to grapple with the subjects of memory, loss and profound grief that suffused his critically acclaimed debut Leland.

Harris revisits deeply personal territory with newfound perspective, heightened confidence and a markedly refined approach, yielding a noticeably matured and eloquent statement which transcends sorrowful brooding and rumination.

Hidden Fees is Ivan Berko and Thomas Gluibizzi, lifelong friends and conductors on New York City's underground dance music railroad. Travellers in multiple decades of the City's ever-evolving time and space, Â the duo curate a perfect combination of grit and groove from each corner of the five boroughs and filter through the funky, spunky So What EP for Beats In Space Records.

Stricken of samples, loops and other tools typified in present day dance track crafting and screen mapping, 'So What' is 'organic music for the modern dance floor.' Berko and Gluibizzi depend on real humans - friends and fellow musicians - to originate proper live studio room works / workouts that breathe, smoke, snort and contort to the body clock's unpredictable rhythm.

'So What' revels in this communal groove. The minor chord shuffle and percussion pump along rough n' ready riffs rocketing from saxophone and guitars alike, each element stuffed in-the-pocket by a disco-indebted bassline. The spit-soaked vocals of Christopher Exits strut 'So What' from the sweaty depths of a Brooklyn studio and onto the laser lit floor of a legendary night club in NYC's disco party pioneers' collective memory (or to the b-side of a Some Girls-era Stones single). Exits' lyrics examine a narcotic urban co-dependence from the advantage of a man lost in his own sort of space, an experience we can all identify with or at least dream to believe still happens as cities sterilize.

On the flipside, Tiago touches 'So What's' humanity with acid reflex and a heavy-hitting kick over two strobe-ready remixes.
Tiago's first mix dune buggies the original's riffs into sparse terrains before introducing a rich, reverbed Rhodes melody to bring us back home. His Dub embraces the house tendencies of Tiago with a little more pep in its step. The icy colourations of the original track form a slippery but solid glacial floor, while the hand-held rhythms mutate between alien and human pulses.

Each 12" from Beats in Space Records features original artwork in considerate and serial form.
Brian DeGraw of Gang Gang Dance contributes the glass-eyed tropicalia cover art for this one.

The 12" packaging constructed by Will Work For Good features a removable vinyl BIS logo cling.

Medical Records presents a reissue of one of Germany's most interesting records. The German duo Aloa only made one album in 1982, but it is one of the most peculiar and innovative records of the Neue Deutsche Welle movement. Long out of print, somewhat obscure, and very expensive, this record is due for an official reissue. The album explores a whole spectrum of textures, moods, and atmospheres. Ranging from dark complex synthed-out tracks to diverse instrumentation-laced almost Krautrock motifs, this album is definitely one of a kind. From the commanding first track "Weisser Wal" with it's almost Bryan Ferry style vocals to the atmospheric "Banane Zitrone", the twists and turns are endless. Definitely will appeal to fans of The Residents, Neue Deutsche Welle, and anything and everything that lives in the outer reaches of synth territory. Restored and mastered from the original master tapes by Klearlight Studios in Dallas, TX. Presented on high-quality 180gram heavyweight green vinyl. Features bonus LP insert with liner notes and interview by Dave Segal. Limited Edition.

Killer hard-to-find German Cosmic album from 1979 gets a welcome vinyl reissue with its stunning original artwork. A one-off project from bassist Hans Pieter Ströer featuring über-electronic wizard Harry Thumann on mix duties, this cooly understated yet future-sounding LP has hints of electro-boogie, jazz-funk and proto-techno alongside ambient swirls and breezy soulful blue-eyed pop. Standouts are the amazing 'Think It Over', a masterful slice of low-slung grinding electro-pop with a great funky stripped-down mid-section and Cosmic twists also 'Don't Stay For Breakfast', a hypnotic bass-driven funk workout with a techno feeling and superb Saada Bonaire-style vocals from Dagmar Hellberg which hit big on the Cosmic scene. Don't miss!

Florida's intergalactic synth duo launches 8 tracks experimental electronic pop lost in time & space. Hyper-paced drum machines buzz under shimmering structure of synths & psychedelic harmonies. White vinyl.

Alfred E Neuman's alter ego MadDisco Edits has been making dance floors go mad with his resent vinyl releases, well now the man himself is releasing more edits but with a more Psychedelic/Balearic/Leftfield flavour on his new label Ideophone Records:

1. First up we have a super funked up tripped out affair, panning slide guitars with fx's galore and cymbals crashing all over the place, file under chilled out psychedelic explosion.

2. Next we have a Balearic and folk space trip, a truly beautiful ambient track with both acoustic and analog instruments including signing violins and an acoustic guitar that provides the rhythm to this chilled journey.

3. A simply divine little edit to get things going on the B side, again on a balearic folk tip with a gorgeous array of percussion instruments resulting in a tropical rhythm to die for with underlining melodies weaving away and sax solos towering over the top.

4. And finally we arrive in the future with this space tingled delight of an tune, vocoder, lush synths, chilled dope beats combining in a hypnotic track sure to put you into a trance, don't sleep on this one!!