Pop & Rock News

Wicked leftfield disco and Japanese pop. 2021 repress in clean condition with obi! Check for instance "Exotic Dance"

The self-made creator and front person of iamamiwhoami embarks on an extensive tour visiting the US and Canada, collaborates with Zola Jesus and Röyksopp on new self produced album.

In 2018, audiovisual pioneer and subcultural phenomenon ionnalee delivered her first solo-album and feature film 'EVERYONE AFRAID TO BE FORGOTTEN', after enchanting an international audience with her award winning, modern folklore tales through the mixed media project and Youtube mystery iamamiwhoami for almost a decade. All through her own force and own label.

The Swedish singer, songwriter, producer, and director’s acclaimed ‘debut’ as ionnalee, was subsequently followed by a world-tour; funded alongside her fans through Kickstarter in just 5 days. The hugely successful tour sold-out dates across Europe, US, and Latin-America — Brazil being one of the places where ionnalee finally got to face her audience live for the first time in her career.

"As the tour finally happened, the audience response knocked me off my feet. It became a real game-changer for me. After my last album was made, there was no plan to go back into the studio. I was exhausted and have struggled with health and motivation to even continue working as an artist. But in between touring I found myself alone in my studio at every given chance, so inspired from that whole synergy I experienced with the audience on stage, that this natural flow happened, and I wanted to give back to them.’

The result is a new full-length album, ‘REMEMBER THE FUTURE’ — released May 31 on her label To whom it may concern."It’s a hopeful visionary album of daring to dream, and shooting for the stars, despite the paradoxical underlying chafing knowledge that we are destroying our planet",says ionnalee.

"To me, the album has a kinetic energy. I felt much more confident and free when producing it, both as an artist, person and a producer.” ‘REMEMBER THE FUTURE’ is just as her debut solo album produced by ionnalee and also features contributions from her long time collaborators Claes Björklund (iamamiwhoami), Röyksopp, Zola Jesus and Jennie Abrahamsson and the album is mixed by Johannes Berglund (Fever Ray).

The „Kuhzunft-slotmachine“ is a website-project, based on a picture of a crayon-painted slot machine. Clicking the start button activates the machine to randomly combine pre-produced recordings (of 45 seconds length) within three slots. Instead of typical fruits in the display, you would see photos attached to the specific sounds by the artists responsible for the content. Even the names of the „songs“ are put together by the single names each artist had chosen for their recordings. The vinyl release on Gruenrekorder documents the project with a selection from 13 artists and 158 recordings, that offered a possibility of 3.944.312 tracks. The online-slotmachine has the ability to continuously grow and contains at the date of the vinyl release (February 1st, 2019) four more artists and a total of 225 recordings, providing some 11.390.625 possible titles. You can either simply press START and get surprised or deactivate AUTO PLAY to make a selection. The record features: Jaap Blonk (NL) – Voice John Chantler (AU) – Modular Synth Serge Corteyn (DE) – Guitar Rhodri Davies (GB) – Harp Gaile Griciute (LT) – Prepared Piano Richard Lerman (US) – Piezzo, Hydrophone Seán Mac Erlaine (IE) – Woodwinds Jérôme Noetinger (FR) – Tape Machine Pablo Paredes (CL) – Keyboards Michael Vatcher (US) – Drums Simon Whetham (GB) – Field Recordings Marta Zapparoli (IT) – Radio Waves Achim Zepezauer (DE) – Drumcomputer, Electronics, Acoustics



























[{] 27. Gaile Griciute John Chantler Michael Vatcher - Recur Pattern Enthusiast
[|] 28. Achim Zepezauer Marta Zapparoli Jérôme Noetinger - Ghostly Fireworks Scratch
[}] 29. Achim Zepezauer Serge Corteyn Simon Whetham - Himmel Cushion Room
[~] 30. Serge Corteyn Gaile Griciute Jaap Blonk - Cry Come-Out Flying



























[{] 27. Gaile Griciute John Chantler Michael Vatcher - Recur Pattern Enthusiast
[|] 28. Achim Zepezauer Marta Zapparoli Jérôme Noetinger - Ghostly Fireworks Scratch
[}] 29. Achim Zepezauer Serge Corteyn Simon Whetham - Himmel Cushion Room
[~] 30. Serge Corteyn Gaile Griciute Jaap Blonk - Cry Come-Out Flying

Assembled by Pedro Alves Sousa, Má Estrela is a conjuration of ideas and obsessions around dub, leftfield dance phenomena and the hypnotic potential of urban somnambulance.

In a levitating state, not exactly detached from the unease of these end times, Sousa surrounds himself by a number of accomplices from past and present endeavours to project a scrying mirror reflection of distinct languages of trance and liberation - dub's space and infinity, jungle and footwork's broken shards, DJ Screws legacy perpetually reanimated via numerous slowed down anonymous versions on Youtube and the lyricism and fire of jazz.

Temporarily a quartet, comprised of Sousa on saxophone and its electronic processing, Bruno Silva and Simão Simões on electronics and Gabriel Ferrandini on acoustic and electronic drums, after the departure of Miguel Abras, Má Estrela had in their 2022 debut album their first document of this ongoing process that’s now continued with ‘Tornada". Miguel Abras has since been replaced with Bruna de Moura and Má Estrela came back to being a five piece.

Coming out in November through Discrepant, with Miguel Abras' bass still present, 'Tornada' deepens the symbiotic connection between those rhythmic, melodic and textural particles in a mutating flux of continuities and disruptions throughout seven tracks. Featuring the invocations of Elvin Brandhi in 'All You Did', 'Tornada' makes its way amidst harmonic spectres, rhythmic debris that breathe for life and a certain, implicit idea of ritual that sustains itself liminally between the ethereal dissolution of time and the physical projection of space.

Demon Records presents four new vinyl reissues from Mark E. Smith and The Fall.

The Post Nearly Man is the debut solo album by Mark E. Smith, legendary bandleader of the Fall.

Recorded in part at Pete Waterman’s studio, the album was first released in 1998 and is a mix of spoken word, sound collage, and samples of Fall music resulting in one Smith’s most experimental releases.

The complete album is now released on vinyl for the very first time, pressed on 140g clear vinyl. This reissue also features new and exclusive artwork by the original cover artist and Fall collaborator, Pascal le Gras.

LTD Edition!

Melody's Echo Chamber meldet sich mit ihrem himmlischen Psychedelic-Pop zurück!

„Emotional Eternal“ ist das neue Albumn von Melody Prochet aka Melody’s Echo Chamber. Es ist eine glorreiche Bestandsaufnahme gelernter Lektionen, gesehen durch die Augen einer Frau, die einen Schritt zurück gemacht hat und dadurch nun klar sehen kann.
Wie schon ihr vorheriges Album "Bon Voyage“ (2018) wurde auch dieses Album zunächst in Stockholm mit Reine Fiske, dem Multiinstrumentalisten der schwedischen Rockband Dungen aufgenommen. Ebenfalls wieder dabei war Fredrik Swahn, der Musiker, Produzent und Tontechniker, der vor allem durch seine Arbeit mit der schwedischen Indie-Rock-Band The Amazing bekannt ist. “I hope the record has that uplifting quality,” sagt Melody Prochet. “I wanted to be more grounded and mindful through the process. I guided the sessions with simplicity—a contrast with the maximalism of Bon Voyage and the wilderness of my delusions. I made some big and impactful decisions and changes to my life. It took me to where it is peaceful, and I think the record reflects this. It’s more direct.”

‘Emotional Eternal’, out on Domino, is a glorious consolidation
of the lessons learned along the way, seen through the eyes of
someone who has taken a step back, and who can see clearly
as a result.

 As with her previous acclaimed 2018 album ‘Bon Voyage’, this
album was initially recorded in the outskirts of Stockholm, with
Reine Fiske, the multi-instrumentalist member of Swedish rockband Dungen, who has worked with the likes of Travis Scott and
Anna Järvinen, and Fredrik Swahn, the musician, producer and
engineer best known for his work with Swedish indie-rock band
The Amazing.

 A deeply human collection of songs full of prolonged moments
of sonic transcendency, ‘Emotional Eternal’ is a record rooted in
adulthood, but one that still regards the world with a childlike
wonder. It includes ‘Alma_The Voyage’, a beautiful paean to
motherhood concluding with resounding violins and EBow;
‘Personal Message’ featuring a giddily assured vocal
performance from Melody, vertiginous and breathy and the
ornate and catchy, ‘Where The Water Clears the Illusion’.

 Listening to the album feels like coming across an abundant
treasure chest; strap in and get ready to be transported to
another heavenly, mediative and groove-filled world.

 CD in printed inner wallet with 18-page poster booklet.

 LP with 2-page insert plus 12” circular ‘optical effect’ card platter
disc with digital download code.

 Press - Reviews in Uncut, MOJO, Loud and Quiet, Record Collector,
Reader’s Digest, Shindig, Electronic Sound, The Skinny, NARC,
Aesthetica, Spin, All Music. Features in Clash, Shindig Magazine,
Pitchfork, The Eagle, The Line of Best Fit, Far Out Magazine.

 Radio - 6 Music Lauren Laverne, Craig Charles, Amy Lame, Radcliffe
& Maconie, BBC Radio 1 Jack Saunders, Radio X John Kennedy.

The Travels represents a signpost in the continuing journey that is the songs of Berlin-based artist
Molly Nilsson.

Starting out by hand-dubbing CDrs and forging a singular path in the global pop underground, Nilsson’s art has grown to the extent where hers is a precise songwriting devoid of unnecessary flourish. Her songs are perfect silhouettes of feelings everyone shares but that few can articulate with such heart-rending, icy pathos. Out of print for 4 years and in collectors market hell, NIght School has pressed 500 of this Molly classic on Transparent GREEN vinyl for RSD21

A jazz musician’s vision of hip-hop’ – The Times

NYC-based rap lyricist and jazz trumpeter Pan Amsterdam returns on Def Pressé with a distinctly fresh sonic swagger on single RETAIL, announcing the P.A.&JSammich EP 4-track EP.

RETAIL exemplifies perfectly the mood of the EP (which sees a very limited vinyl release), four tracks of cheerily ominous storytelling set to synth stabs and trumpet flourishes, with a smattering of personality disorder.
The release follows up BBC 6Music favourite, the GUTS-produced single Carrot Cake, and its mother album, HA Chu.
Carving his own niche of a jazz-rap very different to and darker than its Golden Age cousin, Pan Am’s sophomore LP (“one of the strangest rap works of recent times”, thanks, The Independent) saw him hit the buttons of leftfield hip hop fans and word association enthusiasts.

Ha Chu saw Pan Am reflect on his touring life over the years, from his jazz scene displacement in NYC to becoming a songwriter and bandleader for Iggy Pop under his real life pseudonym, Leron Thomas. HA Chu featured collabs with the aforementioned GUTS, Jason Williams of Sleaford Mods, Malik Crumpler of Madison Washington (and Def Pressé) and Coup Diablo - aka Jimi Goodwin of Doves.
Pan Am’s first album, The Pocket Watch, saw him tour with DJ/producer Mr.Shn and rapper-wrestler/‘What Had Happened Was’ podcast host Open Mike Eagle.

‘Broadcasting From Home’ is the third studio album by the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, released in 1984.
The opening song was named after Penguin Cafe Orchestra leader Simon Jeffes found a discarded harmonium in an alleyway in Japan.
This is the first repress since 1987 and uses the 2008 remaster.
Pressed on white vinyl.

‘Music From The Penguin Cafe’ is the first studio album by the Penguin Cafe Orchestra. It was recorded between 1974 and 1976 and released in 1976. The executive producer for the album was Brian Eno, who released this album on his experimental Obscure label, with catalogue number ‘Obscure 7’. The original cover was by John Bonis. The reissue cover painting is by Emily Young.  The album was included in Robert Dimery’s ‘1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die’.
This is the first repress since 1987 and uses the 2008 remaster.
Pressed on blue vinyl

Signs Of Life’ is the fourth studio album by the Penguin Cafe Orchestra.
It was recorded at the Penguin Cafe between 1985 and 1987 and released in March 1987.
It includes ‘Perpetuum Mobile’, one of their most famous pieces.
The album reached Number 49 in the UK Albums Chart.
This is the first repress since 1987 and uses the 2008 remaster.
Pressed on orange vinyl.

The Penguin Cafe Orchestra Mini Album is an EP by Penguin Cafe Orchestra consisting of six pieces, two derived from previous released recordings (‘The Penguin Cafe Single’ and ‘Air À Danser’), two that were recorded from a live performance in Tokyo (‘Numbers 1-4’ and ‘Salty Bean Fumble’), and two previously unreleased pieces which had not appeared elsewhere (‘The Toy’ and ‘Piano Music’).
The two live pieces were recorded by NHK Radio at the Kan-i Hoken Hall on 10 June 1982.
‘Piano Music’ is a solo piece recorded by Simon Jeffes in Tokyo on 7 July 1982 and ‘The Toy’ was recorded in 1983.
The cover painting was by Emily Young.  This is the first repress since 1983. Pressed on red vinyl.

When In Rome...’ is a 1988 live album by Penguin Cafe Orchestra, and was recorded at The Royal Festival Hall, London, on 9 July 1987.
It was produced by Simon Jeffes.  The cover painting is by Emily Young. This iteration has for the first time the full gig and uses the 2008 remaster.

The 12” singles box features nine replicas of the singles from the original campaign, all pressed on 180 gram heavyweight vinyl – as well as a tenth disc, which consists of a previously unheard remix (and accompanying instrumental) of ‘Shine Like Stars’ by the album’s late and beloved producer Andrew Weatherall. The box also features three art prints by the album’s cover artist Paul Cannell and a download code.

- Limited edition first pressing on Coke Bottle Clear vinyl. - Features from Ms. John Soda and BADBADNOTGOOD's Leland Whitty - Part of Jagjaguwar's Friends Of serie "For this EP I was trying to live less in nostalgia and function less off obvious references. I worked on Pout while becoming a dad, sitting a lot in my garden, and trying to kill my ego. Tracks like 'Mountain Access' make me think about driving around Hamilton, Ontario, my home as of a year ago. I hope people can still get a chance to walk around with this on headphones or daydream while listening to this project." - Ryan Hemsworth

The album ‘Romeo’ explores Sega Bodega’s relationship
with his fictional girlfriend, Luci (after Lucifer: bringer of
light), who is a being made entirely from light.
 Featuring some of Sega’s best production work to date,
with a few real sonic curveballs. His vocal performance
is brought more to the forefront than ever before.
 The album shows Sega really coming into himself as a
multifaceted artist and independent great after a couple
of years of building a solid core fanbase and producing
for some impressive names in the alternative space
(from Shygirl to Caroline Polachek, for instance).
 ‘Romeo’ features guest appearances by acts including
Arca and Charlotte Gainsbourg.
 Previous press support for Sega comes from Dazed,
L’officiel (cover), Fader, Office Mag, NME, DIY, i-D plus,
at radio, Annie Mac (Radio 1), Matt Wilkinson (Apple
Music 1) and Nemone (6 Music) have previously
championed Sega’s work.
 Born in Ireland, raised in Glasgow and now based in
London, producer, performer and labelhead Sega
Bodega - aka Salvador Navarrete - has built a reputation
as being one of the UK’s most innovative and precocious
creative minds.
 Inspired as much by his close network of peers as his
love of cinematic soundscapes, Sega has made impacts
spanning across music, fashion and film, soundtracking
some of the most important cultural moments in recent
years, as well as building a catalogue of prolific and
critically acclaimed solo releases that traverse genre,
style and composition.

Music from throughout Sigur Rós’s career, twisted, bent, broken, and finally added to in the band’s Reykjavík studio, to create a new perspective for a dance piece of the same title initiated and created by Taiwanese choreographer CHENG Tsung-Lung. Musical director Kjartan Holm. Originally released on Record Store Day, 22° Lunar Halo returns with new artwork, reversed in colour and printed in special ink. 22° Lunar Halo will be re-released on August 9.

A score of high Nordic drama drawing on unreleased Sigur Rós material and multi-tracks from the band’s catalogue. Premiered at Norđur Og Niđur Festival, to soundtrack performances from the Icelandic Dance Company. Arranged by Valdimar Johansson, choreographed by Erna Ómarsdóttir. Originally released on Record Store Day, Variations on Darkness returns with new artwork, reversed in colour and printed in special ink. Variations on Darkness will be re-released on August 9.

The 10 Year Anniversary Reissue: PALE GOLD COLORED VINYL + Digital Download with 8 Bonus Tracks (3 unreleased Live at Copenhagen X Sessions & 2011 Remixes EP). Recommended If You Like: Boards of Canada, The Antlers, Erik Satie, Blonde Redhead, Forest Swords, Cocteau Twins. After several years of writing music in bands, Danish multi-instrumentalist Brian Batz began experimenting at home with digitally altered piano and voice. In 2008, he began uploading eerie and introspective songs as Sleep Party People, with a home-recorded, eponymous debut album of whispery, otherworldly post-rock released in 2010. 10 years on, Joyful Noise is honored to commemorate this truly special album with an anniversary reissue, including eight bonus tracks and reimagined cover artwork.

– Discovering the history of the Women’s March on Versailles, in 1789, Nan Goldin captures one of the most pivotal moments of the French Revolution through her latest exhibition with a sound installation by Soundwalk Collective and architecture by Hala Wardé at Versailles itself.
– Soundtrack to Nan Goldin’s ‘The Women’s March, 1789’
– Produced and composed by Soundwalk Collective for Nan Goldin
– Concept and artistic direction: Nan Goldin and Stephan Crasneanscki
– Arrangement and mix: Simone Merli at Sakha Studios, Berlin
– Contains a black 180g heavyweight vinyl housed in a linen laminated sleeve
– All sleeve photography taken by Nan Goldin
– Includes extracts of the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen, Olympe de Gouges, a statement by Nan Goldin, a statement by Hala Wardé and an interview with Stephan Crasneanscki
– Limited edition of 300

Throughout the installation, designed with Hala Wardé, Nan Goldin and Soundwalk Collective work with underground waterworks, walls and sculptures to highlight the historical moment. The power of the women marching, their memory frozen in the surroundings are evoked in the sound installation using the voices of well-known women (Isabelle Adjani, Élodie Bouchez, Laetitia Casta, Catherine Deneuve, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Nan Goldin, Isabelle Huppert, Isild Le Besco, Anna Mouglalis & Charlotte Rampling), extolling their rights as defended by the French Revolution. The work is presented within the dark corridors of the Petit Trianon, far removed from the salons of Marie-Antoinette.

“Digging up this history that resonates so loudly with our times. This brilliant document could have been written today. Nothing has changed. There are women in the world that still don’t have the rights that are articulated in the Declaration.” – Nan Goldin Extract of statement

Exhibited as part of the exhibition ‘Versailles – Visible / Invisible’ organised by the Public Establishment of the Palace, Museum and National Estate of Versailles and Château de Versailles Spectacles.

The Broken Orchestra return with their new album ‘Pathways’, due for release
via the band’s own label ‘A Bridge Too Far Recordings’ on 2nd Aug, 2019.

Recorded and produced by the band at their very own Element Studio in Hull,
‘Pathways’ shows a progression in The Broken Orchestra’s sonic palette while
maintaining their signature down-tempo, trip-hop sound they have been
carefully moulding since their debut album ‘Shibui’.

‘Pathways was constructed and developed over the last year or so and although the album is mostly a collaborative effort between the four core members, in true Broken Orchestra fashion, it also features a variety of guests including Rick Ingham, Stephanie Halsey (Gary Numan), poet Vicky Foster and Nouvelle Vague singer Mélanie Pain.

The debut single from the album,
‘Mutual’ was released in October, charting in the iTunes charts in both Japan
and Spain.

The band will embark on a UK tour in summer to promote the new album playing dates in Manchester, London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Leeds, Halifax and Hull.

Exploding on to WONDERFULSOUND from somewhere between the mid 90’s and the vinyl record diggers vintage soundtrack scene, The Hi-Fires drop their debut collection of musics, spreading their sonic Gris- Gris far beyond their own island life.

The origins of this project lies deep within the man responsible for pulling The Hi-Fires together, respected vibester & go to drummer Rupert Brown. His drumming career has seen him work amongst such icons as Roy Ayers and his debut production saw him guide and launch the dust bowl soul of Angelina’s Vagabond Saint back in 2017 on WONDERFULSOUND. With The Hi-Fires his take on Hip Hop is obscenely forthright but his productions and arrangements pull each track through the continents of his experiences.

“The record is set in an exotic world of “ French Kung fu “ in the 1970’s : to create the ultimate soundtrack for a low budget movie shot on location in La Havana Cuba” Rupert informs .

The musics on the album are diverse there’s strains of the 90’s Bristol scene with songs Honest Lies, Beautiful and Heart in my Mouth which all feature actress & choir master Tallulah Smith. But then there’s the swampier grooves with temptress / vocalist Severine Mouletin ... Je veux te transmettre, C’est pour qu’un jour The Sea and the Sun, all with Stereolab but with leanings more to obscure soundtrack records that get hunted down!

But there’s also a lighter, dare I say Balearic, attitude going on here with Le Bas, brit jazz funkers Working Week or early EBTG spring to mind. Maybe this is obviously going to happen with the calibre of musicians involved. Terry Callier’s sax and flute player for 25 years Gary Plumley sax , flutes , baritone clarinet ( co conspirator and co producer and writer of half of the record ) sharing much of the wind section with Andrew Norman who plays trumpet and many brass instruments. The tremendous and generous provider of low end / Rafe Spencer anchors the beats with the double bass.

Rupert explains “there’s exotic brass instrumentation that takes jazz and hip hop influences, mixing them with the African 70’s tones and taking inspiration from the magical musicians from the north and south of the Americas"