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WHO IS ULTAN O’BRIEN? Ultan O’Brien is a fiddle player and composer from the wilds of County Clare in the West of Ireland. Ultan is a performer as well as a regular at sessions all of Ireland and can be found by chance in any pub in Dublin, Cork or some remote village on the edge of nowhere, flying jigs and reels around the room. Ultan was reared in the rich tradition of Irish music which is so commonly found and heard in Co Clare, but he also delves deep into sound art and experimental music. He has often been heard in the back of a car after a few pints quoting lines from Alvin Lucier or speaking at length about improvisation and its place in modern Irish music. Ultan O’Brien is a fresh and vital player who has much to offer with his unique approach and technique to a tradition so old and ever ready for a subtle change every 100 years or so. Ultan has played and recorded with people and bands such as Skipper’s Alley, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, John Francis Flynn, Slow Moving Clouds, Cuar, Laura Jurd, Martin Green, Natalia Beylis, Paul Roe and Nic Gareiss. ‘in its Ultan’s fiddle playing sincerity of tone it reminds me somewhat of those great caoineadh which were played with such elusive grandeur by Denis Murphy and Pádraig O’Keefe’ Adrian Scahill ‘lets the heart brighten and the feet tap’ Richard Hollingum -KlofMag


ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL ALBUM: ‘This album, Dancing the Line, is my first solo album of music played on an alternatively-tune alto fiddle. I found that the resonance and growl of this lower tuned instrument sat me perfectly into the sound-world I wanted to be in, giving vibrancy to my own compositions and nestling into the traditional music I grew up with.’

Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes is the debut album from Gregory Uhlmann (SML, Anna Butterss, Duffy x Uhlmann, Perfume Genius), Josh Johnson (SML, Jeff Parker ETA IVtet & New Breed, Meshell Ndegeocello, Anna Butterss, Leon Bridges), and Sam Wilkes (Sam Gendel, Louis Cole, Chaka Khan). The three improviser/arranger/producers' impressive individual credits encompass such a wide stylistic pendulum swing that a collection of group music from the trio could mine any number of musical territories with masterful results. I n these 11 instrumental songs, the trio explores a spacious lyrical curiosity that could b e described as a jazz-informed take o n progressive electro-acoustic chamber music.

Conceived during two live shows at ETA and a session at Uhlmann's house in Los Angeles, the album maintains a focus on beauty, melody, and rhythm as the pieces unfold, with the trio pushing their instruments and highly-dialed effects to sculpt otherworldly sounds with the collective sensibility o f a rhythm section. The ethos of these instant compositions is arrangement-minded improvisation that showcases the mournful beauty of Uhlmann's fingerpicked electric guitar, the hybrid rhythm-lead of Wilkes' bass chording, and the textural harmonic worldbuilding of Johnson's effect-laden alto saxophone.

"The Sunlandic Twins" markierte 2005 einen Wendepunkt für Of Montreal, als sich Songwriter Kevin Barnes einem stärker elektronisch-tanzbaren Sound zuwandte. Die lebendige Mischung aus Synthie-Pop und Psych-Rock wurde zum kommerziell erfolgreichsten Of Montreal-Album mit mehreren kultigen Fanfavoriten. Zum 20-jährigen Jubiläum veröffentlicht Polyvinyl die "The Sunlandic Twins (20th Anniversary Edition)", von Miles Showell in den Abbey Road Studios auf halber Geschwindigkeit neu für Vinyl remastert. Sie enthält das auf 45rpm neu geschnittene Originalalbum sowie einen digitalen Download mit einer zusätzlichen Fundgrube an Bonusmaterial, darunter bisher unveröffentlichte Raritäten, B-Sides, Coverversionen, Remixe und Livetracks, die einen tieferen Einblick in den kreativen Prozess hinter dieser faszinierenden Platte bieten. Neu verpackt auf holografischem Goldpapier samt Booklet mit noch nie zuvor gesehenen Skizzen des Cover-Artworks von David Barnes und einem Vorwort von Kevin Barnes.

"Supplicium" represents a perfect balance between tradition and modernity. On one hand, the lyrical concept and epic atmospheres transport the listener to the age of the Roman Empire, evoking visions of triumphant marches and blood-soaked arenas. On the other hand, the sound becomes increasingly technical and refined, with tight riffs, relentless rhythmic sections, and flawless production that enhances every detail. The album, crafted with meticulous care, succeeds in combining the brutality of death metal with highly complex instrumental passages, showcasing a band in constant evolution. With "Supplicium", ADE reaffirm their role as champions of a death metal where historical tradition and modern sound coexist, creating an experience that is both ferocious and captivating.

"Supplicium" represents a perfect balance between tradition and modernity. On one hand, the lyrical concept and epic atmospheres transport the listener to the age of the Roman Empire, evoking visions of triumphant marches and blood-soaked arenas. On the other hand, the sound becomes increasingly technical and refined, with tight riffs, relentless rhythmic sections, and flawless production that enhances every detail. The album, crafted with meticulous care, succeeds in combining the brutality of death metal with highly complex instrumental passages, showcasing a band in constant evolution. With "Supplicium", ADE reaffirm their role as champions of a death metal where historical tradition and modern sound coexist, creating an experience that is both ferocious and captivating.

On her forthcoming record, Rose Cousins holds our hands as she guides us on a journey through the "conditions of love." Ever the emotional explorer, the acclaimed, Nova-Scotia-based folk artist seeks truth, in all its imperfection, in the depths of our most complicated of emotions: love. Co-produced with trusted friend and longtime bandmate Joshua Van Tassel, this new collection of songs sees Rose return to her first love, the piano. “Piano is where I feel the most connected. It’s the best partner in expressing the emotion I’m mining,” she shares. Rose’s work as garnered her two JUNO Awards (2013’s We Have Made a Spark & 2021’s Bravado), two Canadian Folk Music Awards, eleven East Coast Music Awards and one Grammy nomination (2018’s Natural Conclusion), along with praise from the likes of the CBC, No Depression, LA Times, Billboard, Folk Alley, and NPR, who raved “Cousins’ disarmingly fluid vocal tone has the ability to convey the most internalized feelings without an ounce of fuss.” Over the years, she has shared stages with Patty Griffin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Jann Arden, Bruce Cockburn, Josh Ritter, Kathleen Edwards, Joe Henry, Aoife O’Donovan and Anais Mitchell, and her music has fittingly underscored scenes from notable TV shows including Grey’s Anatomy, Fire Country, Station 19, and Batwoman, along with several independent films.

A 1985 live performance from the Velvet Underground’s cult icon!

Nico’s doom-laden contralto voice, the bizarre choice of a harmonium for accompaniment, and the sheer eeriness and other-worldliness of her repertoire mark Nico as one of the most extraordinarily original performers of the rock era.

Sun Ra was a master of misdirection. Tape boxes wrongly labeled—whether by accident or design—are legendary among Ra archivists. One can speculate about the artist's intent or carelessness, but source misinformation abounds on Ra tape cases, album jackets, cassettes, ephemera—as well as in interviews. It's as if Ra, in furtherance of his own mythmaking, wanted to keep historians guessing.

This project began as a misidentified tape discovered by Michael D. Anderson of the Sun Ra Music Archive. The 7-inch reel, which contained a live Ra solo piano performance of 11 works—some recognizable, others not—was of stellar quality, and was marked as a 1979 Carnegie Hall date. But the program on the tape did not align with known facts (e.g., titles played, concert duration) which were chronicled in a Newsday review of Ra's appearance at Carnegie in September of that year. With a prod from writer/historian Ted Gioia and further research by myself, the tape was eventually identified as a mostly unreleased July 1977 performance by Ra at a downtown NYC "jazz café" called The Axis-in-Soho.

CRYO is the first album by the duo of cellist Nikos Veliotis (GR) and pianist Alex Zethson (SE). Veliotis is best known for the pioneering electronic group In Trance 95, MMMD and his collaboration with Giannis Aggelakas of the rock group Tripes. Zethson is a member of groups such as Goran Kajfes’ Tropiques, Martin Küchen's Angles, Fire! Orchestra, Vathres, and more. The duo met in Athens when Tropiques played at the legendary record store, gallery and concert venue Underflow, where Veliotis was invited for an opening solo set. The day after, the duo entered the Athens studio Artracks and created CRYO, consisting of two long pieces in which the duo explores slow forms and waves of sound, with the piano's bass register creating rumbling clouds and sparkling overtones that the cello blends into and transforms. Together, they’ve crafter an organically undulating, intense, heavy and dark drone music. The album was meticulously mastered by Mell Dettmer, who has collaborated with drone metal bands like Earth and Sun O))).

Lee Hazlewood made his bones producing and cowriting with guitarist Duane Eddy during the ‘50s, and then cemented his immortality with the classic sides he produced for Nancy Sinatra during the ‘60s. Over the past few decades, though, attention has turned to Lee’s idiosyncratic solo work, the heart of which he recorded for the Reprise label and his own LHI Records. Issued in 1968,

Love and Other Crimes is one of his Reprise releases, and it’s one of the weirdest records in his entire catalog. Recorded in Paris with such legendary Wrecking Crew members as guitarist James Burton and drummer Hal Blaine, Hazlewood sounds every bit the bon vivant (read: half drunk) as he swings from country ballads to lightly psychedelic pop highlighted by his rockin’ cover of Bonnie Dobson’s “Morning Dew.” Other highlights include “Rosacoke Street,” which presents him at his most psychedelic lounge lizard-esque, (think a Hunter Thompson character from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) and his moving “Wait and See,” an apology for bad behavior to an absent lover.

We’ve enlisted Mike Milchner to remaster this one for vinyl… don’t miss Lee’s stream-of-consciousness back cover notes, either. Pressed in sea blue vinyl limited to 1000 copies!

The late, great Calvin Keys’1971 debut album for the Black Jazz Records label announced the arrival of a new star in the jazz guitar firmament. Keys had spent the ‘60s backing up the crème de la crème of jazz organists—Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Jack McDuff, Richard “Groove” Holmes—but for his first record as a leader, he was eager to play with a piano player instead. So he recruited one of the best—Larry Nash, who, besides being a member of the L.A. Express, played with everybody from Eddie Harris to Bill Withers to Etta James. Bassist Lawrence Evans, drummer Bob Braye, and flautist-songwriter Owen Marshall rounded out the group on Shawn-Neeq, which might remind some of Pat Metheny’s early work (Metheny acknowledges Keys as an influence), or Grant Green.

But what gives Shawn-Neeq extra depth is that it comes from the heart; as Keys says in Pat Thomas’ liner notes, which feature an interview with the artist: “My thing was, I write about some of the experiences that I’ve had in my life.” Keys became a fixture in the Bay Area jazz scene before he passed in April 2024; this is the album that started his journey. Another gem from the celebrated Black Jazz catalog, pressed in blue with black swirl vinyl limited to 750 copies!

The late, great Calvin Keys’1971 debut album for the Black Jazz Records label announced the arrival of a new star in the jazz guitar firmament. Keys had spent the ‘60s backing up the crème de la crème of jazz organists—Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Jack McDuff, Richard “Groove” Holmes—but for his first record as a leader, he was eager to play with a piano player instead. So he recruited one of the best—Larry Nash, who, besides being a member of the L.A. Express, played with everybody from Eddie Harris to Bill Withers to Etta James. Bassist Lawrence Evans, drummer Bob Braye, and flautist-songwriter Owen Marshall rounded out the group on Shawn-Neeq, which might remind some of Pat Metheny’s early work (Metheny acknowledges Keys as an influence), or Grant Green.

But what gives Shawn-Neeq extra depth is that it comes from the heart; as Keys says in Pat Thomas’ liner notes, which feature an interview with the artist: “My thing was, I write about some of the experiences that I’ve had in my life.” Keys became a fixture in the Bay Area jazz scene before he passed in April 2024; this is the album that started his journey. Another gem from the celebrated Black Jazz catalog, pressed in blue with black swirl vinyl limited to 750 copies!

FIRST TIME EVER ON LP
LIMITED EDITION CLEAR VINYL - ONLY 1000 UNITS PRESSED
COMPACT DISC BACK IN PRINT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 10 YEARS - Now On 8 Panel Digi-Pak
FINAL SMITHEREENS ALBUM WITH ORIGINAL LEAD SINGER PAT DiNIZIO
PRODUCED BY DON DIXEN (REM, GIN BLOSSOMS, MARSHALL CRENSHAW)

“Crushing chronic chords with the dyne-rhythm section to fuel it all, are not only still here, but stronger than ever”. No Depression

"Everything in Smithereens' world is like a film noir shot in psychedelic colors. But this New Jersey band has a talent for creating fresh variations that prevent dust or mist from clouding their music. "Smithereens 2011" reaches a peak with the song that opens the album, the sour-tempered yet utterly transporting "Sorry.” Ken Tucker, NPR

"Wholly satisfying blast of classic Smithereens songcraft and melodicism, colored with Pat DiNizio’s impassioned vocals, Jim Babjak’s thick-toned, stinging guitar, Dennis Diken’s imaginative, powerful drum work and Severo “The Thrilla” Jornacion’s stylish bass. The entire collection sounds like a return to The Smithereens’ mid-to-late ’80s glory years, both song and performance-wise.” GOLDMINE MAGAZINE

“And 2011’s songs – the songs! – vintage! Picks up where Green Thoughts left off. Pop Dose

compiled by tsunaki kadowaki
artwork by yoshirotten
mastering by kuniyuki takahashi

Tsunaki Kadowaki, a staff member at Kyoto’s record store Meditations, the supervisor of "New Age Music Disc Guide", and the founder of Sad Disco, curates the fourth installment of "Midnight in Tokyo" themed around Ambient Kayō.

The Midnight in Tokyo series by Studio Mule focuses on Japanese music, serving as a soundtrack for Tokyo nights—whether for home listening, club play, or as a driving BGM, transcending location and space. After a six-year hiatus, the fourth volume takes "Ambient Kayō" as its new perspective, compiling genre-defying tracks released between 1977 and 1999 to explore the intersection of Japanese ambient and pop music.

For this long-awaited fourth installment, selections were made regardless of record label status (major or independent), era, format (vinyl or CD), original release price, or prior reissues. Instead, the focus was on music that deeply moves the listener, is open-minded and evocative, brims with inspiration and spiritual insight, and embodies the "utagokoro" (singing heart) of Japanese artists.

Opening the compilation is "Umi e Kinasai" by Yōsui Inoue, a legendary Japanese singer-songwriter whose works have recently gained renewed interest as hidden gems of Walearic and ambient pop

Composed and arranged by Katsu Hoshi—who is also known for his arrangements on Inoue’s masterpiece Ice World—the track features renowned players such as Masayoshi Takanaka, Hiroki Inui, and Shigeru Inoue. The song embodies a yearning for Balearic horizons, tinged with youthful vibrancy and sentimentality.

Next, "Oritatamu Umi", compiled from Keiko Nosaka, a 20-string koto player, and George Murasaki, a pioneer of Okinawan rock, is an instrumental track from their album "Niraikanai Requiem 1945". As the title suggests, it carries themes of requiem and remembrance, conveying poetic lyricism even without words. Blending Ryukyuan/Okinawan harmonies and indigenous elements, it unfolds as an intimate and nostalgic piece of progressive rock.

Also featured is "Natsu no Kowareru Koro" by Higurashi, a folk-rock band led by Seiichi Takeda, formerly a guitarist of The Remainders of The Clover, the predecessor of RC Succession. Like the opening track "Umi e Kinasai", this song was also produced by Katsu Hoshi. It stands as a folk/new music piece that takes a step into an "otherworldly" realm, recommended for fans of Twin Cosmos and Masumi Hara.

From the enigmatic Blue, the only work left by the mysterious composer S.R. Kinoshita, comes "Mangrove", a hidden treasure of Japan's ambient/new age scene from the CD era. With an oriental and enigmatic atmosphere, the track evokes a mystical world of deep, uncharted jungles, unfolding as an otherworldly New Age Kayō.

"Yaponesia Sakura", selected from Rehabilual’s sole album New Child, is a masterpiece of Japanese new age music. Produced by Swami Dhyan Akamo, a disciple of Indian meditation teacher Osho and a renowned balafon player, the track features Michio Ogawa (Chakra) and Atsuo Fujimoto (Colored Music). Their collective artistry creates an exquisite spiritual ambient pop sound.

"Asa no Hitoshizuku", the opening folk song from Sachiko Kanenobu’s album Sachiko, is also included. Known for her legendary folk album Misora, produced by Haruomi Hosono, Kanenobu’s fourth album after resuming her career was inspired by her experiences living in San Francisco and revolves around the theme of "love." This track carries the same intimate poetic world as Misora, imbued with a pure, crystalline innocence.

From the synth-pop band E.S. Island, known for the Haruomi Hosono-produced *Teku Teku Mami", comes "Yume Fūrin ", selected from their long-lost new age classic Nanpū from Hachijo. Created while the band’s core duo was living in Hachijō Island, the album aimed to sonically capture "the high and happy vibrations of everyday island life." This track offers a dynamic, tribal-infused New Age Kayō experience.

Dubbed "the world's first Min’yō House Mix" "Esashi Oiwake (Maeuta) " comes from Kanazawa Akiko HOUSE MIX Ⅰ, a collaboration between Japanese house music pioneer Soichi Terada and Akiko Kanazawa, a renowned min’yō singer. Through the prism of club music, Hokkaido's Esashi Oiwake, one of Japan’s most iconic folk songs, is transformed into a futuristic ambient pop piece with intricate sound design.

The compilation also includes "Sweet Ong Choh", a track from Voice From Asia, a group active between 1989 and 1992 featuring vocal artist Shizuru Ohtaka. Taken from their imaginative minimal work Voice From Asia, released under Aoyama Spiral’s music label Newsic, the song presents a tranquil, tribal-minimal soundscape enriched by ethnic instruments.

Hailed by Haruomi Hosono as having “a shaman residing in her voice,” singer-songwriter Nami Hōdatsu also appears in the selection. Known for her collaborations with Henry Kawahara, her debut album featured "Asa-Hikari-Ame-Yume", a track that now stands as a precursor to modern vocaloid/synthesized vocal music—a hidden gem of post-choir aesthetics that deserves rediscovery.

Likewise, "Tennessee Waltz", from Naomi Akimoto’s album One Night Stand, supported by members of Mariah, serves as another early prototype of vocaloid/synthesized vocal music. The track weaves fragmented vocal samples, pastoral yet sweetly minimal synth sounds, and mechanical beats into a strikingly unconventional piece in the history of Japanese music.

Closing the compilation is "Heaven Electric", a track from Nav Katze’s album Gentle & Elegance, which featured remixes by Autechre, Seefeel, and Sun Electric. Merging elements of IDM, ambient techno, and chillout, the song embodies an optimism reminiscent of space music while seamlessly blending a mystical Japanese aesthetic—an ambient pop masterpiece.

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The album presents 12 exquisite pop tracks infused with an ambient feeling, resonating deeply with the evolving landscape of the mid-2020s—a time of post-hyperpop and Y2K revival.

Tsunaki Kadowaki (Compiler)

Born in 1993 in Yonago, Tottori, Tsunaki Kadowaki is a staff member and buyer at Kyoto’s Meditations record store. He is the editor of New Age Music Disc Guide (DU BOOKS) and a contributor to Music Magazine, Record Collectors' Magazine, ele-king, and more. Kadowaki has written liner notes for multiple Japanese releases (Brian Eno, Masahiro Sugaya etc.) and runs the Sad Disco music label under Disk Union. He also curates Spotify’s official New Age Music playlist and performed as a DJ at YCAM’s Audio Base Camp #3 in 2024.

Mitte März 2025 veröffentlicht Ninja Tune ein Reissue des legendären Albums 'Adventures in Foam‘ welches das einzige Album von Amon Tobin ist, das unter dem Namen Cujo (portugiesisch für „dessen“) veröffentlicht wurde. Diese ultimative 3xLP-Wiederveröffentlichung bringt zum ersten Mal alle Tracks zusammen und bietet damit eine umfassende Version des Albums.

A few weeks ago, Brigade Loco officially announced that they will release their third album in the coming months. The band from Gipuzkoa, with seven years of trajectory, will release their new full-length under the title"Bide baten esanahia" ("The meaning of a road"). This new album will finally be released in February 2025. As usual, the album has been recorded at the Sound of Sirens studio in Iruña under the supervision of technician Julen Urzaiz. This album is a firm step forward for a band that wants to evolve and write its own trajectory without repeating chapters previously made. In view of this, the band says they are very excited about the project. It has been more than a year of work and effort before this ambitious project sees the light of day, and they are looking forward to sharing their new tunes with their audience. Brigade Loco are about to start a very important episode in their career. An episode with interesting paragraphs, plotsand characters. Stay tuned.

A few weeks ago, Brigade Loco officially announced that they will release their third album in the coming months. The band from Gipuzkoa, with seven years of trajectory, will release their new full-length under the title"Bide baten esanahia" ("The meaning of a road"). This new album will finally be released in February 2025. As usual, the album has been recorded at the Sound of Sirens studio in Iruña under the supervision of technician Julen Urzaiz. This album is a firm step forward for a band that wants to evolve and write its own trajectory without repeating chapters previously made. In view of this, the band says they are very excited about the project. It has been more than a year of work and effort before this ambitious project sees the light of day, and they are looking forward to sharing their new tunes with their audience. Brigade Loco are about to start a very important episode in their career. An episode with interesting paragraphs, plotsand characters. Stay tuned.

Founded in Lombardy in early 2023 and now hailing from different parts of Italy, RESCÜE CAT is an energetic hardcore band bursting with attitude and... love! Starting off as friends in the local scene, they're now ready to make their mark as one of the fresh faces of Italian hardcore. With performances at major events like Venezia Hardcore and Built to Blast already under their belts, they've developed a distinct style that mixes intense, emotional lyrics, tight compositions, and dreamy imagery.

Pink vinyl. Founded in Lombardy in early 2023 and now hailing from different parts of Italy, RESCÜE CAT is an energetic hardcore band bursting with attitude and... love! Starting off as friends in the local scene, they're now ready to make their mark as one of the fresh faces of Italian hardcore. With performances at major events like Venezia Hardcore and Built to Blast already under their belts, they've developed a distinct style that mixes intense, emotional lyrics, tight compositions, and dreamy imagery.

"Invisible Threads" is a sonic assault that penetrates the darkest depths of existence. This album explores themes of human degradation, unspoken fears, and wars that ravage not only bodies but also minds. A fierce manifestation of death metal, "Invisible Threads" overwhelms the listener with a crescendo of sonic brutality and raw emotions_an unrelenting frontal impact from the first to the last track, destined to leave a lasting mark.

"Invisible Threads" is a sonic assault that penetrates the darkest depths of existence. This album explores themes of human degradation, unspoken fears, and wars that ravage not only bodies but also minds. A fierce manifestation of death metal, "Invisible Threads" overwhelms the listener with a crescendo of sonic brutality and raw emotions_an unrelenting frontal impact from the first to the last track, destined to leave a lasting mark.

Orange/Black/Sunburst Vinyl "Choice Quality Stuff/Anytime," released in 1971, marked the third studio album by It's a Beautiful Day, a band celebrated for their eclectic blend of rock, jazz, folk, classical, and world-beat influences. Formed in 1967 in San Francisco during the height of the city's vibrant music scene, the band initially featured vocalist Pattie Santos, violinist David LaFlamme, and keyboardist Linda LaFlamme. Their distinct sound, highlighted by David's five-string violin, set them apart from their contemporaries, even though they never reached the same level of fame as Jefferson Airplane or Santana. By the time of this album, the band's lineup had shifted significantly. Founding members Mitchell Holman and Hal Wagenet had departed, replaced by bassist Tom Fowler (later known for his work with Frank Zappa) and guitarist Bill Gregory. The album, recorded amid these transitions, reflects both the band's creative maturity and their ability to evolve while staying true to their signature style. Tracks like "Creed of Love" and "Anytime" exemplify their musical diversity and lyrical depth. "Choice Quality Stuff/Anytime" was a continuation of the band's legacy, cementing their place as a unique voice in the late 60s and early 70s rock scene, even as their lineup and fortunes changed.

Purple Vinyl. "Choice Quality Stuff/Anytime," released in 1971, marked the third studio album by It's a Beautiful Day, a band celebrated for their eclectic blend of rock, jazz, folk, classical, and world-beat influences. Formed in 1967 in San Francisco during the height of the city's vibrant music scene, the band initially featured vocalist Pattie Santos, violinist David LaFlamme, and keyboardist Linda LaFlamme. Their distinct sound, highlighted by David's five-string violin, set them apart from their contemporaries, even though they never reached the same level of fame as Jefferson Airplane or Santana. By the time of this album, the band's lineup had shifted significantly. Founding members Mitchell Holman and Hal Wagenet had departed, replaced by bassist Tom Fowler (later known for his work with Frank Zappa) and guitarist Bill Gregory. The album, recorded amid these transitions, reflects both the band's creative maturity and their ability to evolve while staying true to their signature style. Tracks like "Creed of Love" and "Anytime" exemplify their musical diversity and lyrical depth. "Choice Quality Stuff/Anytime" was a continuation of the band's legacy, cementing their place as a unique voice in the late 60s and early 70s rock scene, even as their lineup and fortunes changed.

Gold vinyl. Building on the momentum of their debut, Shooting Star returned in 1981 with Hang On for Your Life, a dynamic follow-up that further cemented their place in the AOR rock scene. The album delivered a mix of anthemic rock and melodic hooks, with standout tracks like "Hang On for Your Life," "Hollywood," "Breakout," and "Are You on My Side" all receiving steady radio airplay. One of the album's most unique moments came with "Flesh and Blood," an up-tempo rock song featuring a soaring violin solo_a rarity in the genre that highlighted the band's signature sound. While the record found success on rock stations, it also marked the end of an era, as founding keyboardist Bill Guffey departed the band following its release. With Van McLain, Gary West, Charles Waltz, Ron Verlin, and Steve Thomas still at the helm, Hang On for Your Life captured Shooting Star at their peak_an ambitious, hard-driving rock band with a sound that was both melodic and powerful.

White/Gold Sunburst Vinyl. Building on the momentum of their debut, Shooting Star returned in 1981 with Hang On for Your Life, a dynamic follow-up that further cemented their place in the AOR rock scene. The album delivered a mix of anthemic rock and melodic hooks, with standout tracks like "Hang On for Your Life," "Hollywood," "Breakout," and "Are You on My Side" all receiving steady radio airplay. One of the album's most unique moments came with "Flesh and Blood," an up-tempo rock song featuring a soaring violin solo_a rarity in the genre that highlighted the band's signature sound. While the record found success on rock stations, it also marked the end of an era, as founding keyboardist Bill Guffey departed the band following its release. With Van McLain, Gary West, Charles Waltz, Ron Verlin, and Steve Thomas still at the helm, Hang On for Your Life captured Shooting Star at their peak_an ambitious, hard-driving rock band with a sound that was both melodic and powerful.

Red vinyl. Released in 1982, III Wishes marked a new chapter for Shooting Star, as it was their first album without founding keyboardist Bill Guffey. Despite the lineup change, the band continued to refine their signature blend of melodic rock and soaring instrumentation, further establishing themselves in the AOR scene. With Van McLain, Gary West, Charles Waltz, Ron Verlin, and Steve Thomas still leading the charge, III Wishes showcased powerful hooks, tight musicianship, and the band's signature violin-infused rock sound. While it didn't achieve mainstream superstardom, the album reaffirmed Shooting Star's underrated brilliance and commitment to delivering heartfelt, high-energy rock.

Red/Black splatter vinyl. Released in 1982, III Wishes marked a new chapter for Shooting Star, as it was their first album without founding keyboardist Bill Guffey. Despite the lineup change, the band continued to refine their signature blend of melodic rock and soaring instrumentation, further establishing themselves in the AOR scene. With Van McLain, Gary West, Charles Waltz, Ron Verlin, and Steve Thomas still leading the charge, III Wishes showcased powerful hooks, tight musicianship, and the band's signature violin-infused rock sound. While it didn't achieve mainstream superstardom, the album reaffirmed Shooting Star's underrated brilliance and commitment to delivering heartfelt, high-energy rock.

Clear marble vinyl. Hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, Shooting Star made history as the first American band signed to Virgin Records. Their 1980 self-titled debut, produced by Gus Dudgeon (renowned for his work with Elton John), showcased a powerful blend of melodic rock, soaring harmonies, and violin-infused arrangements. Recorded in England in 1979, the album gained national attention with AOR radio staples like "You Got What I Need," "Bring It On," and "Tonight." However, it was "Last Chance" that truly stood out_later praised by AllMusic as "one of the finest songs ever." With a lineup featuring Van McLain, Gary West, Charles Waltz, Bill Guffey, Ron Verlin, and Steve Thomas, Shooting Star blended classic rock with orchestral textures, crafting a unique and memorable sound. Though they never reached mainstream superstardom, their debut album remains a hidden gem of heartland rock, capturing the energy and ambition of a band on the rise.

Discos Martos Launches with Glen Anthony Henry's Soulful 45 Vinyl Single.

Discos Martos, a new division of Rocafort Records, proudly announces its debut release: a 45-vinyl single by soul singer Glen Anthony Henry. Originally from Los Angeles and based in Spain, Henry combines classic soul with modern flair in this exciting project.

The A-side, "Thankful," is an upbeat tribute to love and friendship, featuring a catchy hook and a drum backbeat reminiscent of Al Green. On the B-side, "Fade Away," Glen Anthony Henry showcases his falsetto in a deeper, more introspective track.

Both songs are produced by Oscar Martos, entirely in analog, capturing the essence of 70s soul music with a contemporary twist.

This release marks an exciting beginning for Discos Martos, celebrating soulful sounds for a new generation.

This new 45 RPM single is the lastest from Pyramid Blue, a group known for their Ethio-jazz fusion.

This time, the Spanish band has teamed up with Habiba Chaouf, an Arab singer rooted in Spain's flamenco scene, who lends her beautiful vocals to the A-side. The song blends Arab melodies with deep afro-funk rhythms. Habiba's soulful vocals elevate the track, which reflects on the emotional journey of longing, uncertainty, and the search for change. "Amal" (meaning "Hope" in Arabic) reminds us of the power of hope as both a guiding light and a source of inner strength, even in the face of doubt and longing.

On the B-side, La Esperanza (Hope), Pyramid Blue delivers a hypnotic, instrumental journey, featuring a bold horn section and a guitar riff that evokes the feeling of crossing a vast desert—an atmospheric, cinematic soundscape that could easily score a film.

Konstrukt 5 by Buntspecht, released 14 March 2025, includes the following tracks: "So viel zu sehn", "Die Stadt in Dir", "Wenn Du jetzt gehst", "Reprise" and more.

The Very Best Of by Dave Brubeck, released 14 March 2025.

This version of The Very Best Of comes as a 2xLP.

The vinyl is pressed as a blue disc. Another vinyl is pressed as a blue disc.

Der kanadische Starpianist Jan Lisiecki bringt die vielfältigen Klänge des fantasieartigen Instrumentalwerks
des Präludiums auf seinem neuen Album zum Strahlen und zeigt, dass es weitaus mehr ist als nur ein
Vorspiel zu etwas anderem. Frédéric Chopins außergewöhnliche 24 Préludes op. 28 sind dabei Inspiration
und Ausgangspunkt der vorliegenden Aufnahme. Chopin war laut Lisiecki ein „Meister der Kurzform,“, der
„das Präludium aus dem Schatten ins Rampenlicht“ brachte. Verbunden und kontrastiert werden Chopins
Stücke mit ausgewählten Präludien weiterer Komponisten aus über drei Epochen, die jeweils Höhepunkte
in der Geschichte des Genres markieren - von Bach, Messiaen, Rachmaninoff bis Górecki. Damit möchte
Lisiecki „die vielfältigen Möglichkeiten des bescheidenen Präludiums aufzeigen“ und nimmt „das Publikum
auf eine musikalische Entdeckungsreise“ durch den Kosmos dieser abwechslungsreichen Miniaturen.

Auf Lullaby stellt der norwegische Trompeter Mathias Eick sein frisch eingespieltes Quartett vor und
präsentiert ein Programm, das dessen improvisatorische Qualitäten in den Vordergrund stellt. Mit den
ECM-Vertrauten Kristjan Randalu und Ole Morten Vågan an Klavier und Bass sowie Neuzugang Hans
Hulbækmo am Schlagzeug werden zutiefst melodische Linien erörtert, welche die Musiker elegant zwischen den Harmonien fließen lassen, um gemeinsam aus den Formen heraus Schwung aufzubauen. Eicks
unmittelbar erkennbares, weiches Horn-Timbre steht oft in markanter Gegenüberstellung zu Randalus abwechselnd lyrischen und ausladenden Tastenerkundungen, die sich über eine treibende, immer einnehmende
Rhythmusgruppe erheben. Das Album wurde im Rainbow Studio in Oslo aufgenommen.

Repress as neon green vinyl!

Non Phixion drops a re-realse n of the group’s classic debut “The Future Is Now.” Available exclusively through Fat Beats. “Utilizing beats that would do Dr. Octagon-era Dan “The Automator” proud and rhyming schemes that bring to mind early Wu-Tang Clan or mid-’90s Gang Starr, Non Phixion exposes the sound of true underground hip-hop. This is music that reflects the sound and attitude of countless rappers selling their albums out of the back of their cars or in booths on the street, cutting together dirty and disjointed sounds with a confidence and quality that is unique to this particular genre. This would all be for nothing if it wasn’t for the excellent raps from Ill Bill, Goretex, and Sabac Red, a trio of rappers who have a Tribe Called Quest-like chemistry. Their clever lyrics, respectable skills, and rough voices make this an intense and dark landmark in alternative rap.”

Simon McBride hat sich in kürzester Zeit zu einem der gefeiertsten Gitarristen der letzten Jahre entwickelt. 2023 trat er als neuer Gitarrist von Deep Purple ins Rampenlicht und machte damit einen Schritt, der wie aus einem Rock’n’Roll-Märchen klingt: von den kleinen Bühnen der Pubs in seiner Heimat Belfast zu den größten Arenen der Welt. Innerhalb weniger Wochen zierte er die Cover von über 20 renommierten Musikmagazinen und feierte im letzten Jahr mit Deep Purple seine erste Nummer-1-Platzierung in den deutschen Albumcharts. Mit makelloser Performance und außergewöhnlicher Produktionsqualität ist diese Sammlung seltener Tracks ein Muss für alle Rock-Enthusiasten. Für Fans, die McBrides Stil und Persönlichkeit bei Deep Purple schätzen, bietet dieses Album einen aufregenden Einblick in seine Vielseitigkeit und musikalische Brillanz

AM Higgins, the project of American singer-songwriter Annie Meredith Higgins, based in France, blends mystical poetry with influences from Kate Bush, Low, and Fiona Apple. Her new album, The Dream Trap, explores dreamy and deep atmospheres, fusing folk, electronics, and sonic experimentation. Recorded in a barn and a mill converted into a studio, the album captures contrasting dynamics, with arrangements combining organs, drums, synthesizers, and silences. Annie's warm, intimate, yet cosmic voice is at the heart of the project, supported by both organic and electronic instruments. For this album, she reunites with collaborator Casey Foubert (regular contributor to Sufjan Stevens, among others) for production and mixing, with contributions from sound creator Tana Barbier. The Dream Trap, set for release in February 2025 on the We Are Unique! label, promises to be a significant step forward in their musical evolution, both introspective and expansive.

Eins, Zwei, Drei, ... Iti Eta No. Hier nun das kommende und mit Spannung erwartete neue Heimat-Album! Eingehüllt in das erstaunliche und faszinierende Coverartwork der gefeierten Illustratorin Anouk Ricard, gibt es hier eine handvoll schwer zu klassifizierender Deviant-Pop-Songs von den Olivier Demeaux (Cheveu, Accident du Travail) und Armelle Oberlé (The Dreams, Badaboom). Manchmal sehr martialisch wie Marschmusik, manchmal sehr lyrisch und sanft, tauchen die Klänge von Heimat tiefer in diese verrückten Landschaften ein, indem sie kinematografische Partituren und Samples über Schichten urbaner Kulturen legen und so die Tore der verträumten Blicke und der schattenhaften Geschichten zu öffnen. Das gut produzierte und lesbare, überraschende und explosive Material ist ein echtes Art Brut-Manifest der collagierten Musik. Heißen wir dieses seltsame Paradies willkommen.

A Lost Hi-NRG Gem Returns – After 38 Years!

Another iconic diamond of German electronic disco is finally back on vinyl after 38 years! This is no ordinary reissue – it’s a Mike Mareen production, the mastermind behind the legendary “Love Spy”. Released under his Night’n’Day Records, a label that ruled the ’80s dancefloors, this track is pure Hi-NRG gold.

Enter “Roadrunner”, a high-energy banger from Jeff Harrison, this time hiding behind the alias U.K.. Packed with playful synths, an electrifying tempo, and Jeff’s dynamic vocals, this track is made for the dancefloor—like a fitness trainer hyping you up for that final rep!

But that’s not all! This special edition also includes never-before-released versions straight from the original recording session. Stored on tape, buried in a drawer for 38 years, and now – FINALLY – ready to hit your turntable.

Get it. Spin it. Feel the energy!

Original 2019 note: Little is known about the ensemble that is Sun Atlas. It's not certain whether you'd find them in Los Angeles, New York, Addis Ababa, Marrakesh or northern Germany. Maybe non, maybe all of the above. Their only proof of existance is banned on this 45. Their razor-sharp mixture of afrobeat, ethiojazz, surf, cinematic soul, crime jazz & funk/hiphop breaks speaks for itself. Only on vinyl.