quête:melo x

Östro 430 waren schon immer eine sehr besondere Band. Eine kurze Zeitreise: Es sind die späten 70er- und frühen 80er-Jahre, und in Düsseldorf proben Dutzende junger Gruppen die Revolution: Male, Mittagspause (später Fehlfarben), ZK (später Tote Hosen), S.Y.P.H., Der Plan, DAF. Ihre Barrikade, Bühne und Biertresen ist der Ratinger Hof, der schnell zum deutschen "Mekka des Punk" wird. Doch selbst hier verstoßen Östro 430 gegen jedes Gesetz. Ihre Musik ist aufgedreht, melodiös, brachial und Do-it-Yourself. Die Krönung sind die Songtexte: Lieder wie "Sexueller Notstand", "S-Bahn" und "Zu cool" werden zu Klassikern. Sie schaffen es ins Fernsehen, den britischen NME und sogar in die BRAVO. Die Welt braucht die Östros, aber sie verpasst ihre Chance: 1984 lösen sich Östro 430. 39 Jahre später bekommt die Welt eine zweite Chance. Östro 430 können nicht anders, als anders zu sein als alle anderen. Punkrock, aber nach Hausfrauenart: keine Gitarren - und trotzdem straight. Dazu Texte, die das Reimlexikon neu erfinden: Sie dichten "Diktator" auf "Vibrator" und "Hintern" auf "Pimpern". Sie teilen aus gegen jede Art von Spießertum: machtgeile Populisten, konservative Alt-Punks, ignorante Umweltschweine und politisch Überkorrekte, die Shitstorms diktieren. Und die Östros können sogar anders als anders, nämlich verletzlich sein. In "Bleib hier" heißt es: "Du sagst, ich lieb aus Angst vor dem Alleinesein und jedes Wort tritt meine Zukunft ein". Östro 430, die ungewollten Role-Models der Ü50-PunkerInnen, teilen wieder aus & prangern an - schmackhaft, nachhaltig & wohl bekömmlich. Auf "Punkrock nach Hausfrauenart" sagen nun auch Bela B. von den Ärzten, Bärchen & die Milchbubis und Stefan Stoppok mit ihren musikalischen Gastbeiträgen als Kronzeugen für die Gruppe aus. Einst waren Östro 430 Vorbilder, als es Bezeichnungen wie Rrriot Girls und Role Models noch nicht gab. Und auch heute sind sie wieder Wegbereiter. Wegbereiter wofür? Bis die Welt das passende Wort gefunden hat, nennen wir"s einfach "Punkrock nach Hausfrauenart".

Östro 430 waren schon immer eine sehr besondere Band. Eine kurze Zeitreise: Es sind die späten 70er- und frühen 80er-Jahre, und in Düsseldorf proben Dutzende junger Gruppen die Revolution: Male, Mittagspause (später Fehlfarben), ZK (später Tote Hosen), S.Y.P.H., Der Plan, DAF. Ihre Barrikade, Bühne und Biertresen ist der Ratinger Hof, der schnell zum deutschen "Mekka des Punk" wird. Doch selbst hier verstoßen Östro 430 gegen jedes Gesetz. Ihre Musik ist aufgedreht, melodiös, brachial und Do-it-Yourself. Die Krönung sind die Songtexte: Lieder wie "Sexueller Notstand", "S-Bahn" und "Zu cool" werden zu Klassikern. Sie schaffen es ins Fernsehen, den britischen NME und sogar in die BRAVO. Die Welt braucht die Östros, aber sie verpasst ihre Chance: 1984 lösen sich Östro 430. 39 Jahre später bekommt die Welt eine zweite Chance. Östro 430 können nicht anders, als anders zu sein als alle anderen. Punkrock, aber nach Hausfrauenart: keine Gitarren - und trotzdem straight. Dazu Texte, die das Reimlexikon neu erfinden: Sie dichten "Diktator" auf "Vibrator" und "Hintern" auf "Pimpern". Sie teilen aus gegen jede Art von Spießertum: machtgeile Populisten, konservative Alt-Punks, ignorante Umweltschweine und politisch Überkorrekte, die Shitstorms diktieren. Und die Östros können sogar anders als anders, nämlich verletzlich sein. In "Bleib hier" heißt es: "Du sagst, ich lieb aus Angst vor dem Alleinesein und jedes Wort tritt meine Zukunft ein". Östro 430, die ungewollten Role-Models der Ü50-PunkerInnen, teilen wieder aus & prangern an - schmackhaft, nachhaltig & wohl bekömmlich. Auf "Punkrock nach Hausfrauenart" sagen nun auch Bela B. von den Ärzten, Bärchen & die Milchbubis und Stefan Stoppok mit ihren musikalischen Gastbeiträgen als Kronzeugen für die Gruppe aus. Einst waren Östro 430 Vorbilder, als es Bezeichnungen wie Rrriot Girls und Role Models noch nicht gab. Und auch heute sind sie wieder Wegbereiter. Wegbereiter wofür? Bis die Welt das passende Wort gefunden hat, nennen wir"s einfach "Punkrock nach Hausfrauenart".

Black Truffle is pleased to announce The Leisure Principle, a new solo LP from London-based bassist and sound artist Otto Willberg. A key player in the London underground, Willberg is often heard on acoustic and electric bass in free improv settings and bands with Laurie Tompkins (Yes Indeed) and Charles Hayward (Abstract Concrete), as well as the fractured No Wave unit Historically Fucked. His previous solo releases have ranged from extended technique double bass to explorations of the acoustics of a 19th century artillery fort. But nothing Willberg has committed to wax so far prepares a listener for The Leisure Principle, six unashamedly melodic improvisational workouts created almost entirely with heavily filtered bass harmonica and electric bass. On the opening ‘Reap What Thou Sow’, a single-note bass harmonica loop pulses along underneath a roaming bass solo, the side-chained envelope filtering (where the dynamic behaviour of the bass determines the filter for both bass and harmonica) fusing the two instruments into a single stream of burbling shifts in resonance. After several minutes of patient exploration of this low-end landscape, the music suddenly opens up in widescreen with the entrance of Sam Andreae’s graceful melodica chords, spreading out across the stereo field. From this epic opener, each of the remaining pieces goes on to explore a slightly different aspect of the terrain. On ‘Shadow Came into the Eyes as Earth Turned on its Axis’, a similarly buoyant harmonica bass line provides the foundation, but this time playing a soulful descending riff, its almost R&B feel abstracted and half-obscured by the filtering. On ‘Mollusk’, echoed bass arpeggios skitter between elegiac chords somewhat reminiscent of the opening of John Abercrombie’s ‘Timeless’, before settling into a hypnotic groove. On the record’s second half, Willberg pushes further into the possibilities of his idiosyncratic instrumentation. On ‘Wetter’, bass and harmonica come together into a monstrous, growling jaw harp; on ‘Had we but world enough and more time’, the subtly shifting pulsating patterns start to feel almost like a kind of evaporated, drum-less dub techno until an eruption of wheezing bass harmonica gives the piece a comically folkish turn. Willberg’s melodically inventive and virtuosic bass performance calls to mind any number of fusion touchstones, from Jaco Pastorius to Mark Egan’s singing tone in the early Pat Metheny Group—even Anthony Jackson’s work with Steve Kahn. But with its radically reduced instrumentation, The Leisure Principle is also an exercise in minimalism, and the absence of percussion gives even its funkiest moments a strangely abstracted quality. At times, its uncanny blend of the abstruse and the immediate suggests the fried pop experiments of David Rosenboom or the skewed but deeply musical DIY of 80s underground groups like De Fabriek. Both easy on the ear and profoundly strange, The Leisure Principle proudly takes its place among the most eccentric offerings on the Black Truffle menu.

Als nächstes erscheint bei BPitch eine neue 4-Track EP mit ungefiltertem Techno und tadellosem Sounddesign des Turiner Duos Boston 168. Nach drei Veröffentlichungen auf dem Label und einem Beitrag auf dem vielversprechenden Sublabel UFO Inc im Jahr 2019 begibt sich das Duo mit der EP Gigantia, die am 14.07.23 digital veröffentlicht wird, in industrielle Gefilde und in lebhafte psychedelische Trips. Sergio Pace und Vincenzo Ferramosca, die seit 2014 gemeinsam Musik produzieren, haben sich mit einer besonders räumlichen Form von Techno einen Namen gemacht, der ihnen bis heute eine illustre Karriere beschert hat. Auf "Gigantia" greift das Duo auf die industriellen Wurzeln ihrer Heimatstadt zurück und verschmilzt eine Reihe von Einflüssen mit einer ausgesprochen melodischen Version von Acid Techno.

Enter the realm of Illa J, the musical force shaking the foundations of the industry. His latest offering, 'No Traffic', is a testament to his boundless talent and versatility, showcasing his singing, production and rapping abilities on 19 tracks written and produced entirely by Illa J himself. This album marks his debut on BBE Music and a new chapter in his musical journey. Meet Illa J: a musical prodigy raised in a family of talented musicians. With a jazz bassist father and a gifted singer mother, it's no surprise that Illa J was destined for greatness. He's best known as the younger brother of hip-hop legend J Dilla and has made a name for himself as a former member of Detroit's iconic hip-hop group, Slum Village. With a lifetime of exposure to quality music and top-tier musicians, Illa J is a force to be reckoned with. Created amidst the chaos of the pandemic, Illa J's 'No Traffic' serves as a beacon of hope, a roadmap for creatives seeking their path. He enlists the help of Detroit legends Amp Fiddler, Frank n Dank, British soul sensation Harleighblu, and introduces the rising stars of Detroit, Serious, Joz B, Maine Soul, and more, all matching Illa J's energy and passion on the tracks. The focus track of the album, "Star Struck", is a prime example of Illa J's signature style. The astral pentatonic soundscape and precise drum programming transport you to new heights, while Illa J's beats, melodies, and bars will leave you in awe. 'No Traffic' is a musical journey that takes you to a place where Illa J's playful and versatile sound reigns supreme. The album is expertly mastered by Grammy-award nominated The Carvery Studio and is a refreshing experience of a true artist reveling in their artistry. Don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to delve into Illa J's musical realm."

Celebrating Sir George Shearing, combines the punch of a big band with the intimacy of a small group, as this hard-swinging, highly melodic outfit showcases some of the UK's most gifted soloists. Whether reinterpreting classics such as Conception and Lullaby of Birdland or re-introducing lesser-known tunes such as Night Flight and Children's Waltz, its richly varied repertoire mirrors Shearing's own development, encompassing swing, be-bop, cool and Latin jazz, topped off with some of the most celebrated vocal numbers of the 20th century.

Mixing song- structures with open- ended ambient compositions, melodies with sound- collage, the seven individual tracks invoke a range of genres while a breadcrumb trail of sounds and motifs scattered throughout the album builds a sense of continuity, suggesting a sonic reckoning with the natural world.
Recorded by visual artists and musicians in Montreal, Toronto, and rural Ontario, these songs were constructed in a call- and- response fashion with audio sketches, drawings, photographs, text, and video sent back and forth between the players - a conversational process that began during the winter of 2020 and continued off and on over the next 2 years

Phil Upchurch is the kind of guitarist who makes a strong point by what he chooses not to play. There are speedier chopsmeisters, players who undertake more daring intervallic leaps, those who navigate trickier lines, but it would be hard to imagine a more soulful guitarist than Upchurch. From his laidback phrasing on Nat Adderley's bluesy boogaloo "Jive Samba" to his buttery-smooth vocal inflections on Steely Dan's "Jack of Speed" and on the bluesy title track, Upchurch's understated approach on Tell the Truth! is more about pure feeling than technique. And yet he's holding in that department too, as he so capably demonstrates on Roland Vasquez's "Long Gone Bird" and on his own stunning arrangement of Paul Desmonds' "Take Five," done up in a similar fashion to his arrangement for that tune on George Benson's crossover smash hit from 1976, Breezin'. His unaccompanied rendition of "St. Louis Blues" is another guitaristic highlight, showcasing what Upchurch calls his stride guitar technique: incorporating bass, chords and melody lines simultaneously, a la Joe Pass. The prolific studio guitarist covers a lot of basses and blows his own horn in fine style on his Evidence debut.

Grain typified the sound of Rust Belt youth in the mid 90s. With slow builds, fast/ slow time signatures, dissonant guitar work with melodic, catchy undercurrents, and just enough breakdowns to keep the hardcore purists happy, these recordings are simultaneously angry, urgent and beautiful. Remastered by Dave Gardner at Infrasonic Mastering in Los Angeles.

The album title is an ancient alchemic motto which means "Walk within yourself'' in Latin.
Recorded only and exclusively with electric guitar, the musician explores the threshold of subconscious with heavy drones, fragile soundscapes and haunting melodies, realizing a work between ambient and high-volume drone music. ''Ambula ab intra is an oneiric travel into the depths of the psyche, experiencing the inner path into Self. The outcome is an ethereal work of heavy ambient guitar soundscapes.

Remastered for its 10th Anniversary, the newly cut vinyl edition of Ripely Pine features the bonus track “Up In The Rafters,” long a live favorite that really should have been on the album in the first place. More than anything, Aly Spaltro has 20,000 second-hand DVDs to thank for her first album. Despite being recorded at a proper studio in her recently adopted home of Brooklyn, Ripely Pine showcases songs conceived during her tenure at Bart’s & Greg’s DVD Explosion in Brunswick, Maine. Little did customers know, the same store they’d drop off their Transformers movies was providing the ideal four-year cocoon for the development of a major musical talent. Spaltro worked the 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM shift. Each night, after locking up, she’d walk past Drama and Horror, pull out her music gear from behind a wall of movies, and write and record songs until morning broke. She did this every day, drawing strength from the monotony of her routine and testing out multiple techniques, approaches and instrumentation. Anger, confusion, love, happiness and sadness reigned, and the songs ran rampant, with little form or structure. Isolated for those many hours, Spaltro let melodies morph together, break apart and pair up. This is how she taught herself to write music and sing. Taking the name Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, Spaltro became one of the most beloved musicians in Portland. Her live shows were unhinged, as melodies followed an internal logic only apparent to Spaltro herself. She sang and played guitar, and the songs offered a vivid yet brief snapshot of her expansive world. At 23, with years of writing and performing music already under her belt, she ventured to the next milestone—recording an album. This would be the first time she did so in a professional studio and the first time she shared the process with anyone else. Luckily, she met Nadim Issa at Let ’Em Music in Brooklyn. He was taken enough by her abilities to dedicate nine full months toward the recording of Ripely Pine, and she with his producing abilities to ease comfortably into making him a part of her recording process. She wrote everything—all the songs, all the arrangements. And the two of them assembled an album that finally fit what existed in Spaltro’s mind. Keeping the songs’ stark rawness, the record is a pure representation of her sound. Ripely Pine shouts the introduction of a new talent from every groove. These recordings come as close as possible to conveying the intense majesty of her live shows, and, much like those performances, a narrative breathes through the record’s progression. The album opens with urgency and anger, settles into reconciliation and reciprocation, and ultimately reaches toward resolution, realizing infatuation leads to a loss of self; instead, embracing one’s own strengths is the most powerful thing of all.

repressed !

Undesignated remixes is an expansive project containing 12 remixes of tracks from dgoHn’s iconic 2020 full-length by some choice artists from in and around the Love Love sphere. Remixes that take dgoHn’s unique razor-sharp original productions and send them through a loop and round the twist, some stripped down, some messed up, most but not all maintaining the speedier tempos that dgoHn likes to work around. The result is a collection of seriously futuristic electronic music with some stylistic leanings towards labels like braindance or drumfunk or jungle but completely genre-eluding as a whole, reshaped from the minerals of the original LP by some absolute dons of their craft.

Opening the album Equinox does a fantastic job highlighting the lushness of ‘Puppet’ layering sky-high sunshine pads before sliding into Meat Beat Manifesto’s heavy sci-fi acid dub version of ‘Daisy Takes Two’. A woozy remix of ‘Lucky Gonk’ by Macc & dgoHn marks the first new material from them as a duo since ’09 and Wisp also makes a rare appearance bringing his inimitable post-rephlexian vibes on an agonisingly wonderful, melody-heavy remix of 'Electryon'. Skee Mask’s choice of remixing ‘Robin’s Windmill’ turns the original into a bundle of writhing rhythms organically unfolding with swelling ambient tones. Homegrown heroes Rognvald & Scrase both opt for pumped up post-breakcore in unconventional time signatures while Djrum emphatically provides the LP’s dose of peak jungle choppage, tempering the drum breaks of ‘Ninnyhammer’ with a blistering amen. Also featured on the LP are crisp and beefy drum workouts courtesy of Coco Bryce and Forest Drive West, visceral and apocalyptic half-time bass from Activia Benz affiliated duo Quavis and virtuosic noir-jazz tearout from fellow East-Anglian Carl Brown.

While stationed in Germany in the RAF during the late 1950s and early 1960s, York-born alto and soprano saxophonist Trevor Watts met the drummer John Stevens, with whom he would form the Spontaneous Music Ensemble upon returning to the UK in 1965, which became an important vehicle for British free improvisation. Watts’ spin-off project Amalgam came two years later with Stevens and bassist Jeff Clyne, previously in the Jazz Couriers with Ronnie Scott; their debut LP Prayer For Peace is jazz improv at its most melodic, an unpredictable album of varying shades, with three unique takes of the song ‘Judy’s Smile.’

Blackball Records presents the 20th anniversary edition of Jawbreaker's beloved 1990 debut album Unfun--twelve groundbreaking tracks (sixteen on the CD) that captured the very inception of emo's big band and launched a galaxy of young, earnest bands and the scenes that love them. Unfun has been remastered by John Golden from the original analog tapes; the increased sampling rate boosts some of the bottom end and mid-range. It sounds fucking awesome. The vinyl version is available for the first time since 1992, and the CD and download versions of the record include the three-song Whack & Blite EP, as well as the 7-inch mix of "Busy" as an unlisted bonus track. This reissue features restored original artwork, and all formats include additional band photos from the time of recording. "Want" and "Fine Day" were in heavy rotation on college radio back in the day, and remained set list staples throughout Jawbreaker's run. Unfun wound up on a lot of fanzine top ten lists, and even the mainstream press took notice. Rolling Stone called it "a feast of heavy melody and righteous braying that roars along with all the spit and spirit of Husker Du's New Day Rising."

Alternative rock, or abbreviated to just simply alternative, first came to present in the early ‘70s as independent underground music and gradually developed into the ‘90s as a reaction to the mainstream pop music from that era. Alternative music was represented by bands who were signed to independent labels, but major labels also picked up on the trend, which led to commercial success in the international music charts. The 2LP 90’s Alternative Collected highlights songs by bands such as Faith No More, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Kula Shaker, Eels, R.E.M., Oasis, Live, Soundgarden, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Smash Mouth, and many others

If you dig deep enough into the underground you will find the most precious jewels and it ain't that much of an effort these days to turn on the computer and trip through the colorful World Wide Web. But beware for not all the glitter is gold. I stepped by some dark and dusty back street club in Atlanta / Georgia, USA and some enchanting music tempted me to enter. A powerful raspy voice screaming out the pain of the world no matter if it were big or small affairs. "California dreaming on such a winter's day", wow, when the MAMAS AND PAPAS sang this in a sweet folk manner it was a light and joyful anthem for all hippies and hipsters back in 1966, like a call to love. Lee Moses' version is more of a desperate cry for sunshine and freedom. And it goes on this way. His voice has this special phrase showing determination, pain but also sheer joy of life. His 1971 album is a steady groover with a steaming hot band performing , which includes a brass section of divine greatness. These devoted players build up a massive wall of groove and melody on which Lee Moses can unleash his voice like a volcanic eruption. The groove itself stays quite relaxed but definitely hypnotizing throughout the whole album and clears up your mind for the message of love Lee Moses raves about. The high skills of Lee's backing band gets showcased in a steaming instrumental version of THE FOUR TOPS' "Reach out (I'll be there)", which appeared on an early 7" first and got added here as a bonus track. They don't stop for THE BEATLES' "Day tripper" either and next to "California dreamin'" you can find another heart warming version of "Hey Joe" on the regular album. Not as extraordinary outraging as Hendrix' turn on this classic Lee and his mates make it a slightly more epic effort. All in all this is a soul album with very few covers and even more classic anthems of this genre that should actually be worshipped by lovers of the late 1960s Motown sound. Especially the bonus tracks will drive you wild. Go for it, brothers and sisters.

REPRESS

This is the standard version with no poster or hand numbered sleeve. Repress of this chiller classic from 2015. "Talk From Home" showcases Kraft's emotional depth as a producer, and skill as a multi-instrumentalist. Recorded over a few weeks in the winter of 2014, the intimacy of the recordings shines through in a melancholic yet hopeful world of melody and tone.

In 2017, musicians and regular collaborators Gigi Masin and Jonny Nash were invited to a residency at artist Xavier Veilhan's "Studio Venezia" project at the Venice Biennale. For this immersive installation, Veilhan transformed the French Pavilion into a fully functioning recording studio, inviting artists to record original works during a series of residencies. Masin and Nash recorded a series of improvised compositions primarily for Piano and Guitar which were eventually edited down to 6 pieces, collectively entitled "Postcards From Nowhere".

Initially released in 2019 as a limited-edition collaboration with London-based design and branding consultancy Commission Studios, "Postcards From Nowhere" is now fully available on vinyl featuring new artwork and printed inner sleeve featuring photographs by Luke Evans.

A bit of blues here, a bit of rock there, and maybe even a little jazzy improvisation, with numerous inspirations from the folk music of various cultures, and the never absent, albeit not always conscious Turkish modes and vaguely reminisced melodies.
A songwriter accompanied by a team of marvellous musicians who left an important imprint on the Turkish music scene since the 80s. Bülent Somay, an academic, writer, translator, political activist, educator and musician, is a former member of the Turkish Jazz-rock-fusion group Mozaik. He rolls up his sleeves and dusts off some old songs that were never published before with 'a little help from his friends'.

repress !

Since ancient times tribes commanded by shamans were experimenting with rituals in order to inherit higher states of consciousness.

We as descendants from those cultures disrupted their traditions by recording those sounds and reproduce it through a speaker. Although the principle remains intact.

AIROD and P.E.A.R.L. Are two contemporary artists well aware of that culture, as you can here through the 6 tracks of this EP that in good hands can catalice the ecstasy through repetitive drums, deep vocals and grinding melodies.

Every science starts as philosophy and ends as art.
Tribal science, for disc-jockeys and collectors.

Selected Songs 1997-2003 compiles some of the finest moments in the recording history of Hydroplane, the Melbourne-based indie-pop three-piece that operated alongside The Cat’s Miaow through the second half of the nineties. It’s the third release in what feels, now, like a loosely planned series by World Of Echo, documenting the music made by this group of friends in Melbourne sharehouses (The Cat’s Miaow’s Songs ’94-’98, 2022), or in the case of The Shapiros (Gone By Fall, 2023), while traversing the International Pop Underground.

Hydroplane would be familiar to anyone already following these breadcrumb trails – Andrew Withycombe, Bart Cummings and Kerrie Bolton were the group’s core, all members of The Cat’s Miaow. With Cat’s Miaow drummer Cameron Smith itinerant, having moved to London, the trio used this opportunity to expand their music. It’s a subtle, but important shift. If The Cat’s Miaow was about the perfect, minimalist, two-minute pop song, Hydroplane’s music was far more open-ended, embracing the loops and drones, sampled house-y shuffle beats, the burbling of a Roland Jupiter-4 synth, all of which the trio joined, effortlessly, to their endless capacity for moving, elegant melodicism.

They may have only planned to release one seven-inch single, but the sound Hydroplane created was so bewitching, so compelling, that the project’s lifespan ran for around half a decade, and they ended up releasing three albums, including a self-titled debut recently reissued by Efficient Space, and seven singles. There are all kinds of compelling things happening in the music compiled here – the hazy repetition of the gentler side of Krautrock is in here, somewhere, which also suggests Stereolab at their most intimate and disarmed; the gently drifting guitars, gauzy and oneiric, set the songs adrift and floating, each one lost in its own imagined, distracted world. Songs like “The Love You Bring” set indistinct tonal floats across dance rhythms, in a way not quite heard since My Bloody Valentine’s “Instrumental” – but with the added gift of Bolton’s gorgeous voice.

This loose coalition with dance music, and the quiet experimentalism at the heart of Hydroplane, also gestures towards peers like Hood, Acetate Zero and Other People’s Children, and releases on renegade labels like Wurlitzer Jukebox and Enraptured. Like those groups and labels, The Cat’s Miaow were reconciling independent pop music’s past – sweet melody and melancholy, chiming and droning guitars – with the futures promised by DIY electronics and nascent digitalia, the interface of indie and IDM that led to some of the underground’s most blissful, texturally swoonsome music. All that is here, but also, the poise of the melodies is pure Cat’s Miaow, though, with Bolton’s voice sailing, pacifically, over some of the most pared-down, gorgeous music made during their decade.

It was a time, too, when such music could make waves – “We Crossed The Atlantic”, one of their early singles, was picked up by John Peel, who played it repeatedly on his legendary radio show, the song reaching #13 on his 1997 Festive 50. That the song itself was a cover of a tune by 1960s Australian beatnik-pop-poet Pip Proud felt even more perfect – a group of outsiders paying tribute to another outsider, played on the radio one of the few broadcasters brave and human enough to take a chance on this music. But it was a time where everything was up for grabs, and genres were flowing into each other: folk songs went drone; indie re-discovered noise; ambient pop floated, again, out onto the dancefloor. And while they may have been sequestered away in Melbourne, Australia, Hydroplane felt core to that scene, a quietly driving force.

Compiling material from across their brief but mercurial career, this double album perfectly captures the magic and mystery of Hydroplane’s dreamlike, perfect pop songs.

Cryovac 27 opens with the driving sounds of Max Watts. Max has a brash commitment to a spartan drive of bass and kick. Watts captures a sense of urgency by making use of his synth stabs and eclectic, erratic melodies. “Watts Groove” is a rambunctious tool for the competitive DJ. “Santa ana” smoothes out the ride with an electro groove that pulls an elegant funk into a freaky shakedown. Watts adds emotion to a classic break style while staying firmly grounded in space.



The B side hosts, A.Garcia and M.Kretsch, continue their lab work on a couple of well rounded bangers that blend the talents of this duo into an effective sound collaborative. Infectious percussion moves a tasteful mix of rich silky synth lines manifesting “Layhee”. Diving in on a heroic bop through the confusion of synth and breakdown is "indianagiver". A rugged rocker with spacious atmosphere held together by a backbone of bass and hi hat. Garcia and Kretsch put forth a well built product for a disposable age.

MAJOR REISSUE OF MAKOTO KUBOTA'S SUNSET GANG ALBUMS RECORDED IN THE 70S WITH HARUOMI HOSONO FOR THE SHOWBOAT LABEL AND FEATURING HIS BLEND OF JAPANESE FOLK, BLUES AND R&B WITH HAWAIIAN, OKINAWAN AND NEW ORLEANS INFLUENCES. THE ALBUMS ARE RELEASED IN COLLABORATION WITH MAKOTO KUBOTA AND COME WITH ORIGINAL ARTWORK, REMASTERED BY MAKOTO KUBOTA HIMSELF.

"Dixie Fever" recorded in Hawaii in 1976 was co-produced by Haruomi Hosono. Like its predecessors, 'Sunset Gang' and 'Hawaii Champroo', 'Dixie Fever' continues to explore American and Island music through a Japanese prism with a skilful mix of blues, swamp funk and America adding an exotic edge to the whole. It is the first time the album is released outside of Japan and the LP features original artwork with OBI and insert plus remastered audio by Makoto Kubota himself....

Drittes Album der schwedischen Metal-Band Prime Creation. Auf Prime Creations "Tell Freedom I Said Hello" ist das Thema dystopisch. Es handelt sich jedoch nicht um ein Konzeptalbum; Jeder Song ist eigenständig und inspiriert von Büchern/Filmen und der Weltgeschichte. Die Songs haben oft einen melodischen, aber auch melancholischen Touch, der die Musik und die Texte auf faszinierende und fesselnde Weise miteinander verbindet. Gitarrist Robin Arnell schrieb die gesamte Musik für das Album, inspiriert von vielen verschiedenen Bands und Künstlern. Die Musik selbst hat einen etwas anderer Ansatz als die beiden vorherigen Alben der Band und ist noch härter geworden, ohne die Melodien und Harmonien zu vergessen. Prime Creation ist eine schwedische Metal-Band, die 2015 gegründet wurde und aus erfahrenen Musikern besteht, die modernen, treibenden, melodischen Heavy Metal spielen. Die Band erhob sich aus der Asche der Power-Metal-Band Morifade.

The latest EP from Drab Majesty marks the start of a stirring new chapter in the band's majestic legacy. Written during a 2021 retreat to the remote coastal Oregon town of Yachats, Deb Demure leaned into the neo- psychedelic resonance of a uniquely bowl - shaped 12 -string Ovation acoustic/electric guitar. After early morning hikes in the rain, Deb would record ambient guitar experiments the rest of the day, tapping into "flow states," letting the sound lead the way. These sessions were then refined or recreated, and later elevated further with key collaborations by Rachel Goswell (Slowdive), Justin Meldal Johnson (Beck, M83, Air), and Ben Greenberg (Uniform, Circular Ruin Studio). An Object In Motion is true to its title, capturing the chrysalis moment of an artist evolving, reborn and untet hered, silhouetted against an open horizon. "Cape Perpetua" kicks off the collection's divergent palette: sparkling acoustic fingerpicking refracted through delay, equal parts raga and reverie. Melodies and moods congeal and dissipate, at the threshold of rustic American primitivism, brooding neo-folk, and pastoral melancholia. "The Skin And The Glove" deploys jangle to different effect baggy, soaring, grey skied kaleidoscopic pop in the spirit of Stone Roses, Primal Scream, and The Glove. Rachel Goswell lends her iconic freefall voice to The Cure - esque ballad, "Vanity," infusing poetic gravity to the doomed refrain: "If the valve breaks / then the earth quakes / and history finds a way / to put you in your place." "Yield To Force", the closing track of the EP, may be the most anomalous offering of the set. A 15 minute instrumental odyssey of cyclical strings, ominous slide guitar, and simmering synthesizer, the piece sways and spirals like a long zoom into distant storm clouds. Demure finesses the guitar with a restless but regal grandeur, unfolding a panorama of peaks, shadows, and plateaus. It's music both intuitive and prophetic, tracing the slow swing of pendulums across an endless plain. Taken as a whole, An Object In Motion presents a showcase of potential futures from Drab's evolving domain, their sound poised to bloom at the precipice of transformation.

"Die Dunkelheit wimmelte immer von unerklärlichen Geräuschen..." (HPL)

Mit "Nahab" - dem zweiten Teil des Disharmonium-Zyklus - kehren BLUT AUS NORD wie getrieben in die unheimlichen, alptraumhaften Jenseitswelten von H.P. Lovecraft zurück, um sie in einem Spiegel erschreckenden Black Metal-Wahnsinns zu reflektieren.

Ähnlich wie die beiden dunklen Kammern des 2022 erschienenen Erstlings "Disharmonium - Undreamable Abysses" und der dazugehörigen Kompilation "Lovecraftian Echoes" ist diese neueste Emanation ähnlich gebärmutterartig, detailreich, verstört und transformativ.

Musikalisch nur durch das umfangreiche Oeuvre der Band beeinflusst, hat "Nahab" im Vergleich zu BANs jüngsten Lovecraft'schen Erkundungen einen erhöhten Anteil an derangierter Vokalmanie, die unheimliche Dynamik ist besser umgesetzt, die unverwechselbare melodische Kraft der Band verstärkt, die Gitarren - tiefer gestimmt für zusätzliche Resonanz - fließen im Tandem mit taumelnden Grooves wie ein stygianischer Tsunami.

In der totäugigen Trance eines dämonisch Beschworenen haben BLUT AUS NORD einmal mehr esoterische Folklore und moderne Gewalt in ein weiteres phänomenales Stück Außenseiterkunst kanalisiert, das ihrem eigenen Mythos und ihrer Monstrosität mehr als gerecht wird. In der Tat ein krönender Abschluss des Grauens.

The band’s upcoming 8th studio album will be full of the trademark blend of catchy pop melodies, witty lyrics, and infectious energy. Songs about hating your life, loving your life, Norwegian families, coconut crabs, 90s television shows, feeling like a loser, not trusting the government and Peppa pig. There is something for everyone.

Neue bezaubernde Metal-Horizonte

Das neue SinHeresy-Album “Event Horizon" unterstreicht den einzigartigen Sound von SinHeresy, der aus druckvollen, modernen Vibes, kraftvollem Riffing, fesselnden Atmosphären und unvergesslichen Melodien besteht. Jeder Song ist perfekt um die kristallklare Stimme von Cecilia Petrini und die starken Vocals von Stefano Sain herum aufgebaut, die sich von Zeit zu Zeit vermischen und duellieren, während die Rhythmen härter und dynamischer werden und einen Hauch von melodischen Metalcore-Einflüssen aufweisen.

Der atemberaubende Ritt über 10 Tracks führt den Hörer auf eine Reise ins Unbekannte und steht für die endlose Entdeckung der innersten Gefühle, Tugenden und Schwächen, die wir manchmal sogar vor uns selbst verbergen.

BREFORTH – Für den Metal geboren

Jürgen Breforth ist seit mehr als 40 Jahren ein fester Bestandteil der Metal Szene. Begeistert und inspiriert von der „New Wave Of British Heavy Metal“ mit Bands wie IRON MAIDEN, SAXON und JUDAS PRIEST gründete er 1982 seine Band MAD MAX, die bis auf eine kurze Pause auch heute noch erfolgreich Platten veröffentlicht und die ganze Welt betourt. Da MAD MAX im Laufe der Jahre mehr den melodischen Weg eingeschlagen haben, Jürgens Herz aber aus purem Stahl ist, wurde es Zeit für ein zweites Standbein. 2023 präsentiert er auf „Metal In My Heart“ seinen authentischen Mix aus NWOBHM-Einflüssen und Teutonic Metal! Zusammen mit seinem kongenialen Songwriter-Partner und Sänger Peter Lenzschau hat er zehn zeitlose Heavy Metal Hymnen mit autobiografischen Texten geschrieben, welche alle Metalheads begeistern sollten.

Die drei bereits vorab veröffentlichten Singles „Reset My Sanity“, „Wheel Of Fortune“ und der hymnische Titelsong zeigen, dass hier keine Kompromisse gemacht werden. Auch heute ist bei Jürgen das Feuer noch da und gemeinsam mit BREFORTH-Leadsänger Peter Lenzschau, Arne Fleischhut am Schlagzeug, Erik Blumenthal an den Leadgitarren und Jens Lükermann am Bass brennt er darauf, das mit der ganzen Welt zu teilen. Einfach „Play“ drücken und Jürgen auf seiner persönlichen „40 Years In Metal“ Reise begleiten!

FÜR FANS VON: Gamma Ray, Helloween, Edguy, Blind Guardian, Stratovarius, Rhapsody, Primal Fear Auf ins höllische Metal-Vergnügen: Nach ihren bisher vier erfolgreichen Alben ‚The Unity‘ (2017), ‚Rise‘ (2018), ,Pride‘ (2020) und ‚The Devil You Know – Live‘ (2021), europaweiten Tourneen als Headliner bzw. im Gefolge von Bands wie Sinner, Edguy, Axel Rudi Pell oder Rhapsody Of Fire,
umjubelten Shows beim ‚Masters Of Rock‘, ‚Knockout-Festival‘ oder auf dem, Bang Your Head‘ zeigen sich The Unity auf ihrer fünften
Veröffentlichung ‚The Hellish Joyride‘ spielfreudig und variantenreich wie nie zuvor. „

Wir waren immer schon stilistisch breit aufgestellt, aber mit‚The Hellish Joyride‘ dehnen wir die Grenzen des melodischen Power Metals nochmals ein Stück weiter aus“, erklärt Michael Ehré und verweist auf die zwölf abwechslungsreichen Songs des Albums, die von temporeich bis balladesk reichen. Zudem hat Neuzugang Tobias „Eggi“ Exxel (Bass, Edguy) frische Energie in die Band gebracht und verstärkt die Gamma Ray-Mitglieder Henjo Richter (Gitarre) und Michael Ehré (Schlagzeug), Sänger Gianba Manenti, Gitarrist Stef und Keyboarder Sascha Onnen unüberhörbar. Veröffentlicht wird die neue Scheibe am 25. August 2023 über Steamhammer/SPV, bereits eine Woche später startet die Europatournee mit Primal Fear. Als erste Vorabsingle inklusive „sportlichem“ Videoclip gibt es am 14. Juli 2023 den Song ‚Always Two Ways To Play‘, fünf Wochen später folgt die zweite Auskopplung ‘Saints And Sinners‘. Die Spritztour kann
beginnen!

Vargmal Records continues to explore immersive, thought-provoking techno with an abstract spirit by presenting Corners EP from the emergent collaborative UK project Terrain. The Kosovo-based label was launched in 2022 with a considered balance of classic and contemporary techno, featuring Italian techno pioneer Leo Anibaldi and commissioning attendant remixes by contemporary Italian maestro Donato Dozzy.

Continuing the label's embrace of subliminal sounds for adventurous dance floors, Terrain deliver four tracks of snaking, subtle rhythms pivoting away from rigid structures towards a more fluid kind of techno. It's a sound the duo of Joe Baker and Voytek Stanley channeled on their debut release and they expand on the principles from that record in superlative style on Corners.

The EP opens up with the weighted pressure of 'Blind Spot', a dense workout pivoting on a fractured kick punching out underneath interwoven sheets of texture and atmosphere. 'Vintage' develops this theme with dubby chord washes which bloom out over the fine detail of the deceptively complex beat configuration. 'Corners' meanwhile adjusts the temperature from cooly meditative to subtly fierce accents Terrain edge into their sound.

It's an elegant fusion that remains at ease with the overall mood of the EP, but a noticeable shift in energy for the B side. 'Singularity' completes the picture with additional input from Localhost, welcoming layers of noisy melodics which sit comfortably on top of Terrain's dubby pulses. More open and searching than the introspection which holds sway elsewhere, it's a tonal shift that opens the sound of Terrain out and brings a sense of balance to their assured second record.

Zumindest äußerlich scheint The Grape in Ventura, Kalifornien, nur ein weiteres anonymes Gebäude in einer Reihe von Restaurants und Geschäften zu sein. Doch im Sommer 2022 sollte dieser einnehmende Veranstaltungsort das lang erwartete Live-Debüt einer der beeindruckendsten Partnerschaften in der Welt des progressiven Metals und der Jazz-Fusion beherbergen. Auf der rechten Seite der Bühne stand Derek Sherinian, der seine betörenden Keyboard-Parts mit eleganter Souveränität vortrug und dabei in gefühlvoller Konzentration versunken war. Links auf der Bühne, fast verloren hinter seinem Schlagzeug, saß der renommierte Schlagzeuger Simon Phillips, dessen hypnotisierende, fliegende Drumsticks gelegentlich zwischen Becken und Toms zu sehen waren. Diese tadellose Partnerschaft wurde durch den ausgefeilten Bass von Ric Fierabracci unterstützt, wobei die unerbittliche, verspielte Double-Neck-Gitarre von Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal ein weiteres melodisches Furnier hinzufügte. Vor 500 dankbaren Fans aufgeführt, hätte der Uneingeweihte, der am Veranstaltungsort vorbeikommt, nicht ahnen können, dass dies eine musikalische Live-Vereinigung war, die zwei Jahrzehnte lang in der Entwicklung war. Sherinian hatte seinen Ruf durch Auftritte mit Bands wie Kiss und Alice Cooper sowie durch seine Zeit bei den Progressive-Metal-Giganten Dream Theater gefestigt. Phillips' Liste der Credits war immens und umfasste die Zusammenarbeit mit Jeff Beck, Gary Moore, Joe Satriani und The Who. Das Live-Album ist erhältlich als schwarzes 180g schweres Vinyl inklusive 2-seitigem Einleger sowie als Ltd. CD Digipak mit 26-seitigem Booklet.

Coke Bottle Clear Vinyl. High Vis were formed in 2016 from the ashes of some of the UK's best hardcore bands. Gild-toothed frontman Graham Sayle's anguished lyrics about life in working class Britain were familiar to fans of Tremors' full-throttle thrash, but alongside his former bandmate Edward `Ski' Harper and veterans of Dirty Money, DiE and The Smear, High Vis sought to transform that energy and intensity into something entirely new.Like scene-mates Chubby and the Gang did by pulling in unlikely source material from classic doo-wop or Micromoon have by combining everything from psychedelia and metal into their high potency mix, High Vis' 2019 debut album, No Sense No Feeling showed the band were never going to be constrained by any sense of genre rules or regulations. Its claustrophobic rattle bore traces of Joy Division, Bauhaus, Crisis, The Cure and Gang Of Four lurking in the shadows. 2020's synth-driven EP, Society Exists, was further evidence of the band's restless creative MO.High Vis' second album Blending sees them open their viewfinder wider than ever before. Alongside longstanding favourites such as Fugazi and Echo and The Bunnymen; Ride and even Flock Of Seagulls were shared reference points as the band worked on the album together.From the anthemic sweep of opener "Talk For Hours", through the title track's psychedelic swirl and "Fever Dream"'s baggy groove, it sees High Vis' sound blossoming into something with an unlimited richness. The hazy drift of "Shame" or the melodic jangle of "Trauma Bonds" may take them until uncharted waters, but they still have all the power and bite that made No Sense No Feeling so remarkable.Lyrically, the album represents another leap forward too. Talking frankly about poverty, class politics, and the challenges of everyday life, Sayle's lyrics have always addressed the downtrodden and discarded communities across Britain slipping below the waterline. This time around, Sayle's lost not of that social consciousness, but he's looked at himself and his own emotional landscape, and in the process created something that feels more universal, that reaches a hand-out to people and ultimately gives a message of hope."To me, the lyrics are less selfish," reflects Sayle. "In the past, I couldn't see past whatever was going on with me. It's about accepting things and being open to conversations and learning to talk to people rather than just thinking that we're all doomed."The song "Talk for Hours" is a prime example of that. Born out of an afternoon meeting up with an old group of mates "repeating the same thing and not actually learning anything about each other" it offers to actually break the cycle and to listen and speak frankly about shared feelings and experiences. "Trauma Bonds", meanwhile, traces the broken lines of those living in lost communities, but ultimately realises that despite our shared scars, there's still hope to move on to a better future."The message of the album is you're not who you're told you are," Sayle summarises. "You're not your class background. Whatever it is, you're not that. Don't resign yourself to thinking you can't be this and you can't be that."It's a vitally important message right now, and one that could be the motto for not only Blending, but for High Vis themselves.

After Miss Machine, Dillinger Escape Plan fans were divided. Many of the folks who were attached to the screaming mathematical metal of Calculating Infinity bailed on the band, disapproving of the experimental musical direction and the meathead appearance of new singer/screamer Greg Puciato. Open-minded listeners were excited about the progressive journey they were taking and many critics hailed the group as a true innovator of metalcore. Ire Works succeeds in many of the same ways that their previous album did, while branching out creatively. They continue to toy with technical metal, blistering hardcore, jazz breaks, and post-punk, but here they evolve again by adding more twists and turns with additional electronic elements. While the merging of too many styles in hardcore can make for a convoluted result (see Avenged Sevenfold's self-titled release), the added instruments and genre changeups enhance the result rather than acting as ornamental distractions. Edgy Aphex Twin-style drill'n'bass drum breaks and stretched and squeezed electro blips feel strangely at home next to the psychotic time-signature changes and manic riffs, especially on the tracks "Sick on Sunday," "Dead as History," and "When Acting as a Wave." Violins, pianos, and trumpets sit nicely in the mix, and the group's willingness to take chances leads to stunning artistic endeavors rather than stale attempts at crossing genres just for the sake of being clever. Original vocalist Dimitri Minakakis makes an appearance, as does Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds, but the most notable inclusion is drummer Gil Sharone, who proves himself an expert at picking up the slack after the departure of founding member Chris Pennie to play in Coheed and Cambria. Undoubtedly, this act added anger to fuel the fire of their heavier numbers. "82588," "Fix Your Face," and "Party Smasher" are as wicked and manic as their most difficult earlier stuff; conversely, the melodic hooks and falsetto of "Black Bubblegum" and the watery ambience of "Mouth of Ghosts" balance out the album nicely. It can be inaccessible and terrifying all at once, but in a genre overly saturated with formulaic groups, Ire Works is a true standout. If DEP aren't careful and continue down this innovative path, they could easily be labeled the Radiohead of metalcore

new music in nearly 30 years Includes 11 brand new songs written by the band The Cowsills will be on the road through 2023 supporting the new record Some of the best music made in the last 60 years has been delivered by musical families. Think about it . . . The Everly Brothers, The Beach Boys, Bee Gees, The Jackson 5, The Staple Singers, Pointer Sisters, Kings Of Leon, Oasis . . . and The Cowsills! Starting in 1965, The Cowsills was composed of six siblings, performing their instruments and singing those glorious harmonies as only families can. Originally starting as a regional act (from Newport, Rhode Island), the group was “founded” by Joda Records owners Danny Sims and reggae/pop singer Johnny Nash (“I Can See Clearly Now”) in the mid-’60s for whom they recorded a handful of singles before turning towards more national recognition when they were signed to MGM Records in 1967. At this point, the group’s mother Barbara and young sister Susan joined the act and they were awarded a Gold record for over one million copies sold of their very first single for MGM, the sublime, “The Rain, The Park & Other Things.” This began a series of chart records that dominated the Top 40 for the next three years. Among the classic Cowsills recordings are “We Can Fly,” “Indian Lake,” “Hair” (from the rock musical Hair), and “Love American Style” (the theme song from the popular ABC-TV show of the same name). The group also recorded and charted with five successful albums during this time period. The band and their story were even the inspiration for the popular 1970s sitcom The Partridge Family. The group was also a prosperous touring attraction up through 1972, spreading their harmonious hope and love to an adoring fan base. They even had their own comic book published in 1968. As all families do, the group went through a series of changes, disbanding in 1972. But music never left the soul of this tuneful and melodic kin. Over the years, the group, as individuals, continued to make music and even reunited in 1978 and 1993 to make historic records that are woefully out of print. Now, nearly 30 years after their last recordings as a group, The Cowsills are returning with new music for the new world! Omnivore Recordings is proud to announce the release of Rhythm Of The World. Eleven brand new songs written by the band. The ambassadors of goodwill and love will be on the road through 2023 thrilling fans with their classic hits and soon to be new favorites!

Unhuman & Petra Flurr is the collaborative synthpunk-technoid project of BITE label stalwart, Berlin-based Greek artist Unhuman and legendary queer wave figure Petra Flurr. 'Mala Vida' is their debut album on BITE that further evolves their sound beyond genre borders. The duo deliver an 8-track LP consisting of punk body music exhibiting the team's mastery on production, their androgynous vision and diverse influences. Petra Flurr's staggered, often effected, vocals cruise over pounding beats, bold iconic hooks and psychedelic atmospheres. His lyrics reference the seedy underbelly of Berlin's sex underground. Meanwhile, Unhuman's productions broadly range from the post-punk references of 'Labyrinth' to the new beat grooves of 'Short Life' featuring Ukrainian duo Garden Krist to the melodic orchestrations of 'Rush'. All this is reinterpreted by techno duo New Frames on a digital remix of 'Unzivilisiert'. 'Mala Vida' is a direct inspiration from their debut performance at Berghain for last year's BITE label night. After which, they swiftly retreated to the studio to compose, still in their platform heels. The two paint a coat of neon red over their preexisting batcave of sound. While the artwork by Liam Noonan compliments the gender fluidness of the album, distorting and digitally manipulating images of the creators themselves. Using heavy rhythmics, wavy mandates, an androgynous stare and unavoidable sexuality, Unhuman & Petra Flurr introduce us to their culled brand of queer death techno. Always with a wink.

Simply calling Curtis Harding a soul man feels reductive. Harding's voice conveys pain, pleasure, longing, tenderness, sadness and strength-a full gamut of emotions. Today his voice takes on an optimistic lilt with his his new album, If Words Were Flowers. If Words Were Flowers is Harding's first new music since 2018, a follow up to his critically acclaimed 'Face Your Fears" album. It features songs like " Hopeful" , where Harding croons with devotion over a classic soul groove, textured with infectious horn playing, background singers and modern psychedelic flourishes. Harding fuels his psychedelic sound with the essence of Soul but isn't bound by it. Instead, his songs convey an eclectic blend of genres leaping from the many musical lives he has lived from following his evangelical Gospel-singing mother on tour around the country as a child to rapping in Atlanta, forming a garage band with The Black Lips' Cole Alexander to singing back-up for Cee Lo Green. Through these experiences he fully embraces life's darkest intricacies and conjures dynamic, addictive melodies.

London label Mysticisms knows how to dig out some truly lush house grooves whether that's in the form of unreleased house meets IDM, classic reissues or debuts from new school artists. N-GYNN falls into that latter camp having started to make waves on the likes of Hamam House Pleasure Club and his Superlux Records label. He explores a dreamy and cuddly house world here with rolling analogue drums, wispy new-age percussion and whimsical cosmic melodies that all make for otherworldly grooves. 'Journeys' has the feeling of an ancient ritual in the sky, 'Alistera' is a kaleidoscope of colour and 'Kebaya' has a more earthy Afro feel. 'Funk Break Beat' closes with a jumbled groove peppered with dial tones, string loops and bulbous acid.

2nd Grade, Dear Nora, Frankie Cosmos, Tony Molina, Big Star, Paul McCartney. This is Diners’ 7th full length album, produced by Mo Troper (Lame-O Records). On Domino, Diners has replaced their gentle pop sound with a more bombastic rock and roll approach while maintaining their upbeat positive world view. Diners teamed up with power pop prince Mo Troper and Grammy nominated engineer Jack Shirley to deliver her best record yet. For the last ten years, LA-based Blue Broderick has been making daydreamy guitar pop as Diners, outlining her optimistic worldview within the simple catchiness and charming style of ‘60s luminaries like Harry Nilsson and Brian Wilson. On “Domino,” her energetic new album, she’s taken a turn toward overdriven, uptempo power pop, applying her affirming lyricism to an unabashed rock record. With production help from Portland songwriter Mo Troper, “Domino” places her breezy melodies alongside stomping Big Star guitars and hazy fuzz bass, lending a new urgency to her anthems. “This is the rock record that I always wanted to make,” Broderick says. “I know that any time I turn it on, it’s what I set out to do