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ORKA is a duo comprising Francine Perry from London and Jens L. Thomsen from the Faroe Islands. They crossed paths in the vibrant club scene of London, an immersive world that had a profound impact on their creative journey. ORKA's music draws inspiration from the Hardcore Continuum and UK sound system culture, blending it with elements of minimal techno, progressive electro, and ambient music, resulting in a diverse range of stylistic influences. Now ORKA emerges with their long-awaited new album. Once again, they greet us with their distinct blend of earthy tones and a bold, adventurous spirit, taking us to a realm bursting with neon-lit hues, pulsating club beats, and an abundance of sensory stimulation. Aptly named "All At Once," the album title provides a clue to the auditory and sensory experience that awaits the listener in this immersive record. ORKA has continuously evolved as a project over many years and iterations, embracing fluidity and a relentless quest for fresh sonic amalgamations. Their journey has been marked by a gradual refinement, stripping away layers to reach the core essentials. This transformative process has unfolded over the years, reaching from their site-specific, cowshed sampling and band-based expedition in "Livandi oyða" (2007) to the bold, innovative exploration of minimalist techno in "Vað" (2016). However, their latest release, "All At Once," signifies yet another remarkable leap forward in their artistic evolution. The seeds of this artistic progression were already planted in previous releases like the <13 EP (2017) and the hard-hitting techno single "Juno" (2018). However, it is with the arrival of the album "All At Once" that ORKA's vision fully blossoms, unveiling a vivid and expansive sonic landscape. This latest offering presents a glorious and vibrant tapestry, showcasing a maximalist approach to techno that pulsates with energy coupled with their signature meticulous attention to sound design, reflecting a deep awareness and intentionality in their creative process. If this album was to be thought of as a place, it would be a shimmering, futuristic, buzzing kind of city with vibrating night-time drizzle from above and endless glowing lights in the distance. Several of the tracks are built around cut-up vocal samples that are divided from their semiotic meanings and reconfigured as loops, and thus mined for their timbral and percussive qualities. Recurring collaborators South London duo LV (Hyperdub, Keysound, Brownswood) are featured on a handful of these tracks, mixing in their complex cocktail of grime and bliss. The result is a sort of queer erotic dance-floor mysticism, and the closest to a full-blown dance record that ORKA have ever made. There must be a club in that shimmering futurist city of the night.. and it is a collective, inclusive and alluring place. There is no need to fear any dancefloor exhaustion by listening to this album though, as there are also moments of floating cyber beauty and pure enveloping warmth to be found among its tracks. As always, following the artistic journey of ORKA is a joyous experience, filled with unexpected twists and turns that keep us captivated.

'5 years since the premature departure of this free-thinking Rocker, Rachid Taha was an iconic musician switching, twisting and turning electronic music with Rock and Pop, underlined by North African rhythms, with a unique diversity and freedom, firstly as part of Carte De Sejour and then as a solo artist. He left us a body of work full of the intelligence of his reflection and all the spontaneity of his music. This wonderful 16 track Best Of is released on CD and 2LP set and features this most famous tracks.Reviews and Ads – R2, Mojo, Guardian, Songlines and London Macadam

The xx existieren in einem selbstkreierten Kosmos. Ihr Debütalbum "xx" bewegte sich mit wundersamer Vollkommenheit zwischen Vieldeutigkeit und Reduktion. Im Zeitalter der totalen digitalen Öffentlichkeit war "xx" Popmusik mit maximalen Privacy Settings und definierte einen neuen Stil. Nun sind Romy Madley Croft, Oliver Sim und Jamie Smith zurück mit einem neuen Album: "Coexist".Vieles ist zwischenzeitlich passiert, vor allem ist die Band erwachsen geworden. Nach der Veröffentlichung des Debüts im Sommer 2009 verbrachten die drei den größten Teil der folgenden eineinhalb Jahre weit weg von zuhause, um ihren Sound in Ohren und Herzen rund um den Globus zu tragen. Von Amerika über Australien und Japan wurde die Band von Publikum und Kritik gleichermaßen gefeiert, und der Erfolg zeichnete sich auch in steigenden Albumverkäufen und dem Gewinn von Awards wie dem renommierten Mercury Music Prize ab. Während der anschließenden Bandpause wurde dann der stillste der 3 Bandmitglieder, Jamie, zum Gesicht von The xx. Zwischen seinen vielen DJ-Gigs arbeitete er stetig an seinen Fertigkeiten als Produzent und entwickelte dabei einen ganz eigenen Stil. Remixe wie etwa für Adeles Über-Song "Rolling In The Deep" oder die Bearbeitung von Gil Scott-Herons letztem Album machten aus Jamie einen hoch angesehenen Produzenten auch jenseits des Band-Fames. Für Drake produzierte Jamie den Titeltrack seines Millionensellers "Take Care". Für das neue Album arbeiteten dann erstmals alle drei von Anfang an zusammen in ihrem eigenen Studio. Während weiterhin Spuren von R&B im Sound von The xx zu finden sind, ist ein vermehrter Einfluss von elektronischer Musik spürbar. In Romys Loop-artigem Gitarrenspiel und den entsprechenden Basslines spiegelt sich dieser Aspekt. Alles in allem ist "Coexist" ein selbstbewusstes, erwachsenes Album geworden, auf dem sich wenig und doch zugleich vieles geändert ändert. Älter und weiser klingt es, sicherer und immer noch von außerordentlicher, zarter Tiefe. Es ist das Album geworden, auf dem das Licht nach dem Leid zurückkehrt.

On Rock Island, their second LP, Palm produces evidence of a distinct musical language, developed over time, in isolation, and out of necessity. On the island, melodies are struck on what might be shells or spines. Rhythms are scratched out, swept over, scratched again. Individual instruments, and sometimes entire sections, skip and stutter. There is the sense of a music box with wonky tension or a warped transmission in which all the noise is taken for signal.

Like other groups so acclaimed for their compulsive live show, Palm has been burdened by the constant comparison between their recorded material and their touring set. On Rock Island, they render this tired discussion moot, using the album form to present that which could never be completely live, reserving for performance that which could never be completely reproduced.

Despite appearing behind the instruments typical of rock music, Palm trades in sounds of their own making. On these songs, one of the guitars and the drum kit are used as MIDI triggers, producing an index that can be combed through later and replaced with new information. The percussion is sometimes augmented so as to suggest a multiplication of limbs. The strings are manipulated to choke, crack, and hum like other instruments, or other bodies, might.

Working again with engineer Matt Labozza, the band spent the better part of a month in a rented farmhouse in Upstate New York. With the benefits of time and space, Palm recorded the various elements piecemeal, only rarely playing together in groups larger than two or three. While some members tracked, others holed up in the next room, experimenting with quantization, beat replacement, and other methods borrowed from electronic music. Even accounting for the many labors that brought them to be, these materials seem produced by an organic logic. Their complex friction forms a habit of thought, scores a network of grooves on the floor of the mind.

This is music with dimensionality. Sonic objects are deployed, developed, and dissected in various states of mutation. The listener flits about between the field and the lab. The tone is warm in a way only the sun could make, the pace as forceful and as variable as a gale. Whether one locates Rock Island in a sea or in a refinished attic (as in Greg Burak's album cover), whether one escapes to there or is banished, its psychic environs are charted clearly enough. Only at this remove from the mainland can we sense the conditions necessary for such a strange species of sound.

The first physical release from Supa Records featuring two tracks: 'Pleasure Seekers' & 'Uptown'. Founded by Jungle DJ and producer Supa Ape, Supa Records is a UK based Jungle / IDM imprint dropping original rave compositions with a cinematic feel and focus on melody. Whilst remaining true to many of the core elements comprising heavy Jungle music, Supa Records aim to deliver a unique take on this typically sample lead genre.

The second physical release from UK based label 'Supa Records' features two fresh tracks in a new school jungle music style.

Kicking off with the choppy breaks, plastic snares and 4x4 inspired bassline on 'Values', the flip adds contrast, with the moody, cinematic sound design on 'Sometimes I Wonder', making you wait before delivering a heavy amen break.
Both tracks are produced by Supa Records founder: Supa Ape.

Supa Records is a UK based imprint dropping old-school jungle with a cinematic feel and focus on melody. Remaining true to the core jungle elements, the aim is to deliver a unique take on what is a typically sample lead genre.

Supa Ape has released other vinyl on Satta Sounds, UK Jungle Records, Destroy Oh Boy & Scared Money.

“The one-man disco machine and pop superstar in waiting” – NME “a euphoric celebration of nightlife”- GQ “One of the most sought-after music makers in the game” – Notion

Der britische Sänger, Produzent und DJ SG Lewis veröffentlicht am 27.01.23 sein zweites Album „AudioLust & Higher Love“.

Ganz im Stil von SG Lewis überzeugt auch das zweite Album durch seine musikalische Vielseitigkeit und schafft einen gelungenen Spagat zwischen 80’s, Dance und Pop-Sound.

Auf 15 Tracks spannt Samuel Lewis einen Bogen von dem vom Nachtleben und Raves geprägten Sound von AudioLust bis hin zur zeitlosen Pop-Ekstase von HigherLove. Als Features auf dem Album sind u.a. Tove Lo, Lucky Daye, Ty Dolla $ign vertreten.

SG Lewis hat sich in den letzten Jahren als einer der gefragtesten Produzenten etabliert – so kollaborierte er bereits u.a. mit Elton John, Clairo, Khalid, Aluna, Chad Hugo und vielen mehr. Auch schrieb er an Dua Lipas Hit „Hallucinate“ von ihrem Hitalbum „Future Nostalgia“ mit. Sein Debütalbum „times“ (VÖ 2021) wurde von Kritikern und Fans gleichermaßen gefeiert und bescherte ihn die Nr. 1 der britischen Dance-Charts.

„AudioLust & Higher Love“ erscheint auf Doppelvinyl.

2023 Repress

Channelling his own explorations in search of the soul inside the machine, VRIL draws from the deep well of his live performances to present his third LP for Delsin, Animist. Inside lie 12 pieces which seem to probe at the unknowable distance between tangible consciousness and the astral plane, imbuing even the most seemingly synthetic of materials with a living essence. Given his illustrious back catalogue, it's no surprise to hear VRIL conjure explicitly electronic music with such loaded emotional impact and seemingly organic animus, but in the process he also toys with the idea of how far the technology's spiritual potential can reach.

Dubquake Records dig deep in the vaults to reissue five more iconic Iration Steppas tracks from the 90’s!

Still buzzing from the hype around Part 1 of the ‘90’s Classic Cutz’, this new drop includes their very first release ‘Scud Missile’, the legendary ‘Hard Time Pressure In A Babylon’, ‘Locks’ featuring Tena Stelin, ‘Kitachi In Dubwize’ and their spiced up remix of Vibronics’ ‘One Drop’.

These tracks were produced and mixed by Iration Steppas’ founding members Mark Iration and Dennis Rootical at the High Rise Studio in Chapeltown, Leeds. At the time, the dub-making-duo were heavily experimenting with new sounds, blending dub with acid soundscapes in a way that had never been done before. At the frontier of reggae and electronic music, their ‘Dub Inna Year 3000 Style’ re-defined UK Dub in the 90’s and continues to inspire the new generation.

All tracks have been remastered and put onto five separate 12” slabs of wax. And to add to the excitement, each release features original mixes + previously unreleased ‘dubplate cutz’ that could only be heard live up till now!

Dubquake Records dig deep in the vaults to reissue five more iconic Iration Steppas tracks from the 90’s!

Still buzzing from the hype around Part 1 of the ‘90’s Classic Cutz’, this new drop includes their very first release ‘Scud Missile’, the legendary ‘Hard Time Pressure In A Babylon’, ‘Locks’ featuring Tena Stelin, ‘Kitachi In Dubwize’ and their spiced up remix of Vibronics’ ‘One Drop’.

These tracks were produced and mixed by Iration Steppas’ founding members Mark Iration and Dennis Rootical at the High Rise Studio in Chapeltown, Leeds. At the time, the dub-making-duo were heavily experimenting with new sounds, blending dub with acid soundscapes in a way that had never been done before. At the frontier of reggae and electronic music, their ‘Dub Inna Year 3000 Style’ re-defined UK Dub in the 90’s and continues to inspire the new generation.

All tracks have been remastered and put onto five separate 12” slabs of wax. And to add to the excitement, each release features original mixes + previously unreleased ‘dubplate cutz’ that could only be heard live up till now!

Dubquake Records dig deep in the vaults to reissue five more iconic Iration Steppas tracks from the 90’s!

Still buzzing from the hype around Part 1 of the ‘90’s Classic Cutz’, this new drop includes their very first release ‘Scud Missile’, the legendary ‘Hard Time Pressure In A Babylon’, ‘Locks’ featuring Tena Stelin, ‘Kitachi In Dubwize’ and their spiced up remix of Vibronics’ ‘One Drop’.

These tracks were produced and mixed by Iration Steppas’ founding members Mark Iration and Dennis Rootical at the High Rise Studio in Chapeltown, Leeds. At the time, the dub-making-duo were heavily experimenting with new sounds, blending dub with acid soundscapes in a way that had never been done before. At the frontier of reggae and electronic music, their ‘Dub Inna Year 3000 Style’ re-defined UK Dub in the 90’s and continues to inspire the new generation.

All tracks have been remastered and put onto five separate 12” slabs of wax. And to add to the excitement, each release features original mixes + previously unreleased ‘dubplate cutz’ that could only be heard live up till now!

Dubquake Records dig deep in the vaults to reissue five more iconic Iration Steppas tracks from the 90’s!

Still buzzing from the hype around Part 1 of the ‘90’s Classic Cutz’, this new drop includes their very first release ‘Scud Missile’, the legendary ‘Hard Time Pressure In A Babylon’, ‘Locks’ featuring Tena Stelin, ‘Kitachi In Dubwize’ and their spiced up remix of Vibronics’ ‘One Drop’.

These tracks were produced and mixed by Iration Steppas’ founding members Mark Iration and Dennis Rootical at the High Rise Studio in Chapeltown, Leeds. At the time, the dub-making-duo were heavily experimenting with new sounds, blending dub with acid soundscapes in a way that had never been done before. At the frontier of reggae and electronic music, their ‘Dub Inna Year 3000 Style’ re-defined UK Dub in the 90’s and continues to inspire the new generation.

All tracks have been remastered and put onto five separate 12” slabs of wax. And to add to the excitment, each release features original mixes + previously unreleased ‘dubplate cutz’ that could only be heard live up till now!

Nach über zwei Jahren Arbeit freut sich Luc Bradford, besser bekannt als ford., endlich die Veröffentlichung seines dritten Albums, „Guiding Hand“, am 21. Juli 2023 über Foreign Family Collective bekannt zu geben.

Als Sohn amerikanischer Eltern in Paris geboren, in Frankfurt, der Schweiz und in Singapur aufgewachsen und nun in Utah ansässig, hat das globale Aufwachsen von ford. seine musikalische Perspektive entscheidend geprägt. Obwohl er noch jung ist, sind diese eklektischen Lebenserfahrungen in der Musik von ford. deutlich zu spüren - ein Sound, der zweifellos einzigartig und gleichzeitig universell ist.

Die Aufnahmen für „Guiding Hand“ begannen Ende 2020 in den Bergen und Tälern von Utah. Das Album kam in den folgenden Monaten langsam zusammen, mit verschiedenen Ideen, die aus dem Leben ‚on the road‘, späten Nächten mit Freund:innen und einem engen Zusammenleben entstanden. Wie ford. gerne anmerkt, „entstand das Album in Räumen, zwischen Phasen“, ein Satz, der die vergängliche Natur seines Lebens repräsentiert, ein Thema, das sich durch die gesamte Platte zieht.

CNPY007 marks a strong return to Canopy for Sam Redmore, on the second edition in the Alafia series where he impresses with two powerful and inspired re-imaginings of these tropical synth future-classics.

Tough afro-centric broken beats meet dirty fuzz basslines. Chic-esque guitars and icy synths swirl among horn crescendos and steel drums. Sam assembled a troupe of tight players who deliver slick performances which sincerely compliment the original arrangements, while he turns the electronic tropical funk factor to full - Inspired music reinvented for inspired dancefloors!

Factory Benelux presents a limited crystal clear vinyl edition of Dark Light, the eighth studio album from post-punk trailblazers Section 25, originally released in 2013.
Recorded in 2012, Dark Light would be the band’s first collection of new material since the tragic loss of founder Larry Cassidy in 2010, and marked a return to the smooth electro and synth-pop textures first explored on their seminal 1984 album From the Hip. These echoes are amplified by the presence of co-vocalists Beth and Jo Cassidy, as well as a sublime cover image by iconic artist/designer Peter Saville.
Much of Dark Light was produced in collaboration with remixer Derek Miller (aka Outernationale), and includes new versions of single tracks Colour Movement Sex & Violence and Inner Drive. Other stand-out cuts include future pop classic My Outrage, also released as a single on Record Store Day.
“A revelation. The group were once doomy post-punks whose 1984 electronic album From the Hip anticipated house music and thrilled New York clubland. Now the deaths of singers Larry and Jenny Cassidy have inspired their daughter Bethany to carry on the family business and give the band a makeover. The collision of the original members’ brittle rhythms and the angelic voices of Bethany and similarly fresh-faced co-singer Jo takes recent material into shimmering club-pop heaven” (The Guardian, 2014)
Now released on vinyl for the very first time, FBN 145 is limited to just 500 copies pressed on crystal clear vinyl. The digital copy contains several bonus tracks.

BOTANICA is the newly established Japanese label created by DJ/ Producer, Iori Wakasa. It was formed for him to utilize it as a foundation for the realization of his own unique, artistic expression.
And now, he has the pleasure to announce his label’s inaugural title with the release of his own BOTANICA EP.

Born in 1988 in a rural Japanese city surrounded by mountains and the sea with a mild climate, Iori grew up playing RPGs with a father who was a devoted game aficionado. And he was introduced to electronic music through game music from an early age and formed his musical sensibilities through playing the classical piano around the same time.

Influenced by the spirituality and idiosyncrasies of punk rock and ethnic and indigenous music in his youth, also gradually influenced by the Tokyo club scene and the music, it didn't take him long before
he made the choice to start DJing at the age of 17 and soon afterwards, started exploring the path of music production as a form of self-expression.

Iori set up Botanica to convey 2 main concepts of 'presenting music that provides each listener with their own viewpoint' and ‘to construct a fusion between 'nature' and 'man-made objects and human
activity’. Through the experience of traveling around Japan, Europe and Asia and connecting with people of different languages and cultures, he became to appreciate that music transcends all languages and grooves, and the framework in which he would like to shape his perspective and embody it as his way of life is what he envisions as the vital expression for BOTANICA, The two tracks and the artwork included in this first EP are the first steps towards hopefully chronicling the story of the vortex that he resides in now and the new forest that he plans to weave in the future with his label.

'The Pure Land' means in Japanese 'Gokuraku-Jodo (= a space where you can live in bliss)', but in English it is closer to 'utopia' or 'paradise'. However, 'The Pure Land' is a musical work that evokes a
hypnotic and pleasant euphoria through the gradual layering of multiple rhythms and soft particles of spatial sound design. It is also shaped with the aim of liberating the listener and guiding them towards their primal self.

In contrast, 'Lunar Down' expresses the changes that occur in the human state of mind during the extended period from moonrise to moonset especially when the moon sets from its zenith and is completed with a focus on maximum dance floor impact via an inner voice that resonates in the brain that echoes throughout a well-textured bass line and rhythm track.

The artwork for the front cover of this EP was created by SHINOZAKI HILOSHI, an illustrator who has been traveling and painting to express his true way of life that he learnt in the 10+ years of commuting between Tokyo (the end) and the Hawaii Islands (the beginning), and the graphic designer hiro, who stands by Iori`s side as his life partner and as the person who understands him the best. Iori`s first steps are complemented by the label design and art direction by graphic designer hiro, who stands by his side as his life partner and most understanding partner, and the proof is the physical cut, which is presented as the foundation for the future.

Das mit Spannung erwartete neue Album von Staind, Confessions of the Fallen - das erste neue Studioalbum der Band seit 2011 - wird am 15. September 2023 veröffentlicht.



Die 10 Tracks auf Confessions of the Fallen erkunden eine Vielzahl von klanglichen Nischen. Die Debütsingle "Lowest In Me" (derzeit auf Platz 2* der aktiven Rockcharts), "Cycle of Hurting", "Was Any of it Real?" und "Hate Me Too" preschen mit unerbittlicher Wut voran, wobei die Elektronik die frenetischen Angriffe der Musiker noch verstärkt. Tracks wie "Out of Time", "In This Condition" und "The Fray" zeichnen sich durch fließende Arrangements und mitreißende Dynamikwechsel aus, während "Here and Now" und das vorsichtig optimistische "Better Days" uns daran erinnern, dass Staind das Hübsche nicht fremd ist - wenn es angebracht ist, versteht sich. Textlich schöpft Confessions of the Fallen wieder aus den dunklen, nachdenklichen Ecken, die Lewis in Stainds Songs schon immer einbezog, trotzdem sind diese 10 Songs so persönlich wie nie zuvor. "Ich arbeite mich immer noch durch meine Probleme", sagt Aaron. "Und bis dahin träume ich von besseren Zeiten. Ich hoffe, so fühlt sich jeder im Moment... bessere Tage stehen uns noch bevor."



Eine Legion von Staind-Fans wird ihre besseren Tage sicherlich in den neuen Songs der Band finden.

Das mit Spannung erwartete neue Album von Staind, Confessions of the Fallen - das erste neue Studioalbum der Band seit 2011 - wird am 15. September 2023 veröffentlicht.



Die 10 Tracks auf Confessions of the Fallen erkunden eine Vielzahl von klanglichen Nischen. Die Debütsingle "Lowest In Me" (derzeit auf Platz 2* der aktiven Rockcharts), "Cycle of Hurting", "Was Any of it Real?" und "Hate Me Too" preschen mit unerbittlicher Wut voran, wobei die Elektronik die frenetischen Angriffe der Musiker noch verstärkt. Tracks wie "Out of Time", "In This Condition" und "The Fray" zeichnen sich durch fließende Arrangements und mitreißende Dynamikwechsel aus, während "Here and Now" und das vorsichtig optimistische "Better Days" uns daran erinnern, dass Staind das Hübsche nicht fremd ist - wenn es angebracht ist, versteht sich. Textlich schöpft Confessions of the Fallen wieder aus den dunklen, nachdenklichen Ecken, die Lewis in Stainds Songs schon immer einbezog, trotzdem sind diese 10 Songs so persönlich wie nie zuvor. "Ich arbeite mich immer noch durch meine Probleme", sagt Aaron. "Und bis dahin träume ich von besseren Zeiten. Ich hoffe, so fühlt sich jeder im Moment... bessere Tage stehen uns noch bevor."



Eine Legion von Staind-Fans wird ihre besseren Tage sicherlich in den neuen Songs der Band finden.

Guy Pedersen's magical Maxi Music, originally released on cult Parisian library label tele Music in 1972, is psyche-rock and jazz-funk gold. It's a vital Pederson outing, oscillating between the rough and the smooth, but always with those hypnotic grooves. It's a start-to-finish winner, yet the final 13-minute-long opus will blow minds. Trust!

Stirring opener, "Prétexte Pour Indicatifs" is so mighty, it was covered by Keith Mansfield on "Hot Property" from Big Business/Wind Of Change on KPM. It's a track in 4 deliberate parts, the first a rapid tour de force, the second and third presenting organ-and-wah-wah-drenched slo-mo funk workouts and the fourth a return to the frenetic energy of the opening bars. Phew, pretty sensational. "Purgatoire Mood (Interlude)" is a beautiful segue into the stunning horn-laced, swift-paced aggressive jazzy excellence of "Purgatoire Mood 1" and the more poetic "Purgatoire Mood 2". Fast-paced funk beats and dramatic interplay!

"Christophus Colombus" is another song with multiple sections; the intro a rapid wah-wah-enhanced psych-rock statement that truly thrills before settling into a more steady yet no-less unrelenting guitar-funk showcase with wordless vocals and, later, reflective guitar and piano in gorgeous harmony. Closing out this electrifying side, the elegant "Bass In Love" is a soft'n'sultry slo-mo funk instrumental, as rough cello, jazzy piano and salacious, breathy vocals combine to create the scent of lingering heat to pretty rousing effect.

Ushering in Side B, "Sing Song Bass" is a slow starter but, once the drums kick in brilliantly, we're treated to a deeply melodic, propulsive, organ-flute-piano-bass gem - it's truly memorable and absolutely fantastic. The wonky, delirious psych-pop of "Petit Moujik De Nuit" is a curiously compelling number but it serves, for us at least, only as the pre-curser to the phenomenal closing track. An absolute beast that totally slays all before it!

Yes, despite Maxi Music being that rarest of library records - a record that can stand up on its own from front to back - it really does contain that *one* absolute killer track. And Peterson saved the best until last. The real highlight - can you imagine there's better?! - is the blazing psych-rock funky burner that is the infamous 13 minute thriller "Kermesse Non Héroique". Containing a wicked flute solo it genuinely sounds like something off the first Dungen album. Yes, that good. What a way to go out!

The audio for Maxi Music has been remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, ensuring this release sounds better than ever. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the original, iconic Tele Music house sleeve has been restored here at Be With HQ as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue.

Der aus Seattle stammende Produzent Jeff McIlwain, alias Lusine, kehrt mit seinem 9. Album Long Light zurück und feiert damit sein zwanzigjähriges Bestehen bei Ghostly International. Lusine, der als Einfluss für unzählige elektronische Künstler wie die Londoner Loraine James und andere gilt, ist bekannt für viszerale, kinetisch neugierige Musik, die Techno, Pop und experimentelle Kompositionen miteinander verbindet. In den letzten Jahren hat McIlwain sein Handwerk mit mehr kollaborativer, songorientierter Arbeit in die Höhe getrieben. Long Light" zeigt die durchgehende Linie; seine charakteristischen Looping-Muster und Texturen sind dynamisch und dennoch minimalistisch wie immer. Strukturell geradlinig, straff und hell, strahlt das Material als das direkteste in seinem Katalog, mit Gesangsbeiträgen von Asy Saavedra, Sarah Jaffe und den Sensorimotor-Kollegen Vilja Larjosto und Benoît Pioulard. Lusine hat seinen Sound schon früh gefunden, aber er hat nie aufgehört, an seinem Potenzial zu feilen, geduldig die Ablenkungen zu dekonstruieren und die Rätsel zu lösen. Mit Long Light erreicht ein prozessgeleiteter Künstler ein außergewöhnlich erfreuliches Niveau an Klarheit und Unmittelbarkeit. McIlwain sieht den Titel, der der lyrischen Phrase "long light signaling the fall again" entnommen ist, die Benoît Pioulard für das spätere Titelstück geschrieben hat, als einen Leitfaden, der mehrere Bedeutungen widerspiegelt. "Es gibt diese Art von Paranoia, bei der man nicht weiß, was real ist, es ist ein Zeitalter der großen Angst und es gibt all diese Ablenkungen", erklärt McIlwain. "Es ist wie ein Spiegelkabinett." Dem langen Licht zu folgen ist der einzig wahre Weg, und diese Metapher wendet er auf die Aufnahmen des Albums an, die ebenfalls einen zyklischen Charakter haben, ähnlich wie die Jahreszeiten. Wie der Beginn des Herbstes schließt das Album eine Periode der Kultivierung ab; "Musikmachen ist ein Kampf und man muss eine Menge Geduld haben." Long Light ist der Beweis dafür, dass das, was jenseits des Lärms, am Ende des figurativen Tunnels liegt, all die Arbeit wert ist, die man auf dem Weg dorthin geleistet hat. In der gesamten Sammlung identifiziert McIlwain das zentrale Klangelement, einen Gesangsausschnitt oder eine einfache Beatsequenz, auf dem alles andere aufbaut. Auf dem Opener Come And Go" vervielfältigt er eine Gesangseinlage seiner langjährigen Mitarbeiterin Vilja Larjosto zu einem himmlischen Chor, der an den Sensorimotor-Hit Just A Cloud" erinnert. Es ist die Bass-Hook auf der Single "Zero to Sixty", die sich um die Stimme von Sarah Jaffe windet, deren geschmeidiger Tonumfang und coole Darbietung die Quelle für Lusines unverwechselbares Mapping ist.

Der aus Seattle stammende Produzent Jeff McIlwain, alias Lusine, kehrt mit seinem 9. Album Long Light zurück und feiert damit sein zwanzigjähriges Bestehen bei Ghostly International. Lusine, der als Einfluss für unzählige elektronische Künstler wie die Londoner Loraine James und andere gilt, ist bekannt für viszerale, kinetisch neugierige Musik, die Techno, Pop und experimentelle Kompositionen miteinander verbindet. In den letzten Jahren hat McIlwain sein Handwerk mit mehr kollaborativer, songorientierter Arbeit in die Höhe getrieben. Long Light" zeigt die durchgehende Linie; seine charakteristischen Looping-Muster und Texturen sind dynamisch und dennoch minimalistisch wie immer. Strukturell geradlinig, straff und hell, strahlt das Material als das direkteste in seinem Katalog, mit Gesangsbeiträgen von Asy Saavedra, Sarah Jaffe und den Sensorimotor-Kollegen Vilja Larjosto und Benoît Pioulard. Lusine hat seinen Sound schon früh gefunden, aber er hat nie aufgehört, an seinem Potenzial zu feilen, geduldig die Ablenkungen zu dekonstruieren und die Rätsel zu lösen. Mit Long Light erreicht ein prozessgeleiteter Künstler ein außergewöhnlich erfreuliches Niveau an Klarheit und Unmittelbarkeit. McIlwain sieht den Titel, der der lyrischen Phrase "long light signaling the fall again" entnommen ist, die Benoît Pioulard für das spätere Titelstück geschrieben hat, als einen Leitfaden, der mehrere Bedeutungen widerspiegelt. "Es gibt diese Art von Paranoia, bei der man nicht weiß, was real ist, es ist ein Zeitalter der großen Angst und es gibt all diese Ablenkungen", erklärt McIlwain. "Es ist wie ein Spiegelkabinett." Dem langen Licht zu folgen ist der einzig wahre Weg, und diese Metapher wendet er auf die Aufnahmen des Albums an, die ebenfalls einen zyklischen Charakter haben, ähnlich wie die Jahreszeiten. Wie der Beginn des Herbstes schließt das Album eine Periode der Kultivierung ab; "Musikmachen ist ein Kampf und man muss eine Menge Geduld haben." Long Light ist der Beweis dafür, dass das, was jenseits des Lärms, am Ende des figurativen Tunnels liegt, all die Arbeit wert ist, die man auf dem Weg dorthin geleistet hat. In der gesamten Sammlung identifiziert McIlwain das zentrale Klangelement, einen Gesangsausschnitt oder eine einfache Beatsequenz, auf dem alles andere aufbaut. Auf dem Opener Come And Go" vervielfältigt er eine Gesangseinlage seiner langjährigen Mitarbeiterin Vilja Larjosto zu einem himmlischen Chor, der an den Sensorimotor-Hit Just A Cloud" erinnert. Es ist die Bass-Hook auf der Single "Zero to Sixty", die sich um die Stimme von Sarah Jaffe windet, deren geschmeidiger Tonumfang und coole Darbietung die Quelle für Lusines unverwechselbares Mapping ist.

"PETROL", das zweite Album der Schweizer Doom-Visionäre TAR POND, wurde einerseits von US-Doom-Klassikern wie SAINT VITUS inspiriert, greift aber andererseits auch auf die britischen Wurzeln zu, die von BLACK SABBATH verkörpert werden. In anderen Momenten blitzt bei TAR POND eine Verbindung zu zeitgenössischen Doom-Acts wie ELECTRIC WIZARD und ACID BATH auf. Parallel dazu verkörpern TAR POND aber auch die bekannte Eigensinnigkeit des Schweizer Metal, der sich durch Individualität und kreative Eigenständigkeit auszeichnet, so wie es herausragende Acts wie CELTIC FROST, CORONER und ZEAL & ARDOR musikalisch vorgelebt haben. Als Martin Ain, Bassist der Kultband CELTIC FROST und eines der Gründungsmitglieder von TAR POND, im Oktober 2017 plötzlich verstarb, stand auf einmal alles in Frage. Der legendäre Schweizer Musiker hatte vor diesem tragischen Tag das Debütalbum bereits aufgenommen - zusammen mit den anderen Gründungsmitgliedern, dem ehemaligen CORONER-Drummer und Lyriker Marky Edelmann sowie dem renommierten Scratchboard-Künstler und Sänger Thomas Ott. Nach einer langer Pause und intensiven Überlegungen entschieden sich TAR POND schließlich dafür, als Band weiterzumachen und das Debüt im Gedenken an Martin Ain unter dem Titel "Protocol of Constant Sadness" zu veröffentlichen. Aufgenommen wurde das Debüt unter der Leitung von Produzent und Gitarren-Legende Tommy Vetterli (CORONER) in den Jahren 2016/17. Beflügelt von der enthusiastischen Reaktionen auf "Protocol of Constant Sadness", haben sich TAR POND erneut mit Tommy Vetterli im New Sound Studio zusammengetan, um den Nachfolger "PETROL" einzuspielen. Aufgrund von Besetzungswechseln vor und während der Studioaufnahmen ist "PETROL" aus einer Zusammenarbeit von alten und neuen Bandmitgliedern zu verschiedenen Zeiten entstanden. Trotz dieser Umstände erscheint das zweite Album sowohl kohärent als auch auf das erklärte Ziel von TAR POND fokussiert - nämlich: Einen Soundtrack aus brachialer Kraft und ein elektrisches Protokoll einer fortwährenden Traurigkeit abzuliefern. Während die Schweizer ihr Debüt unter der Bezeichnung 'Doom'n'Gloom' einordneten, wurde ihr Sound auch schon als eine Kombination aus Doom und Post-Metal beschrieben. Mit "PETROL" lösen TAR POND ihr ursprüngliches Versprechen ein: Dieses Album ist ein wunderbarer Soundtrack voller bedrückender Dunkelheit und tiefer Trauer.

Das nunmehr 20. Studioalbum der erfolgreichsten deutschen Art- & Progressive Rockband ELOY. Es ist zugleich das 3. Album einer einzigartigen, vom Band- Mastermind Frank Bornemann als Rock Opera gestalteten Trilogie über das Leben und Schicksal der französischen Nationalheldin und Heiligen Jeanne d´Arc.
Bereits die beiden ersten Alben mit dem Titel „The Vision, the Sword and the Pyre, Part 1 & 2“, auf denen sich diverse illustre Künstler (u.a. Alice Merton) auf der Gästeliste befinden, wurden nicht nur durchweg positiv rezensiert, und erreichten hohe Chartsplatzierungen, sondern fanden auch aufgrund ihrer auf profunden Kenntnissen basierenden Umsetzung in allen historischen Details auf kultureller Ebene viel Beachtung.


Mit „Echoes from the Past” legt nun der Autor nochmal nach, und lässt den durch die Handlung der ersten beiden Alben führenden Protagonisten und Waffengefährten von Jeanne d´Arc, Jean de Metz, die aufwühlenden Ereignisse der Vergangenheit auf sehr emotionale Weise reflektieren.


Musikalisch entstand dadurch ein Werk, bei dem sich sensible und atmosphärische Passagen mit gewaltigen, dramaturgisch geprägten Klangwogen abwechseln, die den ELOY-Fan sicherlich an frühere Konzept-Werke der Band erinnern werden.


Diese Melange ist aber gemäß Frank Bornemann, der sich bei dieser Produktion erneut mit Veränderungen im Line up konfrontiert sah, voll beabsichtigt. Obwohl es sich bzgl. seiner musikalischen Elemente bestens in die Trilogie integriert, ließ es bei seiner Entstehung offensichtlich doch viel Spielraum für künstlerische Momente, die man nicht erwartet, aber die sich außerordentlich prägend für das Album auswirken, welches wieder einmal einzigartig ist.

Adrian Borland and Graham Bailey might be better known as members of legendary post-punk group The Sound, but the two were childhood friends and had been playing together even earlier in The Outsiders, and continued their deep musical rapport as a duo, creating these intense and engaging songs as Second Layer at the same time as their higher profile band output. Following our release of Courts Or Wars, combining their early material, we are proud to reissue their only full length album, World Of Rubber.

Fueled by experimentation in both song construction and recording techniques, the duo leave you enveloped in what The Quietus described as, “a monochrome worldview morbidly obsessed with the dehumanizing effect of war, nuclear weapon annihilation, and the fracturing and negation of the self within an increasingly distorted and technologically mediated society.” Indeed, the goal had been to make each album a concept album, with this to be titled: Second Layer’s World Of Rubber. Alas, this was to be the first and last of those efforts. New detailed liner notes from Graham Bailey shed considerable light on the creation of this cold classic and its immediate aftermath.

Bailey’s inventive construction and deconstruction of various electronics, effects boxes and tape loops form the propulsive base for these songs. Borland’s guitar playing is jagged and unleashed. Above it all is an undeniable sense of melody and Adrian’s distinctive vocals. Soon, they would wonder where Second Layer ended and The Sound began, but World Of Rubber would stand as a document of this fertile period. It would also be a lasting testament to their desire to push the boundaries of their creativity. Dark and brooding the result is what Bandcamp described as “brutally bleak, blank-eyed post-punk that remains chillingly compelling.”

Soundway presents Circus Underwater’s 1984 self-titled masterpiece. Remastered and extended to a double LP, this deluxe version includes six unreleased tracks unearthed from the original ¼” tapes, and presented with an insert, including never-before-seen photos and the fascinating story behind the music.

Featuring artwork from Grateful Dead collaborator, David Lundquist, the album encapsulates a unique moment in time. Echoing the story of a generation that grew up in the 50s and 60s where music was everything, two friends embark on a journey of experimentation which begins in the beatnik suburbs of Washington DC and travels to the heart of hippie San Francisco.

The result is an opus that fearlessly blurs the boundaries of genres and embraces diverse influences. Elements of prog, rock, ambient and wave music culminate in an odyssey that seamlessly bridges the gap between the spaced-out creativity of the 70s and electronic music of today

Latin Freestyle war eine schwindelerregende, leidenschaftliche Musik. Es war das klangliche Äquivalent eines Dance-Offs in Spanish Harlem und wurde zur elektronisch konstruierten Brücke zwischen Disco und House. Freestyle entstand aus dem Elektro-Sound der frühen 80er Jahre, kombinierte klare Stakkato-Rhythmen mit Morsecode-Synthesizer-Hooks, und rundete sie mit gefühlvollen, meist weiblichen Gesang ab. Darüber hinaus war noch viel mehr: Proto-House-Klavierlinien, kubanische Percussion, viel Emotion und Synth-Hooks. Zusammengestellt und kommentiert von Bob Stanley ('The Daisy Age', 'Fell From The Sun'), ist 'Latin Freestyle' die erste Zusammenstellung, welche die gesamte Bandbreite des Freestyle von seinem Durchbruch in den frühen 1980er Jahren bis zum 1990er-Revival abdeckt. Die Doppel-Vinyl sowie die CD werden natürlich wieder von ausfühlichen Liner Notes begleitet.

Born and raised in the deep outskirts of Mexico City, the Gama brothers are keeping alive the rich legacy of marimba music running through their family with their latest project, Son Rompe Pera. While firmly rooted in the tradition of this historic instrument, their fresh take on the folk icon challenges its limits as never before, moving it into the garage/punk world of urban misfits and firmly planting it in the 21st century.

SuperBlue: The Iridescent Spree is the electrifying new album from jazz legends Kurt Elling and Charlie Hunter, following the success of their eponymous Grammy-nominated debut and acclaimed EP Guilty Pleasures featuring Nate Smith. With a vocal range that seamlessly blends jazz, R&B, and funk, Elling is a virtuosic showman and deep collaborator with a comedic edge. Hailed by The Washington Post as the most daring, dynamic, and interesting singer in jazz since the mid-1990s, he and Hunter have pushed the boundaries of jazz and lyrics to create a one-of-a-kind sound that is uniquely their own. Teaming up with hip-hop masterminds Corey Fonville and DJ Harrison (Butcher Brown), Elling and Hunter showcase their virtuosity, showmanship, and musicianship to offer a deluge of roisterous funk, indelible beats, and all-too-current lyrics that will have you grooving like never before. SuperBlue is more than just another jazz album. It's a punch in your face, take no prisoners masterpiece that showcases the sheer talent, passion, and unpredictability of these extraordinary musicians. Get ready to be blown away by the brilliance of Kurt Elling and his collaborators in this groundbreaking project!

Worriers' new album Trust Your Gut is what happens when a queer Springsteen sleeper cell emerges to throw an indie rock house party. It’s the opening scene of Empire Records if it were soundtracked by Frightened Rabbit. It’s about yearning for a better self when you constantly feel neither here nor there. While that isn’t entirely about their gender, it’s absolutely a part of songwriter Lauren Denitzio’s lived experience as a millennial. After Worriers released an album the same week as the 2020 lockdown - and after a history of what can only be described as music industry slapstick comedy - Denitzio rebuilt their songwriting practice from scratch. Armed with a small artist grant, new collaborators, and a lot of time on their hands, Trust Your Gut was written by taking everything apart and putting it back together again. The album was written and arranged with drummer Atom Willard (Against Me!, Angels & Airwaves), pianist Franz Nicolay (The Hold Steady), and guitarist Frank Piegaro who joined the band in 2019. With bass recorded by Allegra Anka (Cayetana) and strings by Ethan Philbrick, Trust Your Gut crafts a world of heart-punching indie rock with pop and folk influences after a career of fierce punk-leaning anthems.

The debut album from Winnipeg psychedelic jazz-funk collective Apollo Suns, 'Departures' (Do Right! Music), finds the band evolving across new styles and moods, encompassing the shifting tides of the pandemic years.

Produced by Juno award-winning producer Ben Kaplan (Bootsy Collins, Five Alarm Funk), Departures is a cinematic journey inspired as much by artists like Goblin, Lettuce, and Frank Zappa as film, TV and video game scores and soundtracks. The band combines classic compositional techniques with synths and electronics, showcasing genre-melding finesse. Introducing strings, acoustic guitar, grand piano, and lap steel into the mix, Apollo Suns explore the visceral and heavy, the elegant and ethereal, epic house rock to New Orleans-y brass, proggy pathways, string-backed balladry, greasy funk and beyond.

"It's been a heavy couple of years. We wanted to make an album that summed it all up," says bandleader Ed Durocher. "I always kind of think of music as the different parts of life. Sometimes it's aggressive, sometimes it's fun and loose, and sometimes it's sad and hard. So, since we don't have vocals, a lot of these songs try to convey those experiences through sound."

Seit fünfzehn Jahren ist Marilies Jagsch ein fester Bestandteil der Wiener Musikszene. Im Jahr 2008 veröffentlichte sie ihr Debüt "Obituary for a Lost Mind" und 2010 das Album "From Ice to Water to Nothing" auf dem von Clara Luzia gegründeten Label Asinella Records. Abseits ihres Soloprojekts arbeitete sie mit der Elektropop-Ikone Bernhard Fleischmann zusammen und wurde zu Gastauftritten u.a. bei A Life, A Song, A Cigarette, Love & Fist, Alien Hand Syndrome oder Wolfgang Frisch (Sofa Surfers) eingeladen. Derzeit spielt der Künstler in der Band Vienna Rest in Peace und arbeitet mit der in Seattle ansässigen Performance-Gruppe Saint Genet zusammen. Dreizehn Jahre nach der Veröffentlichung ihres letzten Albums ist es Zeit für einen neuen Namen: MAIIJA. Für ihr aktuelles Projekt haben Marilies Jagsch und Produzent Peter Paul Aufreiter (Hearts Hearts) einige der spannendsten Musiker*innen Wiens eingeladen, um die elf Songs des Albums "I AM" aufzunehmen, das am 15. September 2023 auf Noise Appeal Records erscheinen wird.

Dark Entries and Papi Juice Records team up for No Jack Swing, the solo electronic debut of multi-hype man Brontez Purnell. The Southern-raised, Oakland-based musician and writer has centered his queerness and Blackness in projects Gravy Train and Younger Lovers as well as in his award-winning books 100 Boyfriends and Since I Laid My Burden Down. On No Jack Swing, Purnell gives us a love letter to the most beloved (and secularized) of drum patterns - that is, the electronic 808 “Amen Break”. Beginning recording in 2020, Purnell conceived of No Jack Swing as an audio zine of found sound materials: chain letters of instrumentals recorded in bedrooms, poems from boys in France, found gospel tapes from his childhood family Baptist Choir, and the sound of records skipping on his bedroom turntable. No Jack Swing is as much a homage to No Wave and New Jack Swing as it is an answering to the gods of Indie, Electroclash, Disco, and Gospel. Amidst all this background noise, the unexpected occurs: all the niche pretensions collapse to a singularity - the sound of High Pop! No Jack Swing was produced by Nightfeelings. Each copy of includes a lyric sheet with a photo of Brontez.

Ein Meisterwerk unentrinnbarer Finsternis!

Die schwedische Instanz SHINING wird am 15. September 2023 ihr selbstbetiteltes 11. Studioalbum über Napalm Records veröffentlichen. Die 1996 gegründete Band gilt als eine der kontroversesten und musikalisch brillantesten Bands der Black Metal-Szene.
Auf ihrem elften Werk präsentieren sie sich noch düsterer und brutaler als je zuvor. Laut eigener Aussage wird Shining ”eine abwärts gerichtete Reise in Stereo sein, die die Welt in eine hypnotisierende, unentrinnbare Dunkelheit tüncht”.

Auch wenn die musikalischen Einflüsse hauptsächlich im Black Metal liegen, lässt sich die Band um Mastermind Niklas Kvarforth nicht auf ein Genre alleine festlegen. SHINING verbinden auf unvergleichliche Weise Einflüsse aus verschiedenen Stilen wie Klassik, Jazz und Progressive Rock, um eine düstere Stimmung, schmerzende Wunden und tiefe Leere klanglich darzustellen. Themen wie Selbstzerstörung, Selbstmord und Gewalt spielen eine wichtige Rolle in der Musik der Band. Im Laufe von zehn Studioalben, darunter Meisterwerke wie das legendäre V. Halmstad und Redefining Darkness, haben SHINING sich eine große Fangemeinde erspielt, die in den Bann des musikalischen Genies und der exzentrischen Art von Niklas Kvarforth gezogen wurde.

'The double Oscar-nominated and multi-award-winning Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson (1969-2018), known for his film scores for "Arrival", "Sicario", or "The Theory of Everything", was renowned for his innovative and unique blend of classical and electronic elements. With his original, profound, and moving works for film and stage, he achieved worldwide fame and is considered one of the most celebrated film composers of the last decade.“Jóhannsson’s music gives the impression of having arrived in a time capsule from a distant planet that is a mirror image of our own. His own absence now adds further mystery and magic to his music’s unique sound world.” - Gramophone.The monumental orchestral work "A Prayer to the Dynamo," reminiscent of a lost symphony, was inspired by Jóhannsson's great fascination with technology. In particular, he drew inspiration from recordings of electrical installations and generators that he had made at the Elliðaár Power Station in Iceland, which are deeply intertwined with the orchestral sound. Furthermore, he was also captivated by the works of Edison, Tesla, and especially a chapter in the memoirs of American historian Henry Adams (1838-1918). In that chapter, Adams described his impressions of the 1900 Paris World Exhibition and the hidden power of the enormous machines he had seen there. Deutsche Grammophon now releases the world premiere recording of this outstanding orchestral work performed by the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Daníel Bjarnason. The album also includes two suites from Jóhannsson's soundtracks for "The Theory of Everything" and "Sicario", both of which were nominated for Oscars and various other awards, with the former winning the Golden Globe for Best Original Score.

'Brothers Osborne are one of music’s most consistently adventurous bands, a duo connected by not just blood, but also a lifetime of performing together, and a shared working-class upbringing in Deale, Maryland. Fourth studio album from the Grammy winning duo. The band has been nominated for 10 GRAMMYs in total, standing as five-time CMA Vocal Duo of the Year, and are four-time ACM Duo of the Year. Overall, they have collected six CMA awards, seven ACM trophies and received the ASCAP Vanguard Award in 2019. Their critically acclaimed hit songs have tallied multiple RIAA Gold and Platinum certifications, while surpassing more than 2.7 Billion global streams. Socials: FB: 505,551, TW: 211,610, IG: 406,367, YT: 285,000, TT: 78,300. Produced by Mike Elizondo (Sheryl Crow, Turnstile, Dr Dre). Guests on the album include Abe Laboriel Jr (Paul McCartney’s drummer, all songs) and Miranda Lambert (guest vocals, We Ain’t Good At Breaking Up). Reigning CMA and ACM Duo of the Year. Formats: CD, LP.

Much coveted in certain collector circles, this release offers 4 tracks originally recorded in 1985 by, at the time, high school starlet Paola Belloni. All tracks are sung in Italian and consistently easy to appreciate but "Vattene" and "Un Uomo Semplice" steal the show with remarkable downtempo smoothness gliding in the lower BPM ranges. Although many studios at the time would have already standardized more synthetic sounds brought by widespread access to electronics in the mid 80's, these recordings offer a more organic and warm sounding instrumentation - one solid round aural aperitivos. Officially re-issued with original artwork and re-mastered at Manmade mastering in Berlin.

Sunny Crypt is happy to announce its third release: the reissue of the now elusive Nine Minutes to Cairo - Nine Minutes To Cairo 12”, a mysterious post Cosmic 2- tracker with strong New Beat reminiscences from a one-off studio project. Originally released in 1991 by Westside Music, this reissue brings it back to life with a brand new artwork by Matteo Cerri, full remastering by Manmade Studio and cut at 45rpm for your eventual wrongspeed pleasures.

Fake Yourself is an act of revolt as much as it is a celebration of life and an expression of human alienation. As usual in most of his work, soFa here reflects contrasts and contradictions as our existence so often does. It’s about sadness and joy, ups and downs and the fine line which connects them to tell a story. Fake Yourself comes as a spontaneous output of an artist escaping a scene of which the constant superficiality is unavoidable. Mistakes and wrong production with a strong DIY flavor are a conscious choice to not lose the spontaneous feeling which defines these recordings. A pure and direct self, exploring a realm of sound with sharp curiosity, emotion and humour. Where simplicity and complexity marry. This album is a good example on how some of the most authentic musical explorations are the most personal ones. soFa leaves all boundaries behind and let many of his influences confluence. Unconsciously or not, traces of IDM, Disco, New Beat, Dub and mostly Krautrock cross heavenly paths, followed by ironic and confronted vocals and his hypnotic signature basslines. Everything seems to make sense, to fill the chapters of an adventurous short novel. What makes Fake Yourself remarkable is not the deep blend of genres, but the definition of one man shaping and finding his authentic sound. Killing boundaries to create this journey in his very own "style-no-style". All tunes were improvised, recorded and arranged within 10 days in a wooden cabin, isolated in the middle of the nature in Alentejo/Portugal in 2022. This album was not meant to happen and one can strongly feel its spontaneous soul. No overdubs.

It’s been nearly eight years since the last Mondo Drag album came out. In that time, the Bay Area psych-prog band toured the US and Europe, performed at major festivals and—once again—reformed their rhythm section. But in the context of the band’s nearly two-decade existence, this period may have been the most fraught. Vocalist and keyboardist John Gamiño lost friends and family members. Meanwhile, humanity suffered the throes of a global pandemic. “It was a dark chapter,” he recalls. “I was going through a lot of stuff personally—there’s been a lot of death, loss of family members, and grief. Plus, the band was inactive. It felt like time was slipping away from me. I felt like I was wasting my opportunities. I felt like I wasn’t participating in my story as much as I could have.” This feeling of time slipping away is the prevailing theme on Mondo Drag’s new album, Through the Hourglass. “For me, Through the Hourglass really encompasses the quarantine/pandemic years,” Gamiño says. “But in a way that includes a couple of years before that for us, because the band was stagnant during that time. Living with that was really impactful on our daily lives. So, the album is reflective. It’s looking at time—past, present, future.” Luckily, Mondo Drag emerged from this dour period reborn. Freshly energized by bassist Conor Riley (formerly of San Diego psych squad Astra, currently of Birth), who joined in 2018, and drummer Jimmy Perez, who joined in 2022, Gamiño and guitarists Jake Sheley and Nolan Girard have triumphed over the seemingly inexorable pull of time’s passage. “Astra was the one contemporary band that we felt was on the same tip as us,” Gamiño says. “We saw the similarities and felt the same vibe. Conor moved to San Francisco in 2018 and heard we were looking for a bassist, so we got in touch. For us, it was like, ‘The synth player from Astra wants to play bass for us?’ We couldn’t think of anybody more perfect.” Perez, meanwhile, brings deep psych-prog knowledge and impeccable skill. “He’s an amazing drummer, and he allowed us to do what we’ve been trying to do,” Gamiño says. “Before he came along, it was like, ‘Where are the drummers who like psych and prog and can play dynamically?’ We ended up trying out metal drummers, but they couldn’t swing. Jimmy was the final piece of the puzzle.” The result is a dazzling and often plaintive rumination on the hours, days, and years—not to mention experiences—that comprise a lifetime. Two-part opener “Burning Daylight” smolders with melancholy, offering a whirl of multi-colored and hallucinatory imagery. “It’s about the California wildfires and a feeling of helplessness,” Gamiño explains. “There’s a juxtaposition between the dark lyricism and upbeat music which is meant to imply a sort of delusional state—and choosing our own delusion to overcome the crushing despair of reality.” Eleven-minute centerpiece “Passages” is a sprawling prog-rock adventure, festooned with lofty guitar melodies, sweeping organ flourishes and a delicately finger-picked outro. But the heaviest song, thematically speaking, might be the mournful and hypnotic “Death in Spring,” which borrows its title from the like-named Catalan novel. “In the novel, people are placed inside opened trees and their mouths filled with cement before they die to prevent their souls from escaping,” Gamiño explains. “The song is about three people I knew who lost their lives to gun violence, addiction, and mental health. It’s my way of cementing their souls in song form.” Mondo Drag fans might be surprised by this blend of hard reality with literary surrealism, but it’s a perfect example of how the last several years have impacted Mondo Drag—and Gamiño in particular. “On all of our previous albums, the lyrical content is more psychedelic and out there,” he acknowledges. “This is the most personal stuff I’ve ever done, so I’m definitely feeling vulnerable on this one.” The title Through the Hourglass comes from the opening of the long-running soap opera Days of Our Lives. It’s less inspired by a predilection for daytime TV than Gamiño’s connection with his late mother, who passed during the time since the last album. “I used to watch Days of Our Lives with her everyday growing up,” he explains. “The song is kind of a reinterpretation of the theme song, although it’s different enough that probably no one will catch it. Now that I’m getting older, I like to put these little Easter eggs in the songs for myself and for archival purposes—for memories.” Through the Hourglass was tracked at El Studio in San Francisco, with an additional ten days of recording at the band’s rehearsal space, which doubles as a hybrid analog-digital recording studio. The album was engineered and mixed by Phil Becker, drummer of space-punk mainstays Pins Of Light. “We’re still here,” Gamiño says. “We’ve been in the studio working on our craft and honing our skills. Now we’re re-emerging for the next stage of our life cycle.”

2023 Repress

CELESTE have been breaking the outer boundaries of heavy music for over fifteen years. When they first evolved from the Lyon hardcore punk scene, they were absolutely brutal and entirely unique, delivering extremity on their own terms that they pushed further and further with each successive album. “We just wanted to get darker and more violent,” says drummer Antoine Royer, until 2017’s Infidèle(s) saw the incorporation of a more melodic streak. Their most focussed record yet, it was tremendously received, critically adored, and backed with the band’s biggest shows to date.

Its follow-up was always going to be something radical. Even by their own inordinately high standards, however, new record Assassine(s) is one hell of a step forward. Even if this album still contains cyclonic walls of guitar, of battering rhythm, and passages of blissful, rushing release. it’s unlike anything the band have ever released; embracing a modern and forward-thinking production, they're just as complex but more direct, diverse and accessible than before. “Our leitmotif here was to open our minds,” says guitarist Sébastien Ducotté. “We made a real effort to think outside of our box.”

During lockdown CELESTE’s members were forced to each write individually. “We each went further into our personal, inner views of what the songs were,” says bassist and vocalist Johan Girardeau. When eventually they began sessions under producer Chris Edrich, it was gruelling. “We ended up exhausted, physically and mentally” says Johan. “There was no break in two weeks. We didn’t see the sun at all during that time. Every night we were so tired that we didn’t enjoy being together as much as we’re used to.” Nevertheless, in the same way the hardships of isolation led to richer and more complex songwriting, it’s that relentlessness that led to the record’s razor-sharp edges.

Above all else, CELESTE are innovators. Whether by pioneering French avant-garde metal when they formed at the turn of the millennium, by making their boldest leaps despite being seven albums deep into their career, or using two years away from live shows to tightly finetune their stagecraft, they refuse at all costs to rest on their laurels. There can be consequences to this instinct – fans of the band’s older work might be thrown off by their constant shifts of pace – but they’re throwing caution to the wind. A bit of backlash “would be a good thing, because it would mean that we’ve really changed,” says Guillaume . “It's not disrespectful, it's just that we never made music to please people, but just to enjoy what we're doing.” In the end, CELESTE are a band so forward-thinking that they can only be judged on the strength of their latest work. And when it comes to a record as bold as Assassine(s), they’ve hit a whole new peak entirely.