Cerca:növö

Few lovers stay together for life-and beyond. Just as rare are the artists who manage to keep alive the burning flame of their creative desire. Areski Belkacem is one of those who nurtures in his heart a fire that never dies out, a passion that burns just as intensely for music as it does for his beloved. As long as the message eventually reaches its intended recipient, he cares little for how long the journey takes. His new album, Long courrier, is proof of this: twelve unreleased songs that flow like a love letter set to music. In nearly 60 years of career, Areski Belkacem has released only three solo albums-intimate and deeply personal works that feel like whispered confidences to a loved one. In an era where commercial demands shape much of music production, these records exist solely to fulfill his need for expression. The late music lover and producer Jean-Philippe Allard once said, "Areski goes against the tide-he always seems to enjoy taking forbidden paths!" In Long courrier, Areski tenderly expresses love for his homeland and his beloved. He believes in the power of sensuality, the sacredness of pleasure, and the hidden beauty in every person despite life's hardships. He shows a fraternal gaze toward outsiders and sings of inner journeys, doubt, vows, eternal bonds-with a voice as warm and bright as a loving smile. He honors the mystery of the union between music and the French language. Blending his familiar chaabi rhythms and guitar with piano, accordion, bass, and electric guitar, he plays alongside the same musicians who have accompanied him for over two decades on stage-supporting the woman he shares both stage and life with: the incomparable Brigitte Fontaine.

After the explosive Comme à la radio, infused with the free jazz energy of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Brigitte Fontaine and Areski Belkacem released six albums together or separately between 1972 and 1977. Their music, often stripped down to voice, guitar, and percussion-or performed a cappella-stood in stark contrast to the orchestrated French pop of the time. This minimalist and spontaneous approach highlighted the poetic power of the lyrics and the intimacy of the melodies, earning them recognition in the counterculture and underground scenes. By the end of the 1970s, Fontaine sought to make her work more visible without losing its originality. The Baraka album marked this transitional moment, initially recorded in a home studio without external musicians. Its title (meaning "blessing" in Arabic) hinted at a desire for success. Mixing introspection, absurd humor, and bold stylistic choices, the album was technically ambitious, featuring stereo duets and layered vocals, and lyrically rich, tackling everything from metaphysical themes to playful nonsense. However, the project ultimately veered off course. After moving the recordings to the massive Studio Davout and bringing in producer and guitarist Martial "Mimi" Lorenzini, the album lost its original intimacy. Overproduced arrangements clashed with the simplicity of Fontaine and Belkacem's initial intent, resulting in an album-renamed Les églantines sont peut-être formidables-that the artists later disowned, refusing to allow its commercial release. Recently rediscovered demo tapes, stripped of their bombastic layers, reveal the raw, emotional core of the songs-showcasing the duo's voices with a rare authenticity. These recordings bridge a missing link in their discography, between their experimental lo-fi years and their later, more accessible work. Decades on, Fontaine and Belkacem remain defiant originals, never settling into a formula, always evolving, and continuing to shake the foundations of French chanson.

DIEMAJIN is the duo of Berlin-based producer DJ DIE SOON (Daisuke Imamura) and Tokyo-based vocalist MA. Their self-titled debut is equal parts scrambled hip-hop, simmering noise and spectral Tokusatsu soundtrack. A set of cursed beats and possessed raps inspired by Japanese sci-fi and supernatural-horror films from the 1960s.
The pair, both originally from Japan, first collaborated live at an event in Berlin organised by Morphine Records in 2019. But the eleven tracks on their self-titled debut were made by swapping beats, sounds and acapellas across the internet. Editing, arranging and degrading them into the collection presented here.

Hampus Lindwall’s Brace for Impact might just be the first album of post-internet pipe organ music. It’s an album of five new contemporary classical compositions, all performed by the composer himself on the 78-stop grand organ at St. Antonius church in Düsseldorf, Germany. Featuring the electric guitar of SUNN O)’s Stephen O’Malley on the title track. A highly visceral forty-five minutes of music with undeniable elemental power.
As 2024 came to a close, in New York and Paris chords rang out from thirty-two-foot pipes for the first time in half a decade. Following twin fires in 2019, the grand organs at the cathedrals of St John the Divine and Notre-Dame, amongst the largest instruments in their respective countries, had finally been restored. The news was justly celebrated in the international press, but the incidents were far from isolated. In England, the city of Norwich hailed the return of its cathedral’s five manual organ in 2023 and just two years earlier York Minster heralded a “once-in-a-century” refurbishment of its own 5,000-plus pipe instrument. Meanwhile, further organ restoration projects are ongoing at churches in Liverpool, Bradford, Bristol, Winchester, and Washington DC. Significant as they are to their respective communities, they’re also emblematic of a wider rebirth for one of humanity’s oldest musical instruments.
The organ is having a moment. Over the last few years, albums by the likes of Kali Malone, Ellen Arkbro, Anna von Hausswolff, FUJI|||||||||||TA, and Áine O’Dwyer, as well as projects in the visual arts by Sollmann Sprenger, Cory Arcangel, Massimo Bartolini and many other talented artists, have given a new prominence to the old ecclesiastical stalwart. The pipe organ bears historical traces which stretch back to the third century BC. But that doesn’t mean it can’t speak to a contemporary moment haunted by algorithms and networked culture. Hampus Lindwall’s Brace for Impact is an album of organ music for today.

Far above the skylark sings And beats the air with joyful wings Till all the sky with music rings At high noon of the day With 2022's critically acclaimed album Ghosts, enigmatic Shropshire group HARESS markedout their own place in a growing landscape of artists navigating the world of the traditional and the rural in new ways. Ghosts led to the normally reclusive Haress venturing out from their base in the Shropshire Hills for live performances with the likes of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Shovel Dance Collective, Big Brave, Steve Von Till and appearances at Supersonic and Krankenhaus Festivals - not to mention making fans of everyone from Kevin Martin to James Holden in the process. Skylarks is perhaps the natural conclusion of these past few years for the group. Whereas previous Haress recordings have embraced something of the unknown in the process of their making, Skylarks sees a well-travelled group of musicians carefully craft long and expressive pieces of music in a powerful and instinctual way. The music here might be long, but it never sprawls out of control. The telepathy present in live performance has been harnessed and used to carefully compose and arrange these four pieces, narrating a journey through landscape and time that is as powerful as it is beautiful. Inspired by found folk songs, the power of nature and the power of community and Ben Myers' brutal tale of resistance The Gallows Pole, Haress have created a genuinely epic soundtrack to a world both past and future, real and imagined. The ambience and atmosphere of the recording (expertly captured by Phil Booth of JT Soar Studio on location in the group's hometown of Bishop's Castle) is entirely natural, the sound of an ensemble playing live in the room around you. The only vocal interjection this time comes from a choir of voices, replicating the communal singing that has been the centrepiece of Haress live performances. When the voices emerge, it feels truly euphoric and heavy. Not heavy as in metal, but heavy as in the Earth itself - a primal, joyful gut punch to the system. "This blissed-out psychedelia is not quite pastoral – there’s nothing twee about these unwinding grooves – yet evokes water and wood, light and shadow, a place of forgotten labour and the absent human form with a beguiling grace" - Luke Turner on Ghosts, The Quietus Albums Of The Year 2022 "That timelessness of the old sounds but with an added tripped out modernity and dissonance hooked into the past by the power of drone is magical and exhilarating stuff – they are truly spellbinding – ancient and modern like British ragas or a damp searching for the soul of England take on the desert blues of a Tinariwen" - Jon Robb reviews Krankenhaus Festival 2023, Louder Than War

To fans of black metal, Dødheimsgard need no introduction, being one of the great purveyors of the Norwegian Black Metal creative evolution.

The band was formed in 1994 by Aldrahn (Thorns) and Vicotnik (Ved Buens Ende). The early incarnation was that of a raw and at often melodic black metal band, with their debut album also featuring Fenriz of Darkthrone on bass. In recent years, Dodheimsgard has become known for its eclectic musical ventures and poignant mood shifts, with a less chaotic, more considered approach compared to their earliest works. Following the 'Kronet til Konge' and 'Monumental Possession' opuses, there was a shift in direction as demonstrated on 1998's 'Satanic Art' EP and by Dødheimsgard's third album, 666 International, Vicotnik had taken over a lot of the writing duties, with DHG's style becoming more technical yet ferocious black metal, with strong experimental ideas and industrial elements.

Vicotnik's riffs were inspired by cult bands such as Thorns and perfectly entwined with Aldrahn's delightfully twisted lyrics and immense vocals to create something truly unique. In its 666 International incarnation, DHG (as they were later to be known) featured a line- up of well- respected Norwegian musicians including Czral (Aura Noir, Ved Buens Ends, Virus), Apollyon (Aura Noir, Immortal), plus Mr Magic Logic (Fleurety) on keyboards, as the album was constructed over a period of time. All in all, 666 International is rightly regarded as a highly influential masterpiece of avant-garde metal by many since its release in 1999.

University, the Crewe-based four-piece formed of Zak Bowker (vocals/ guitar), Ewan Barton (bass), drummerJoel Smith and Eddie (mascot), release their debut album, McCartney, It'll Be OK.

Recorded with producer Kwes Darko (Sampa The Great, Denzel Curry) at Damon Albarn's Studio 13 in London, McCartney, It'll Be OK furthers the extremely exciting beginnings of University's 2023 debut EP, Title Track, with the hooks now brighter and more melodic, the breakdowns heavier and the lyrics more refned. The band recorded McCartney, It'll Be Alrighttotally live, and it retains the delightfully unhinged energy that's defned their work so far, with everything thrillingly close to falling apart at any minute.

Mit ihrem vierten Album "Confessing Darkness" erweitern IMHA TARIKAT erneut alle Grenzen des Black Metal, ohne dabei die enge Verbindung zu dem harschen Stil zu verlieren. Das Genre war von Anfang an deutlich weniger eng definiert, als es eifersüchtige Gatekeeper und juvenile Sittenwächter oftmals unterstellt haben. Die deutschen Black Metal Erneuerer haben von Anfang an zahlreiche der Möglichkeiten genutzt, die das Genre zu bieten hat, und sich doch hörbar ihre eigenen Klangräume erschlossen. Ihr tonales Königreich ruht im Wesentlichen auf zwei Säulen: Musikalisch prägen ein unerbittlicher Vorwärtsdrang und eine unbändige Leidenschaft ihren Sound. "Confessing Darkness" entfesselt sogar noch mehr von dieser rohen Energie als jemals zuvor. Das andere tragende Element besteht aus einer tiefen emotionalen Intelligenz, die das Potential des Black Metal voll ausschöpft, jedes erdenkliche Gefühl auszudrücken - von der reinen Liebe bis zum finstersten Hass, von schweren Depressionen bis zu unbändiger Freude. Auch auf "Confessing Darkness" beruhen diese persönlichen Bekenntnisse auf nichts als der Wahrheit. Dabei hat IMHA TARIKATs lyrischer und musikalischer Kopf, Kerem Yilmaz alias Ruhsuz Cellât, das gesamte Album erstmals komplett im Studio aufgenommen, was dem Sound zugute kommt. Yilmaz hat sich zudem für kürzere, schärfere Attacken entschieden. Die Stücke auf "Confessing Darkness" kommen direkt und zügig auf den Punkt, und lassen sofort wieder los, sobald sich ihre zerstörerische Kraft voll entfaltet hat. IMHA TARIKAT präsentieren sich auf "Confessing Darkness" hörbar gereift. Obwohl ihrer Klanggewalt aufgrund von Erfahrung und hart errungenem musikalischen Wissen etwas von ihrem jugendlichen Ungestüm abgegeben hat, gewinnen die deutschen Black Metal Aufsteiger dadurch erheblich an Durchschlagskraft und Überzeugung. "Confessing Darkness" markiert zweifellos einen musikalischen Meilenstein für IMHA TARIKAT.

Breakbeat Paradise Recordings is back with another funky edition of their Toxic Funk series – this time welcoming back a true Nu Funk legend Umbo who has cocked up 2 massive funky soul nuggets. Umbo has been around since the early Nu Funk days with releases on labels like Good Groove Records & Timewarp under his belt as well as featuring on the Christmas Bootleg Bells Vol. 4 right here on BBP. The grooves and breaks are center stage on both cuts of this Toxic Funk Vol. 18 - with No Sugar taking on a classic soul jam while the Saoco Root goes all in on jazz meets the funky drummer and catchy Beastie rhymes. The timeless sounds of both these funky bangers are sure fit in nicely in any funky DJ crate. BBP is on point once again delivering you the funky beats and breaks on the planet.

A l’occasion des 20 ans de cet album devenu culte, Record Makers réédite une version spéciale anniversaire limitée (vinyles transparents – 500 exemplaires) qui ravivera la flamme des fans de la première heure, des nouveaux fans et des collectionneurs. "Vive la Vie" est aujourd’hui un album référent pour les amateurs de rap, reconnu par ses pairs lyricistes, c’est un de ses albums qui marquent à jamais une époque, celle des années 2000 et de son rap aux rimes fines et puissantes.



Le 15 novembre 2004 sortait "Vive la Vie" le premier album du Klub des Loosers.



On ne présente plus le Klub des Loosers et son unique membre Fuzati. Pourquoi ? parce qu'on en a un peu honte quand même. Imaginez un jeune versaillais que tout prédestinait à devenir écrivain maudit ou chanteur d'un groupe de pop répétant dans le garage parental le dimanche de 16h à 20h. Le genre de type qui passait ses samedis après-midi à la bibliothèque municipale, ses samedi soir à boire de la bière dans les squats de jeunes où on recense une fille pour dix mecs et où la phrase qui revient le plus souvent est "qui roule un joint ?"

Imaginez maintenant que ce type ait une illumination, au milieu de ces jeunes que tout prédestine à la réussite (HEC, science-po) et qui lorsqu'ils se retrouvent ensemble ne savent pas faire autre chose que de se défoncer. "Nous sommes un klub de loosers".



Comme il n'aime pas trop les gens, Fuzati fondera un klub dont il sera le seul membre. Comme il n'a pas de guitare que le hip hop est son seul ami il se dit qu'il fera ça comme musique. Bah oui c'est sympa le hip hop. Comme on lui a dit qu'il n'avait pas une tête de rappeur et que les casquettes à l'envers lui vont mal il ne montrera jamais son visage et portera un chapeau. S'en suivra un parcours classique de MC underground qui rappe pour la rue (mais aussi les avenues) et représente ses refrés illégalement enfermés derrière les murs des prépas t'as vu. Mixtapes, nombreux freestyles dans l'émission Greckfrite diffusée sur la chaine internet Canalweb, concert à la MJC de Versailles mais aussi dans un entrepôt désinfecté à Dunkerque.



En 2003 Il signe sur le label parisien Record Makers parce qu'on lui a appris qu'il ne fallait pas trop se mélanger avec les gens d'autres milieux. Sortiront deux EP, "Baise les Gens" et "La Femme de Fer" qui sont déjà des classiques pour au moins 32 personnes. La même année sort également l'album de l'atelier "Buffet des Anciens Elèves" auquel il participe avec Tékilatex du groupe TTC, James Delleck, Cyanure et deux producteurs de talent, Tacteel (Lex Records) et ParaOne (Institubes). En juillet 2004 sort le maxi du Klub des Loosers où collaborent MF DOOM, légende hip hop, et Jean-Benoit Dunckel, moitié du groupe AIR.

Danza Tribale opens a new chapter in 2025 with MAITAKE - ??, the debut EP from Italian sound explorer Lo.Sai. Rooted in sonic tactility and movement, the project draws from both ancestral rhythms and experimental structures to create something intimate, immersive, and future-facing.

Named after the "dancing mushroom" from Japanese folklore, MAITAKE is inspired by the interconnected growth of mycelial networks and the emotional ecology of shared experience. Developed in collaboration with choreographer Maria Combi, the EP is a meditation on collective motion - where dance, rhythm, and ritual coalesce.

Across five tracks, Lo.Sai weaves together broken percussion, deep bass, fieldrecordings, and global rhythmic language. Fragments of flamenco, muezzin prayer, and Central African everyday rhythms float through the record - artefacts gathered by the artist's close-knit creative circle in Lunigiana. What emerges is not just a club record, but a living, breathing sonic organism.

[a] A1 Big Mike's; Drums, Bass, Clarinet, Organ, Mixed By, Written-By – Dijon (7); Guitar, Piano, Vocals [Additional], Organ, Mixed By, Written-By – Michael Gordon (30); Mixed By – Jack Karaszewski; Slide Guitar – Noah Le Gros
[b] A2 Scratching; Mixed By, Written-By – Dijon (7); Producer [Additional] – Michael Gordon (30); Producer [Additional], Mixed By – Jack Karaszewski
[c] A3 Many Times;Drums, Baritone Guitar, Written-By – Michael Gordon (30); Guitar [Additional], Written-By – Dijon (7); Programmed By [Additional Programming], Mixed By, Written-By – Andrew Sarlo
[d] A4 Annie; Acoustic Guitar, Written-By – Dijon (7); Bass – Michael Gordon (30); Mixed By, Written-By – Jack Karaszewski; Saxophone [Casio Sax Replica] – John Keek; Vocals [Additional] – God's Children (11)
[e] A5 Noah's Highlight Reel; Clarinet, Guitar, Mixed By, Written-By – Dijon (7); Vocals [Additional], Bass, Synth, Written-By – Michael Gordon (30); Vocals [Additional], Written; By – Noah Le Gros
[f] A6 The Dress; Bass – Gabe Noel, Sam Wilkes (2); Drums, Synth, Written-By – Dijon (7); Guitar – Noah Le Gros; Keyboards – John Keek; Mixed By – Andrew Sarlo; Vocals [Additional] – Michael Gordon (30); Written-By – John Keuch

[h] B2 Did You See It; Instruments [All], Written-By – Dijon (7); Mixed By – Jack Karaszewski
[i] B3 Talk Down; Bongos – Henry Kwapis; Drum Programming, Mixed By, Written-By – Jack Karaszewski; Drums, Synth [Strega], Mixed By, Written-By – Dijon (7); Guitar, Baritone Guitar – Michael Gordon (30); Keyboards – John Keek; Written-By – John Keuch
[j] B4 Rodeo Clown; Clarinet – John Keek; Mixed By – Jack Karaszewski; Written-By, Guitar – Dijon (7); Written-By, Guitar [Additional], Bass – Michael Gordon (30); Written-By, Slide Guitar – Noah Le Gros
[k] B5 End of Record; Baritone Guitar, Bass, Synth – Michael Gordon (30); Mixed By – Jack Karaszewski; Mixed By [Stem Mix] – Andrew Sarlo; Written-By, Guitar, Mixed By – Dijon (7)

b A2 Let's Try = Let's Try!; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo
[c] A3 お花畑にて = In The Flower Garden; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo

[e] A5 対クッパ戦 = Battling Bowser; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo

[g] A7 Super Pipe House = Super Mario House; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo








[p] B7 ごきげんスター = Irrepressible Star; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo









[z] C5 ねぇねぇジーノごっこしようよ = Play "Save The World" With Me!; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo



[xd] D1 土管からコンニチハ = Greetings From The Pipes; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo






[xk] E1 Long Long Ago… = Long, Long Ago...; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo
[xl] E2 ちょっとドキドキ = A Little Anxious; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo







[xt] F2 対 クリスタラー戦 = Battling Culex; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Nobuo Uematsu
[xu] F3 クリスタラー戦での勝利 = Victory Over Culex; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Nobuo Uematsu
[xv] F4 クリスタラーの会話 = Conversation With Culex; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Nobuo Uematsu





[yb] G5 オノレンジャー参上 = The Axem Rangers Bust In; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo
[yc] G6 クッパ城（其ノ弐） = Bowser's Keep (Second Visit); Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo





[yi] H5 お・し・ま・い・! = The End!; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo


[b] A2 Let's Try = Let's Try!; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo
[c] A3 お花畑にて = In The Flower Garden; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo

[e] A5 対クッパ戦 = Battling Bowser; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo

[g] A7 Super Pipe House = Super Mario House; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo








[p] B7 ごきげんスター = Irrepressible Star; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo









[z] C5 ねぇねぇジーノごっこしようよ = Play "Save The World" With Me!; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo



[xd] D1 土管からコンニチハ = Greetings From The Pipes; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo






[xk] E1 Long Long Ago… = Long, Long Ago...; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo
[xl] E2 ちょっとドキドキ = A Little Anxious; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo







[xt] F2 対 クリスタラー戦 = Battling Culex; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Nobuo Uematsu
[xu] F3 クリスタラー戦での勝利 = Victory Over Culex; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Nobuo Uematsu
[xv] F4 クリスタラーの会話 = Conversation With Culex; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Nobuo Uematsu





[yb] G5 オノレンジャー参上 = The Axem Rangers Bust In; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo
[yc] G6 クッパ城（其ノ弐） = Bowser's Keep (Second Visit); Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo





[yi] H5 お・し・ま・い・! = The End!; Written-By [Original Score Written By] – Koji Kondo

This is certainly both a mysterious one and an elusive one! Who were Grupo Natureza (Nature Group), and why is this release such a rarity? ‘Pode Acreditar’ was pressed on Som Livre Records in 1981 and it is believed very few copies were released into the commercial market. Those familiar with the productions of Lincoln Olivetti and Robson Jorge will no doubt recognise their hallmark sound here and that this single is ‘probably’ the work of the pair or one member at least. They were a regular in-house production team at Som Livre at the time, and there is a definite resemblance to Adriana’s song ‘Sei la Amor’ from 1978 which Lincoln Olivetti was involved in. Very little information is available about this release. A tantalising comment by Brazilian collector ‘bargainvinyl1’ on the original release’s Discogs page suggests ‘Pode Acreditar’ was a reaction to the Baby Consuelo and Pepeu Gomes pro-marijuana song ‘O Mal o Que Sai da Boca do Homem’, which caused controversy with Brazil’s governing military dictatorship at the time. Though condemning marijuana’s use, the word “baseado” (joint) is mentioned in the song, and this could be the reason behind the release being pulled by the heads of Som Livre and consequently it becoming one of the rarest releases on the label. Whilst its backstory is not crystal clear, it is an undeniable sun drenched, laidback boogie groove with AOR touches by the clandestine group. Pure 80s Riovibes, super-catchy and an earworm that sticks with you throughout the day.

- Next installment in BRAZIL45 Series.
- One of the rarest releases on the Som Livre label.
- Pure 80s laid back boogie grooves.

Madrid-based ensemble Sinouj fuses the deep-rooted traditions of the Mediterranean with the driving force of contemporary jazz, funk, rock and West African grooves. Their open-door vision draws in musicians from across the spectrum – from flamenco and Iranian classical music to soul and cutting-edge jazz – creating a dynamic, ever-evolving sound that is both global and unmistakably their own.

Their latest release shines a spotlight on 'Hak Dellali', a traditional North African tune that first rose to fame in the 1980s thanks to Tunisian star Hedi Habbouba and later Emirati singer Hussain Al Jassmi. In Sinouj's hands, this classic song becomes a transformative ritual, pulsing with the festive sway of Moroccan chaabi rhythm, Tuareg rock grit and the spontaneous spark of jazz. Over the years, it has consistently ignited the band's concerts into ecstatic celebration.

Backed with a psych-tinged and club-oriented remix by Berlin's Voodoocuts, with 'Hak Dellali' Sinouj continue to blur lines between genres and geographies, offering a fresh take on tradition.

Khadim is a stunning reconfiguration of the Ndagga Rhythm Force sound. The instrumentation is radically pared down. The guitar is gone; the concatenation of sabars; the drum-kit. Each of the four tracks hones in on just one or two drummers; otherwise the sole recorded element is the singing; everything else is programmed. Synths are dialogically locked into the drumming. Tellingly, Ernestus has reached for his beloved Prophet-5, a signature go-to since Basic Channel days, thirty years ago. Texturally, the sound is more dubwise; prickling with effects. There is a new spaciousness, announced at the start by the ambient sounds of Dakar street-life. At the microphone, Mbene Diatta Seck revels in this new openness: mbalax diva, she feelingly turns each of the four songs into a discrete dramatic episode, using different sets of rhetorical techniques. The music throughout is taut, grooving, complex, like before; but more volatile, intuitive and reaching, with turbulent emotional and spiritual expressivity.

Not that Khadim represents any kind of break. Its transformativeness is rooted in the hundreds upon hundreds of hours the Rhythm Force has played together. Nearly a decade has passed since Yermande, the unit's previous album. Every year throughout that period — barring lockdowns — the group has toured extensively, in Europe, the US, and Japan. With improvisation at the core of its music-making, each performance has been evolutionary, as it turns out heading towards Khadim. “I didn’t want to simply continue with the same formula," says Ernestus. “I preferred to wait for a new approach. Playing live so many times, I wanted to capture some of the energy and freedom of those performances.” Though several members of the touring ensemble sit out this recording — sabar drummers, kit-drummer, synth-player — their presence abides in the structure and swing of the music here.

Lamp Fall is a homage to Cheikh Ibra Fall, founder of the Baye Fall spiritual community. The mosque in the city of Touba is known as Lamp Fall, because the main tower resembles a lantern. Soy duggu Touba, moom guey séen / When you enter Touba, he is the one who greets you. After a swift, incantatory start Mbene sings with reflective seriousness. Her voice swirls with reverb, over a tight, funky, propulsive interplay between synth and drums, threaded with one-two jabs of bass. Cheikh Ibra Fall mi may way, mo diayndiou ré, la mu jëndé ko taalibe... Cheikh Ibra Fall amo morome, aboridial / Cheikh Ibra Fall shows the way forward, he gives us strength, he gathers his disciples... Overflowing with grace, Cheikh Ibra Fall has no equal.

Interwoven with Wolof proverbs, Dieuw Bakhul is a recriminatory song about treachery, lies, and back-biting. Over moody, roiling synths and ominous, lean bass, Mbene throws out fluttering scraps of vocal, as if re-running old conversations in her head. The music shadows her despair to the verge of breakdown, at one moment seemingly so lost in thought and memories, that it threatens to disintegrate. Bayilene di wor seen xarit ak seen an da ndo... Dieuw bakhul, dieuw ñaw na / Stop judging your friends and companions... A lie is no good, a lie is ugly.

Khadim is a show-stopper; currently the centrepiece of Ndagga Rhythm Force live performances. The song is dedicated to Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, aka Khadim, founder of the Mouride Sufi order. Serigne Bamba mi may wayeu / Serigne Bamba is the one who makes me sing. The verses name-check revered members of his family and brotherhood, like Sokhna Diarra, Mame Thierno, and Serigne Bara. Though Islam has been practised in Senegal for a millennium, it wasn’t until the start of the twentieth century that it began to thoroughly permeate ordinary Senegalese society, hand-in-hand with anti-colonialism. The verses here recall Bamba’s banishment by the French to Gabon, and later to Mauritania, in those foundational times. During exile, his captors once introduced a lion to his cell: gaïnde gua waf, dieba lu ci Cheikhoul Khadim / the lion doesn’t budge, it gives itself over to Cheikh Khadim. Deep, surging bass, steady kick-drum, and simple, reverbed chords on the off-beat lend the feel and impetus of steppers reggae. A reed plays snatches of a traditional Baye Fall melody; the dazzling polyrhythmic drumming is by Serigne Mamoune Seck. Mbene compellingly blends percussive vocalese, narrative suspense, exultant praise, introspection, and grievance.

Nimzat is a devotional tribute to Cheikh Sadbou, a contemporary of Bamba, buried in a mausoleum in Nizmat, in southern Mauritania. Way nala, kagne nala... souma danana fata dale / I call upon you and wonder about you... If I am overwhelmed, come to my aid. The town holds special significance for Khadr Sufism. An annual pilgrimage there is conducted to this day. The rhythm is buoyantly funky; the mood is sombre, reined-in, foreboding. Punctuated by peals of thunder, Mbene sings with restrained, intense reverence; huskily confidential, steadfast. Nanu dem ba Nimzat, dé ba sali khina / Let us go to Nimzat, to seal our devotion.

Mbene Diatta Seck: vocals.
Bada Seck: bougarabou, thiol, mbeung mbeung bal, tungune.
Serigne Mamoune Seck: bougarabou, khine, mbeung mbeung, tungune.
Text by Mark Ainley (Honest Jons).
Mastered by Rashad Becker.
Everything else by Mark Ernestus.

OVERVIEW: DUB TREES is one of Youth’s most revered dub projects, it helped define the Liquid Sound Design sound that fans around the world hold dear. This project is the third in a triptych of albums Youth has made with a specific Celtic / Hindu fusion. Starting out with the classic Celtic Cross ‘Hicksville’ 20 years ago, featuring the mythical Simon Posford (Shpongle) through to ‘East of the River Ganges’ (ft Klaus Shultz / Tangerine Dream amongst many others) in 2004 followed by the last piece of this mystical puzzle ‘Celtic Vedic’ ,released on compact disc only in 2016 , which charts the journey of the Celt from Northern India to Snowdonia. The idea stems from Youth’s firm belief that there is a strong correlation between Celtic and Vedic cultures and their Northern Indian roots. Youth has assembled a host of collaborators to weave their labrynthine magic on ‘Celtic Vedic’: Jah Wobble (PiL) on bass, Matt Black/Coldcut (Ninja Tunes) on warped soundscaping duties, Galician Celtic pipe and flute player Daniel Romar, Bollywood contemporary Indian singer Shridevi Keshavan and Elfic Circle. It features many field recordings made by Youth on his various Indian odysseys and is all harnessed together with cutting-edge electronica that the Liquid Sound Design team pioneered 20 years ago. The team today are still pioneering new directions within ‘Downtempo Electronica Music’ and beats that create 3 dimensional landscapes for the helioscopic imagination to explore and psychoactive maps for the inner astronaut in all of us. ‘Celtic Vedic’ promises unchartered bass annihilation and heliotropic soundscapes, pounding basslines overlayed on 3D holographic beats and wrestles with serpentine melodies and psychedelic textures.

[e] A5 Emotional; Producer – EasyFX; Producer [Vocals Produced By] – Patrik Berger; Written-By – A. G. Cook, Charli XCX, Finn Keane (2), Fredrik Berger, Martin Stilling, Patrik Berger

The record is largely sung in Scots language, one of Scotland’s three official languages along with Gaelic and English. “Scots gives me a way of expressing myself which is connected directly with the landscapes I love. It brings the songs alive and it is a fascinating language. The name of the record is in Scots - Forefowk means the people who came before, or ancestors. When we say ‘mind me,’ we can mean a few things- remind, remember, watch over or care for me. The record explores how tradition needs to be constantly reconnected with, built upon, looked after, and shared.”
Quinie sings with a style inspired by Scottish Traveller singers. “I began singing unaccompanied Scots Song in 2015 after hearing Scots Traveller singer Sheila Stewart on the radio. Initially I felt like I shouldn't sing these songs because I'm not a Traveller, and I saw people around me doing that in a way that made me uncomfortable. But on the other hand this music made sense to me and I felt driven to learn. Over the years I have met Traveller friends who taught me that settled people sharing these songs could contribute to raising awareness. Scottish Travellers are marginalised and discriminated against in modern Scotland, despite being custodians of so many of our important traditions. So I started to perform them and tell this story. From there I built on my repertoire and started writing my own songs”.
To develop this record, Quinie travelled across Argyll with her horse. They went on a pilgrimage of sorts through the ancient landscapes of the West of Scotland to explore the interconnected relationships between people, ancestors, animals, and place. The album’s vinyl release is accompanied by a book and film, documenting this unusual research process.
Forefowk, Mind Me was recorded in August 2024 at The Big Shed in Highland Perthshire with support from Creative Scotland. Quinie is accompanied by an ensemble of musicians: Ailbhe Nic Oireachtaigh (viola), Oliver Pitt (duduk, bouzouki, percussion), Harry Górski-Brown (small pipes, violin), and Stevie Jones (double bass, recording, and mixing). Each of these artists brings their own distinctive voice, bridging contemporary experimental practice with worlds of traditional and early music.

On limited double vinyl (500 ) with a download -

With Limited Edition A4 Heavy-Weight Space Art print (First 100 Copies Online) Signed & Numbered By Jon Savage (CTRUE48) Original Cover Artwork By Matt Sewell.

Jon Savage's Space - An amazing musical voyage through the theme and idea of Space - music for Space - Space - Music - Through West-Coast US Rock , Techno, Post-Punk , Jazz, Ambient & Experimental sounds-this is a journey like no other .. From Sun Ra to Mr Fingers and way beyond.

.

"We are taken to less familiar musical quadrants-fascinatedly & instructively so"

(Roy Wilkinson - MOJO Feb 2025)

Born from the warm and vibrant local markets of Italy, 180 GR has always been a celebration of vinyl culture. Now, it takes the next step—evolving into a full-fledged record label dedicated to strictly 180-gram pressings, in vinyl-only, limited quantities, crafted for true collectors and connoisseurs.

The label’s inaugural release, Music & Territory, is helmed by none other than its founder, N-Zino. On the A-side, the Original 180 GR Mix of You Can’t Change Your Mind takes you on a mind-expanding journey—soulful, sensual, and deeply immersive.

Flipping to the B-side, the legendary Glenn Underground graces us with two masterful interpretations. His vocal version is a lush, organic groove filled with warmth and virtuosity, while the instrumental mix strips it back, letting the raw musicality shine through. Both versions embody the unmistakable touch of Chicago house—authentic, deep, and timeless.

This is more than just a record—it’s a collector’s gem, a piece of house music history pressed in its purest form.

To quote GU himself, HOUSE MUSIC WILL NEVER DIE.

"6-track house finesse from Amsterdam mainstay Beraber, topped off with a killer remix by Brazilian artist Zopelar. Expect six melodic tracks for the body & mind. Beraber returns to United Identities with Gentle Actions, setting the tone for long summer evenings and sun-soaked days. The Amsterdam based producer and DJ organically blends Chicago's classically-schooled keys and machine backdrops with subtle, atmospheric textures. This long-awaited record by Beraber (Baris Akardere) is a deeply personal collection of music, encapsulating a period of creative and personal growth. Rather than a concept record, it serves as a document of the past years, bundling some of most cherished productions into a cohesive and heartfelt gift to the audience. This EP marks the first time the producer has used his own vocals in his productions, next to vocal contributions from Barcelona-based artist Ivy Barkakati, whose lyrics perfectly resonate with the journey of the EP. Gentle Actions opens with Between Us, a calm builder, gracefully layered with meandering pads. Distant Language picks us up with its dubbed-out groove, guiding our feet on a journey through melodic landscapes. It flows into Responsibility, an introspective track with a powerful message about turning dreams into reality, before continuing with Lost in Loops, a loose and soulful house cut featuring his own vocals. The journey ends with the more upbeat, instrumental Good Company, topped off with a deep, nocturnal remix by Zopelar. Written and produced entirely in his Amsterdam studio -- housed in the same building that once held De School -- Beraber continues to rely on a deeply analog and outboard gear-heavy approach. The result is a record that stays true to his soulful and introspective signature, mirroring the sonic identity of his acclaimed radio show, Gentle Actions on Amsterdam's online radio station RRFM."

Since launching in 2019, NuNorthern Soul’s Summer Selections series has become something of a must-check release for those seeking the sun-soaked pulse of the White Isle of Ibiza. It not only acts as a sampler for forthcoming digital-only EPs due for release over the summer season, but also a showcase for both established artists and label newcomers.

2025’s ‘selections’, the fifth in total, marks the popular series’ return after a three-year hiatus. Once again, it boasts six tracks, each taken from a forthcoming NuNorthern Soul EP, and touches on a variety of Ibiza-ready styles and sounds.

Up first are Manchester twosome Nightdubbing, who’s eponymous ‘Nightdubbing’ – first featured on their self-released 2023 debut album – is remixed by Archeo Recordings label boss Manu Archeo. He opts to brilliant blend slow motion electronic grooves and deep, warming bass with waves of ambient textures, eyes-closed melodic motifs and attractive lead lines.

George Koutalieries steps up next with the languid shuffle of ‘Seasons’, where imaginative vocalisation arrangements, mazy synth bass, calming acoustic guitars and cosmic electronics create a yearning afternoon delight, before label newcomer James E Burton combines pleasingly live-sounding drums and bass with picturesque electronics and the dreamiest of chords.

Next up is a teaser of what’s to come from recent signings Visions of Light, a fresh collaboration between Free Booter Lounge label founder Simon Sheldon and two of his artists, Muzka and Dan Dub Lounge. ‘The Mandela Vortex’ is a lightly dub-flecked Balearic shuffler rich in infectious hand percussion, meandering guitar solos, heady aural textures and echoing melodic motifs.

To draw the expansive collection to a close, we’re treated to two more yearning, picturesque and atmospheric treats. The first comes from another label debutant, Seafront International and Strictly Dub Records founder Saimon under the Roots Artefact alias. Deep, toasty and smothered in vintage effects, ‘The Big Calm Dubwise’ is a picture-perfect Balearic dub classic in the making.

Rounding things off is former Les Yeux Orange Contributor – and rising star of the French Balearic movement – Jilo, who gently takes us by the hand and leads us towards the dancefloor. Underpinned by a heavily electronic, nu-disco adjacent groove, ‘Shadow’s Tango’ is smile-inducing aural joy writ large – all huggable chords, Italo-house pianos, chugging bass and the most kaleidoscopic of chords. It provides a wonderfully uplifting conclusion to another fine collection of ‘Summer Selections’.

7 track album featuring Indie Dance, Electronica, Funky Grooves and Hard House fused songs. Showcasing a new range of vocal agility and aura not yet displayed from the artist known as Seven Davis Jr. (Sev). A darker much more aggressive and concentrated soundscape than previous adventures. Inspired by an unexpectedly bad year the artist experienced following the successful release of his previous album, "Stranger Than Fiction”.

The analog version of the masterpiece EP "I'll", released in 2018 as a work that expresses the continuation of the world view of the debut album "Grace",
has been repressed on turquoise blue vinyl!

Haruka Nakamura herself is in charge of the lyrics, composition, and all the instrumental parts. Janis Crunch, who was in charge of vocals on "Grace",
is featured again. The dreamy number "I'll" evokes the beginning of spring and hope, which synchronizes with the fantastic world depicted by photographer
Shiori Iwakura, who collaborated with Haruka Nakamura on the jacket and music video, "Arne", a reconstructed version of the famous song "arne" from the
debut album "Grace", and "Lilium", a song that was used in the climax scene of the movie "Every Day", for which Haruka Nakamura was in charge of the
music, are newly recorded and included.

The B-side includes "Anne", which can be called a different version of "Arne", which was included in Schole's compilation "Joy" in 2013, and is exclusive to the LP.
It connects the worlds of "Grace" and "I'll". It also contains warm songs that bring to mind childhood scenes, such as the nostalgic "Abandoned School Organ" and
"Your Canon", which combine church organ, muted piano, and field recordings.

The artwork, like the 8cm CD, depicts beautiful natural scenery, and the jacket and insert feature a series of photos by the immensely popular photographer
Shiori Iwakura, creating a package that beautifully blends the sound world of "I'll" with the scenery. As with the analog version of "Grace", the mastering was
done by Gen Tanabe, a close friend of Haruka Nakamura's who works on the sound of his works. It is a deep sound production that will give new discoveries
to listeners who were captivated by the release of the 8cm CD.

[a] A1 竹内まりや*– Brighten Up Your Day!; Arranged By – 山下達郎*; Programmed By [Computer Programming], Drum Programming, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards; Percussion, Backing Vocals – 山下達郎*; Programmed By [Synthesizer] – 橋本茂昭*; Words By, Music By – 竹内まりや*
[b] A2 竹内まりや*– 小さな願い (2024 New Remix); Arranged By – 山下達郎*; Backing Vocals – ハルナ; Drums – 島村英二*; Electric Bass – 伊藤広規*; Piano, Organ – 難波弘之*; Programmed By [Synthesizer] – 橋本茂昭*; Words By, Music By – 竹内まりや*
[c] A3 竹内まりや*– ベイビー・マイン (日本語Ver); Acoustic Guitar – 佐橋佳幸*; Music By – Frank Churchill; Percussion, Backing Vocals – 山下達郎*; Programmed By [Computer] –; Anders Dannvik; Words By – Ned Washington; Words By [訳詞] – 竹内まりや*, 古垣内麻衣
[d] A4 竹内まりや*– 君の居場所 (Have A Good Time Here); Arranged By – 山下達郎*; Bass Trombone – 山城純子*; Concertmaster [Strings] – 今野均*; Piano, Marimba, Soloist – 難波弘之*; Programmed By [Computer Programming], Drum Programming, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals – 山下達郎*; Programmed By [Synthesizer] – 橋本茂昭*; Trombone – 鍵和田道男*, 高橋朋史; Trumpet – 具志堅創*, 二井田ひとみ*; Voice – ピカチュウ*, コダック; Words By, Music By – 竹内まりや*
[e] B1 竹内まりや*– Smiling Days (2024 New Remix); Programmed By [Computer Programming], Drum Programming, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Ukulele,; Percussion, Backing Vocals – 山下達郎*; Programmed By [Synthesizer] – 橋本茂昭*; Soprano Saxophone – 宮里陽太*; Words By, Music By – 竹内まりや*
[f] B2 竹内まりや* Duet With 杏里*– Watching Over You; Alto Saxophone – 宮里陽太*; Backing Vocals – Ena*, 三谷泰弘*, ハルナ; Concertmaster [Strings] – 加藤Joe*; Electric Guitar – 山下達郎*; Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Programmed By – 林哲司*; Music By, Arranged By – 林哲司*; Programmed By [Synthesizer] – 橋本茂昭*; Words By – 竹内まりや*
[g] B3 竹内まりや*– 遠いまぼろし; Arranged By – 杉真理*, 小泉信彦*; Backing Vocals – 竹内まりや*, 杉真理*; Cello – 平山織絵*; Classical Guitar [Gut Guitar], Backing Vocals – 渡辺格*; Keyboards, Programmed By – 小泉信彦*; Music By – 杉真理*; Percussion, Backing Vocals – 高橋結子*; Violin – 阿部美緒*; Words By – 竹内まりや*
[h] B4 竹内まりや*– Subject:さようなら; Arranged By – 鈴木俊介*; Backing Vocals – 松浦亜弥*; Electric Sitar, Acoustic Guitar, Programmed By [Computer Programming] – 鈴木俊介*; Words By, Music By – 竹内まりや*
[i] C1 竹内まりや*– 夢の果てまで; Arranged By – 増田武史*; Backing Vocals – 竹内まりや*, 早見沙織*, 山下達郎*; Concertmaster [Strings] – 室屋光一郎*; Programmed By [Compuer Programming], Electric Bass, Electric Guitar, Soloist – 増田武史*; Programmed By [Synthesizer] – 橋本茂昭*; Words By, Music By – 竹内まりや*
[j] C2 竹内まりや*– Tokyo Woman; Arranged By – Box (16); Drums – 島村英二*; Electric Bass, Handclaps, Backing Vocals – 小室和幸*; Electric Guitar, Handclaps – 田上正和*;N Handclaps – 竹内まりや*; Handclaps, Backing Vocals – 松尾清憲*, 杉真理*; Piano, Organ [Hammond] – 小泉信彦*; Tambourine – 飯尾芳史*; Words By, Music By – Box (16)
[k] C3 竹内まりや*– 旅のつづき (2024 New Remix); Arranged By – 牧戸太郎*; Backing Vocals – 竹内まりや*; Concertmaster [Strings] – 室屋光一郎*; Electric Bass – 伊藤広規*; Electric; Guitar, Backing Vocals – 山下達郎*; Programmed By [Synthesizer] – 橋本茂昭*; Tenor Saxophone – 鈴木圭*; Trombone – 半田信英*; Trumpet – 二井田ひとみ*; Words By, Music By – 竹内まりや*
[l] C4 竹内まりや*– Coffee & Chocolate; Arranged By – 山下達郎*; Programmed By [Computer Programming], Drum Programming, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion,; Backing Vocals – 山下達郎*; Programmed By [Synthesizer] – 橋本茂昭*; Words By, Music By – 竹内まりや*
[m] C5 竹内まりや*– Days of Love; Music By, Arranged By – 山下達郎*; Programmed By [Computer Programming], Drum Programming, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Ukulele, Percussion – 山下達郎*; Programmed By [Synthesizer] – 橋本茂昭*; Words By – 竹内まりや*
[n] D1 竹内まりや*– 歌を贈ろう; Arranged By – 山下達郎*; Backing Vocals – 生田絵梨花*; Programmed By [Computer Programming], Drum Programming, Electric Guitar, Acoustic; Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals – 山下達郎*; Programmed By [Synthesizer] – 橋本茂昭*; Words By, Music By – 竹内まりや*
[o] D2 竹内まりや*– 今を生きよう (Seize The Day) (2024 New Remix); Arranged By – 山下達郎*; Backing Vocals – Ena*, 三谷泰弘*, ハルナ; Drums – 島村英二*; Electric Bass – 伊藤広規*; Piano, Organ [Hammond] – 中西康晴*; Programmed By [Computer Programming], Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals – 山下達郎*
[p] Programmed By [Synthesizer] – 橋本茂昭*; Words By, Music By – 竹内まりや*

[r] D4 竹内まりや*– 今日の想い (2024 New Remix); Acoustic Guitar – 佐橋佳幸*; Arranged By – 牧戸太郎*; Concertmaster [Strings] – 今野均*; Electric Guitar – 山下達郎*; Flute – 高桑英世*; Oboe – 庄司さとし*; Programmed By [Computer Programming], Drum Programming – 牧戸太郎*; Programmed By [Synthesizer] – 橋本茂昭*; Words By, Music By – 竹内まりや*
[s] D5 竹内まりや*– May Each Day; Arranged By – 服部隆之*; Arranged By [Chorus] – Jennifer Lucy Cook; Backing Vocals – Jennifer Lucy Cook; Clarinet – 高子由佳*; Classical Guitar [Gut Guitar] – 石成正人*; Concertmaster [Strings] – 室屋光一郎*; Drums – 山木秀夫*; Electric Bass – 高水健司*; Flute – 下払桐子*, 森川道代*; Harp – 朝川朋之*; Liner Notes [日本語訳] – 丸山京子*; Oboe – 最上峰行*; Piano – 野力奏一*; Words By, Music By – George Wyle, Morton J. Green*

L.A. Witch haben schon immer eine Aura müheloser Coolness ausgestrahlt, sei es in Form des Americana Noir und des lakonischen Back-to-Basics-Rock'n'Roll ihres selbstbetitelten Debüts oder des glühend strengen Abenteurertums ihres zweiten Albums "Play With Fire". Die Band - bestehend aus Sade Sanchez (Gitarre/Gesang), Irita Pai (Bass) und Ellie English (Schlagzeug) - begann als informelle Angelegenheit, aber die schwülen und betörenden, von Hall umhüllten Songs, die sie schufen, fanden beim Publikum Anklang und brachten das Projekt über den isolierten Raum von Freunden und Gleichgesinnten in Südkalifornien hinaus in die weite Welt. Auf ihrem neuesten Album "DOGGOD" geht das Trio über die bisherigen kreativen und geografischen Grenzen hinaus - das Material wurde in Paris produziert und die Tracks im Motorbass Studio in der Rue de Martyrs aufgenommen. "DOGGOD" erkundet ein breiteres klangliches Terrain, setzt ein größeres Arsenal an Sounds ein und erforscht größere existenzielle und kosmische Themen, ohne dabei den für die Band typischen Sinn für das Verbotene, das Verlassene und die Vorahnung zu verlieren. "DOGGOD" ist ein Weg, das universelle Rätsel der spirituellen Natur von Liebe und Hingabe anzugehen. "Ich habe das Gefühl, eine Art Dienerin oder Sklavin der Liebe zu sein", sagt Sanchez. "Ich bin bereit, für die Liebe zu sterben, indem ich ihr diene, für sie leide oder nach ihr suche - so wie ein treuer, ergebener Diensthund es tun würde." Der Titel des Albums ist ein Palindrom, das DOG und GOD zusammenfasst - eine Verherrlichung des Unterwürfigen und eine Subversion des Göttlichen. Es ist eine Anspielung auf die Reinheit von Hunden und eine Anerkennung ihrer bedingungslosen Liebe und ihres beschützenden Wesens, die im Widerspruch zu den verschiedenen abwertenden Assoziationen stehen, die mit dieser Spezies verbunden werden. "Es gibt diese symbolische Verbindung zwischen Frauen und Hunden, die die untergeordnete Stellung der Frau in der Gesellschaft zum Ausdruck bringt", erklärt Sanchez. "Und alles, was solche göttlichen Eigenschaften verkörpert, hat es nicht verdient, als Schimpfwort benutzt zu werden." Diese widersprüchlichen Erkundungen von Liebe und Unterwerfung manifestieren sich in der sanften und rauchigen Garagerock-Alchemie der Band, mit einer neu entdeckten Nutzung der disziplinierten Zurückhaltung und eisigen Instrumentierung des Post-Punk. Der Album-Opener "Icicle" zeigt, wie L.A. Witch aus dem Proto-Punk, der Psychedelia und den düsteren Riffs der 70er Jahre in die von Refrains durchtränkten Gitarren und den verlorenen Minimalismus von Joy Division und den frühen The Cure reist. Es wird eine Parallele zwischen romantischem Selbstmord und Märtyrertum gezogen, die sich im zweiten Song, "Kiss Me Deep", fortsetzt. Hier beschreibt Sanchez eine Liebe, die so rein ist, dass sie die Zeit übersteigt und sich über mehrere Leben erstreckt. Es ist ein Lied über Leidenschaft, vorgetragen mit dem weltlichen und verletzten Stoizismus der frühen Goth-Pioniere. Von dort aus geht die Band zur Leadsingle "777" über, einem Song über Hingabe bis hin zum Tod. Ein treibender Beat, ein treibendes, verzerrtes Riff und Sanchez' ätherischer Gesang vereinen sich zu einem Song, der sowohl düster in seinem Fatalismus als auch sinnlich in seiner treuen Leidenschaft ist. Auf dem gesamten Album "DOGGOD" weichen L.A. Witch nie von ihrer Muse ab. In "I Hunt You Pray" legt Pai einen hypnotischen Basslauf hin, während English einen zyklischen Krautrock-Groove einsetzt und Sanchez das Bild eines verlassenen Hundes am Straßenrand malt, der allein in der Nacht ist und sowohl als Jäger als auch als Gejagter lebt. Auf "Eyes of Love" macht sich die Band die meditativen Mid-Tempo-Wiederholungen, dekonstruierten Akkorde und esoterischen Betrachtungen über Liebe, Tod und Spiritualität zunutze, die Lungfish zu einer so beliebten Band gemacht haben. Es unterstreicht die Parallele zwischen der unerschütterlichen Liebe in den Augen eines Hundes und der Selbstaufopferung eines Erlösers. Auf "The Lines" nimmt die Band den treibenden Puls des Post-Punk und fügt dem Mix eine Extraportion Chorus hinzu. "Chorus ist ein moderner Effekt, der auf der Idee beruht, die leichten Tonhöhenunterschiede eines Chors nachzubilden. Es gibt eine schimmernde Qualität, die uns zurück zu diesem spirituellen, göttlichen Gefühl bringt", erklärt Sanchez. Gepaart mit dem Einsatz von Orgel und einer grüblerischen Moll-Melodie, beschwört der Song gleichzeitig das Heilige und das Sakrileg. Der Titeltrack "DOGGOD" hat vielleicht die größte Ähnlichkeit mit dem Material des Vorgängeralbums "Play With Fire", in den schlanken und gemeinen Gitarren auf eine raue Rhythmusgruppe und verträumten Gesang treffen. Aber während ihr vorheriges Album ein Aufruf war, seinen eigenen Weg zu gehen, bleibt "DOGGOD" dem "Bis dass der Tod uns scheidet"-Thema des Albums treu und geht sogar so weit, ein Maß an Unterwerfung zu beschreiben, das in gefährliche und ungesunde Gefilde übergeht, wobei Sanchez singt "hang me on a leash / `til I wait for my release". Letztendlich ist "DOGGOD" eine perfekte Verkörperung des Ansatzes von L.A. Witch. Es ist gleichzeitig romantisch und bedrohlich, ehrfürchtig und profan, eine Feier und ein Klagelied. Es spannt den Bogen zwischen Vergangenheit und Gegenwart, indem es vertraute Klänge aufgreift und sie für die Jetztzeit aufbereitet. Aber es läutet auch eine neue Ära für die Band ein, die über die Kodachrome-Erinnerungen an das Amerika der Jahrhundertmitte hinausgeht und tiefer in den mittelalterlichen und gotischen Energien von Paris und darüber hinaus gräbt, während sie gleichzeitig ein besudeltes Herz erforscht.

[f] B2 Eminence Front; Electric Piano – Tim Gorman; Synthesizer [Synthesisers] – Pete Townshend; Written-By – Pete Townshend

[h] C1 One Life's Enough; Piano – Pete Townshend; Synthesizer [Synthesisers] – Pete Townshend, Tim Gorman; Written-By – Pete Townshend

Movement and Soul Records is the highly-anticipated imprint, founded by Nonna Fab...

The label aims to capture deeper sounds and meditations in rhythm, spanning spiritual jazz, broken-beat and deeper house.
Nature is Enlightenment is the debut release on the label. With flute, keys, bass and drums from Nonna Fab and saxophonefrom Benjamin Ten-Bruggencate.

The B1, 'TROPIC' invites Kali, lyricist, poet and azz influenced vocalist from Sheffield, accompanied on piano/rhodes by Nonna Fab.

The broken-beat focussed B2,'FLOAT' featuring bassist Tom French and an opening poem, that touches on thecosmos, by Kali.

Multi-instrumentalist, producer, band leader, record collector and party'starter, Nonna Fab has launched the label as a platform to push the sound of his own music, working closely with a range of musicians from the North.

"It's come at the right time for me to allow a space to push a very new, organic sound working with a lot of the musicians I play with regularly, interweaving the sound with dance music."

Nonna Fab is behind audiophile party, Apricot Ballroom, which was named in the top 10 nights in the country in TimeOut Magazine as well as being acknowledged for being a pioneer of northern contemporary jazz by BBC for Footprints. As well as this, Nonna Fab is co-owner of Grub Records, which has been written about in DJMag, Mixmag and Resident Advisor.

"The label is a true hybrid of both live sound and electronic dance music and really allows focus on true communication and expression. I have always appreciated more free-form styles of dance music so it really is a space for me to explore the more expressive andspiritual side of my sound"

DUVEL & GIT HYPER - De Rode Draad

Duvel is een pionier binnen de Nederlandse Rap-scene. Met z'n herkenbare stijl en vooruitstrevende visie heeft hij menig artiest geinspireerd en is zijn naam in steen gehouwen. Dit geldt eveneens voor DJ en producer Git Hyper, wiens naam sinds de 'golden era' van de Rap niet is weggeweest. De samenwerking van Duvel & Git Hyper vormt dan ook een nieuwe HipHop mijlpaal. De solide productie ligt in handen van Duvel en Git Hyper en vormt de fundatie voor de scherpe teksten van Duvel, ondersteund door klinkende namen als $keer&Boo$, Faberyayo, Nosa en Maximilli. Het album wordt uitgebracht door Redrum Recordz, het underground label wat Duvel ooit z'n eerste wapenfeiten bracht. Tezamen met de geschiedenis die hij met Git Hyper heeft, is de muziek het kloppende hart en HipHop 'De Rode Draad'.

The Cold Stares are from Evansville, Indiana, formed in 2009. The duo (now recently a trio) has
released seven studio albums. The band's 2012 release A Cold Wet Night and a Howling Wind sold 25,000 copies and reached #1 on Amazon Music's Blues Rock albums chart. For almost ten years, The Cold Stares had toured the world relentlessly as a duo, blowing away
audiences across the US and Europe with a fierce, blistering live show that belied their bare bones,
guitar-and-drums setup. In 2023 the band began embracing a whole new kind of chemistry and
launched into their next chapter, adding a third member and channeling the classic power trio sound they grew up on with their explosive acclaimed album,
Voices. Working off the international success of Voices which was voted one of the best albums of 2023 by Classic Rock Magazine, The Cold Stares went into Memphis Magnetic Studio
in Memphis Tennessee and recorded the band’s next chapter and progression, the sprawling album The Southern. Now they are back with The Southern Part 2
which has already bolstered the
blues rocking tracks “Automobile”
and “Little More Rope”.

* Limited edition 12' vinyl pressed on transparent red wax, housed in a full colour sleeve inspired by classic Philly Blunt artwork.

* Fresh Blunts Vol. 1 brings that same energy to a new generation of DJs and selectors, with four dancefloor-focused cuts that pay tribute to the label's roots while pushing forward with modern production values.

* On the A-side, Bladerunner steps up with 'Chronic' and 'Straight Up' — his first solo release on the label in over a decade. With his deep ties to the scene (Dread, V, Souped Up, Kings of the Rollers), these tracks are a masterclass in classic jungle flavour with upfront punch.

* The flip introduces Chimpo & Sl8r to the Philly Blunt catalogue, blending grime, jungle, and Manchester's unmistakable underground sound. Having previously released on labels like Metalheadz, V Recordings, The North Quarter, and Hospital, their debut here shows just how wide the Philly Blunt family now reaches.

* Launching the brand-new Fresh Blunts vinyl series, Philly Blunt Records continues its legacy of heavyweight jungle and drum & bass. Originally founded in 1994 as a raw, party-focused sister label to V Recordings, Philly Blunt helped define the sound of mid-90s jungle with anthems like Leviticus' 'Burial', Dillinja's 'Sky', and Firefox's 'Buck Rogers'.

* Strictly limited run!

The debut recording by The Ancients, the intergenerational coalition of Isaiah Collier, William Hooker, & William Parker formed by parker to play concerts in conjunction with the milford graves mind body deal exhibition at the institute of contemporary art los angeles & now a working group. across x2LPs of side-length long-form improvised sets recorded at 2220 arts & archives in LA & the chapel in San Francisco, The Ancients bring the free jazz trio languages first explored by the Cecil Taylor Unit & Ornette Coleman’s -Golden Circle- band (expanded upon in later eras by Sam Rivers' Trio & Parker’s collective trios with Charles Gayle/Graves & Peter Brötzmann/Hamid Drake) into their own unique & scintillating realms of expression.

As we tumble further into the throes of history’s tides, people of hope & creativity rely on the works of our great artists to lift our spirits & focus our resolve. -ascension- was recorded less than a year after the passage of the civil rights act & four months after the assassination of Malcolm X. -journey in satchidananda- was recorded the month reagan was re-elected governor of California. M’boom made its debut recording weeks after the watergate scandal broke & a couple months after the wounded knee occupation ended. The music of the ancients builds on these great musical legacies. it resounds with the pride of survival & the joys of making & sharing music. It delivers to us hope & balm. something real in you, real in history, & real in the music is shared, right on time.

When Eremite records commenced operations during the 1990s free jazz resurgence, heavyweight freedom-seeking tenor saxophonists such as Fred Anderson, Peter Brötzmann, Charles Gayle, Kidd Jordan, & David S. Ware were at the height of their powers. Isaiah Collier’s tenor playing in the ancients is bracing testimony that the wellspring lives on. to hear the young chicago firebrand blowing freely with veteran improvisers in an entirely open-form group music is a revelatory study of his vast talent, personal voice, & the intensity of his expression —as well as a bold complement to his composition-based albums as a bandleader (including -the almighty-, a new york times' best albums of 2024 selection).

I've admired drummer William hooker since first encountering his music in a hartford ct city park, early ‘90s (on a double bill with Jerry González & Fort Apache Band). From the man himself right off the bandstand i bought his even-then rare 1st recording, the 1976 self-released x2LP opus -is eternal life- (reissued 2019 by superior viaduct). An imposing force on his instrument & an intrepid DIY cat, Hooker’s been exuberantly swinging in&out of free time for 50+ years. informed by the innovations of Sunny Murray & Tony Williams yet entirely himself, there is no other term for it than “pure hooker.” at age 78, with the ancients & everywhere else, THE HOOK is in peak form.

With a discography approaching 600 entries & 50+ years working across the musical maps, including in the history-defining bands of Don Cherry, Cecil Taylor, Bill Dixon, Peter Brötzmann, in his own wondrous ensembles from small group to orchestra to opera, a bastion of compassionate leadership & a poetic champion of his musical community, in tireless service to what he rather egolessly refers to as “the tone world”, multi-instrumentalist, improviser & composer william parker is a living hero of the grassroots & the black mystery musics, not to mention one of the great bassists in the history of jazz. To quote George Clinton, conquering the stumbling blocks comes easier when the conqueror is in tune with the infinite.

Live to 2-track concert recordings by Bryce Gonzales, Highland Dynamics. Mastered by Joe Lizzi, Queens, NY.

Personified, reinvigorated, and re-imagined!

Tech-metal outfit FALLUJAH expand horizons and solidify their position as one of America’s most exciting artists on their new album, Xenotaph, through Nuclear Blast. The Bay Area-based quintet’s confidence in the lineup that made their previous album, Empyrean (2022), such a resounding success—earning high marks from Metal Injection, New Noise, and Guitar World—has been reconfigured slightly, with guitarist Sam Mooradian (INHALE EXISTENCE, SAM MOORADIAN) and drummer Kevin Alexander (DISEMBODIED TYRANT. BROUGHT BY PAIN) bringing their jaw-dropping musical proficiency to the fold, as vocalist Kyle Schaefer, guitarist Scott Carstairs, and bassist Evan Brewer enter a new chapter with FALLUJAH. Moored by singles ‘Kaleidoscopic Waves,’ ‘Labyrinth of Stone,’ and ‘Step Through the Portal and Breathe,’ Xenotaph is FALLUJAH personified, reinvigorated, and re-imagined.
As a details-oriented record Xenotaph benefits from moments of low tension, atmospheric delight, and Schaefer’s winged clean vocals. This
dynamic isn’t particularly new to Fallujah, but the group spent considerable time honing what each song needed—from blast-laden speed runs and jazz-fusion solos to vocal restraint and brutality—which resulted in a brighter, more exhilarating experience. Musically, it truly feels like the listener is embroiled in the album’s sci-fi concept and Peter Mohrbacher’s stunning cosmogonic cover art, which is aesthetically in line with his previous covers (Dreamless and Empyrean) for FALLUJAH. Close encounters with ‘Step Through the Portal and Breathe’, ‘Labyrinth of Stone,’ and ‘Kaleidoscopic Waves’ spark wonder and stimulate the soul.