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The 299 Game is the debut lp from 299, a collection of ten songs with an overarching sense of Lynchian weirdness is offset by songs that ring with crisp melodies and compositional nous. 299 is the solo recording project of Welsh multi-instrumentalist and producer Gavin Fitzjohn (who has worked with the likes of Manic Street Preachers, Gruff Rhys, James Dean Bradfield, Paolo Nutini and more), with 299 coming to life a few years ago while Fitzjohn was making his way across the US. Intoxicating, dangerous in its allure, there are flecks of '60s vocal groups and Tom Waits-style melancholia tied up in Fitzjohn's deliberate American drawl.

HOLY first appeared in late 2014 with the Silver of Your Heart EP and soon followed it with the debut album Stabs to praise from Stereogum, Wondering Sound, The Line of Best Fit, Anton Newcombe and more. After touring the album throughout 2015, including a run in the UK around Liverpool Psych Fest, Hannes Ferm retreated to Studio Cobra in Stockholm to record the follow-up. Over 15 months between April 2016 and May 2017 he recorded All These Worlds Are Yours together with co-producer Martin Ehrencrona (Les Big Byrd, Viagra Boys), and it's a huge step forward. Leaving behind the garage pop leanings of Stabs in favour of a sound infused by the early '70s, melding Ziggy Stardust era David Bowie with Brian Eno-esque art pop and more modern psych pop in the vein Ariel Pink, it's a truly standout record. A first taste arrived with the "premonition" 7" in September, alongside a short run of UK dates. HOLY will be touring the UK in February again alongside European showcase festivals and headlines shows throughout the spring.

* 12” orange vinyl, 3mm spine sleeve, inner black bag, 180Gsm
* Following on from the success of the 'Ram Reloaded' repress vinyl series, we are pleased to announce our next project in collaboration with Ram Records. As part of Ram Records’ 30th anniversary, we have put together a series of new remixes and VIP’s of some of the labels biggest releases from the early 90’s.

* The Touch (Ant Miles Remix)
Being one half of Origin Unknown alongside Andy C, Ant Miles located the original floppy Akai sample disks from way back in 1993 and was able to load them up into his Akai sampler. He went on a mission to not only recreate the sound and vibe of the original A side of RAMM004, but to then go on to enhance and tweak all the elements, including various elements from the 'Part 2 mix' that came out later in 1993. 

* The Touch (Ruff and Ruffer Remix)
Two DJs also from Hornchurch in Essex, have already lined up their debut 12" which will be released later this year on Out Of Romford Records. From the strength of this forthcoming Hardcore tear out 12" they were invited to submit a remix of 'The Touch'. Being long-time fans of the Ram and Liftin Spirit labels, they took the samples and went in with a passion to create a twisted up and slammin’ remix which so far has blown everyone away with its energy and overall technique. These two brothers are ones to watch out for in 2024.

* Valley of the Shadows (New Decade Remix)
New Decade (Out Of Romford Records) follow up their run of outstanding remixes; 'Cold Fresh Air' and 'The Big Bang' this time visiting the anthemic 'Valley of the Shadows' a.k.a. Long Dark Tunnel. Encapturing the sound and vibe of the 1993 original, New Decade have taken it further, enhancing and twisting the hypnotic atmospheres, yet keeping the original rolling feel of the drums and basslines whilst also including the occasional nod to the remixes that appeared throughout the 1990’s. The initial reception of this remix has been exceptional and has completely stunned and transfixed the masses, being commented on by many as perhaps the best of the four remixes that have landed over its 31 years.

* Valley of the Shadows (Awake '96 Mix)
This was the second remix to appear three years after the original in 1996 and has been carefully remastered with today’s technology for this final Ram Reloaded 2024 12" release. Andy C & Ant Miles took the original and slightly sped up the tune utilising subtle tweaks and enhancements with the added vocal 'Awake in Another Dimension'. This mix featured prominently on Kiss FM and Radio 1 back in the day.

Punk Slime Recordings are proud to present the new full-length album from Birmingham, UK's Swampmeat Family Band. Their new album Muck! is a massive step forward both songwriting and production-wise, offering up a blend of uptempo garage rock and gentle americana. Featuring members of PNKSLM's own The Castillians and Terror Watts as well as Low Cut Connie, PWEI and Bentley Rhythm Ace.

Baby Rose makes healing music for the aimless and heartbroken. The Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter and producer's uniquely rich voice naturally lends itself to her powerful, smoke-filled ballads lamenting lost loves and broken futures. "I make music to help myself get through things," she says. The piercing honesty and vulnerability she brings to her lyrics in turn helps others process their feelings and find a place of healing. For Rose, it's a journey that's still ongoing. "If I'm going to leave anything behind, it's going to be getting people back to themselves," she says. "As I get back to myself, it's a constant reset: Remember who you are, remember who you want to be." You can hear the impact of this approach in Baby Rose's upcoming second album, Through and Through. Take the hypnotic "Fight Club." Over the track's simmering baseline and crashing cymbals, she declares, "I don't need no one else to show me the way." She describes the song as a "breaking of the shell. It encourages me to just go for it and not care about what anyone else thinks." Therein lies Baby Rose's strength: a determination to live, love, and create on her own terms. "I'm not just a singer with a unique voice," she says. "I'm somebody that has something to say." In the years since releasing her last album, To Myself, Rose has been painstakingly piecing together its sequel. Started almost immediately after its release, her new body of work finds her in a state of musical and personal transition. It's a subtle merging of new sounds_stirring rock, upbeat r&b, psychedelic funk, pop, and soulful ballads_, all mastered through analog tape to make the music feel warmer and all-encompassing. It's also a journey inward as she battles past fear and self-doubt to finally discover_and love_who she is, where she is. Finishing an album with such peace and firm resolution is a first for Rose, but she makes it clear: She's nowhere near done writing her story. "I think as long as I'm being raw and trying to push past my comfort zone, it will feel rewarding," she says. "I don't want to be the type that doesn't take risks because I'm afraid. I have to trust that as long as the music is honest and innovative, it'll be timeless."

"I imagine that one of the first things I heard in the world was the
explosion of a Russian ammunitions factory on the outskirts of my
hometown. It blew up the night I was born a new GDR-citizen. I´m not
sure I heard a noise when the Wall came down, but it still echoes in my
body. The echo contains many frequencies. Some of them sound like Gabber
playing in my childhood room over the speakers my grandfather once stole
from a Leipzig radio station. Some of them sound like me and my friends
running through the streets. They sound like my mother laughing and
consoling women in the women´s shelter where she worked in 1992. They
sound like birds: my father swears after the Reunification the great
crested grebes on the town lakes lost all fear of humans. Some of them
sound like these recordings."

After his father and other close relatives died in a short period, singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Asa Horvitz wanted a musical language to evoke our metaphysical and tangible experiences with loss. Horvitz and a team of friends assembled a dataset of over 150 texts from throughout history that dealt with grief and fed them through a custom Natural Language Processing AI system. Based on the cryptic text that resulted, they created a music-theatre production which toured in Europe and is presented here as a series of standout recordings from the project’s long genesis. GHOST’s compositions started as vocal improvisations led by Horvitz and bassist/singer-songwriter Carmen Quill, accompanied by Ariadne Randall and Bryan West (processing, synths, viola da gamba, etc). Later, Horvitz’s uncle—esteemed pianist and composer Wayne Horvitz—interpolated additional passages. Recalling (at turns) Robert Ashley’s spoken-word operas, Arthur Russell’s vaporous pop song, medieval music, outre hip-hop, and the undulations of Einstein on the Beach, the music remains soulful despite its partially systematized means of production. GHOST derives its strength from its empathetic perspective, tracking the tidal patterns that underpin our grief without attempting to fabricate their logic.

– Winston Cook Wilson

In 2016, Cliche Morph offered the aquatic textures of "Liquid Materia". "Hidden Madness" is the return and a new beginning. Four tracks of intense introspection mark a collaboration and a founding, Deep Sound Channel and Postdynamic. Atmospheric and immersive, from the needle drop the listener is immediately drawn into the subterranean chambers of this cerebral piece. A stark beat is the guide rope, a snare that echoes and ricochets into the cavernous expanse of cold currents and all too real phantoms. Feeding off that palpable paranoia, Psyk pours a thick resonating syrup over the original before pulling the switch. Darkness descends, distortion and reverb dominate with a steady kick delivering some form of solid ground. Respite? No hope. Pound and thud tell the arrival of "Exorcist". Industrial groans and a clanking larynx are cut through by haunting strings, a meagre echo of humanity in this absorbing and unsettling track. Blazej Malinowski closes. Drum patterns are amplified and concentrated in the producer's purge of "Exorcist", hi-hats hissing as the spectral refrains of the original shift in shape and form. A 12" that plumbs the physical and the psychological depths of sound.

"Equinox", Gianni Marchetti's 1977 twin album of "Solstitium", released in a handful of promo copies by RCA in their renowned "Original Cast" series, takes us on a journey through the author's groovier and wilder temperament, feeling as fresh and surprising today as the day it was made, offering immediate understanding of the reasons why it has remained one of his most sought after - and virtually impossible to find - titles over the decades.

RIYL: Piero Umiliani, Sandro Brugnolini, Stefano Torossi

The limited release as part of RCA's "Original Cast" series only increased its mystique, making it a coveted piece among collectors and connoisseurs. The album's distinctive character lies in its spontaneous, freewheeling approach, which contrasts with the more polished productions of the era. It's a perfect example of Marchetti's unique vision, where each track seems to evolve organically, offering both intricate musicianship and a sense of unrestrained creativity.

First things first - you don’t need me to tell you about the significance of Australia in the history of punk. I mean, what am I, Jon Savage? Google it yourself, FFS. Instead, let’s just agree that the speedy, feral racket thrown together by the likes of The Saints, Radio Birdman and The Scientists in the mid-late ‘70s is AT LEAST as deliriously entertaining as anything concocted by their UK/US counterparts, sowing the seeds for seemingly endless garage-inflected noisemakers in the land down under. No one likes using words like ‘tradition’ or ‘heritage’ here - the punk rock clusterbomb is far too messy for any of that business - but also emerging from Australian rock’s primordial soup is the addictive sneer of Stiff Richards. Like their predecessors, the band are a gleefully wracked mess of full throttle energy and barrelling power chords, with songs like ‘Kids Out On The Grass’ and ‘Point of You’ proving at least the equal of ‘(I’m) Stranded’ or ‘Aloha Steve And Danno’. Nine tracks in less than 30 minutes, all winners and all determined to leave you flipping over couches and smashing your TV set. And let’s face it, you may as well; there’s nothing good on. It all builds towards frantic closer ‘Fill In The Blanks’, which rattles around your speakers like the UK Subs trying to play Ed Kuepper riffs at the centre of an earthquake, before grinding to a halt as a voice says, “That’s the one.” Does it sound self-satisfied? Hey, it’s got good reason to - this is the best no-frills garage rock party since Gino & The Goons’ ‘Do The Get Around’, and the only appropriate response is to declare yourself betrothed to Stiff Richards because you can’t imagine your life without ‘em. Don’t believe me? Sort out your ears and get ‘State Of Mind’ in ‘em. Rock’n’roll as it’s supposed to be played.

DeepMatter Records is thrilled to reintroduce ‘Daughter of the Sun’, the groundbreaking album from Canadian bassist and producer vbnd. Originally released in July 2018, this neo-soul masterpiece has captivated listeners worldwide, racking up over 68 million streams and selling out two previous limited vinyl pressings in the process.

Blending jazz influences with soulful grooves, this album is a true gem for any lover of neo-soul. Featuring collaborations with fellow Saskatoon artists — including the ethereal vocals of Katie Tupper, the masterful guitar work of Justice Der, the sultry sax of Connor Newton, and the artistry of Simon Jasieniuk — the project is a lush and unforgettable listening experience. Standout tracks like “Smoke” and the titular “Daughter of the Sun” highlight Tupper’s smoky, enchanting voice, perfectly paired with vbnd’s lush, soul-infused production.

Since its release, ‘Daughter of the Sun’ has become a cornerstone of Saskatoon’s blossoming jazz and soul scene, with vbnd drawing inspiration from icons like D’Angelo, Jaco Pastorius, and Snarky Puppy.

Developer returns with a compelling new extended EP on his acclaimed Modularz label. This release features four meticulously crafted tracks on vinyl, accompanied by four exclusive digital bonus cuts, exemplifying his unwavering commitment to raw, uncompromising techno. Over the past decades, Developer has been instrumental in shaping LA’s techno culture, not only through his dynamic productions but also by curating events that have introduced international talents to the city. His label, Modularz, established in 2009, has become a cornerstone of modern techno, This latest EP continues Developer’s legacy of delivering powerful, dancefloor-focused tracks that resonate with techno enthusiasts worldwide

The first in a two part series on Canopy documenting the work of the Beninoise supergroup, T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo, who were responsible for an astonishing multitude of records, numbering well over 250 releases. While the group underwent numerous personnel changes over the course of their 40+ year legacy; the founder, composer, vocalist & multi-instrumentalist Clément Melome remained a constant and uniting force.

The title track, "Zo Tche Kpo Do Te", sung in Fon by bandleader Clément Melome translates as, "My Fire Will Not Go Out" and was taken from the self-titled LP "Melome Clement & L'International Orchestre Poly-Rythmo". It is here remastered and reissued by Canopy for the first time. This evocative song is a hybrid of soukous-like elements with a driving, almost disco beat and a relentless bassline shot through with funky guitars and triumphant horn arrangements. The atmosphere is given a cosmic sensibility with synth lines and psychedelic FX, culminating in a sonic cocktail that has often been described as "Voodoo-disco".

Accompanying the original version are two remixes by producers whose work Canopy has long admired.

Jose Marquez adds live bass and percussion to his "Mezcla", turning it into an uplifting opus that deftly dances the line between the original work and the modern elements, tastefully updating the sound to segue between the past and present.

Sol Power All-Stars up the ante with their powerful reinterpretation. Throbbing bass underpins a club focused yet dubbed out and psychedelic afrobeat over which Clement Melome's composition shines. The Ibibio Horns add complimentary horn arrangements and galactic synth solos. The end result is a master work in 21st century future-vintage afro funk creation.

Les Inferno is back with his own label "Daje Funk Records" with a powerful disco flavored vinyl! These 4 electrifying tracks are perfect to move your body and get you on the floor. 3 of those are lovely edited by Les Inferno, with support of his crew, Max Bottini (overdub on bass) and Emiliano Patrick Legato (overdub on organ) Mix & master by Dom Scuteri.On the white side a touch of class edit by Stefano Fusco close this groovy package. 300 copies limited edition, no repress!

“Where is this? It looks like the grounds of a shrine. Like a deep, dark, forest. I'm wandering around. I can't get over the feeling that I've been to this place before. The temple and the tower look much bigger than usual, and I feel as if I were lost in a world of immensity. It's very dark with no sky up above, like being in the depths of the Earth. Anyway, it's a world I know.” - Leisure, the Sonorous Dream

For schuttle’s next unearthly contribution, we invite you to slip into the reassuring comforts of the simulated realm. Herein lies an open invitation to all of those tentative travellers willing to join us as we revel in four slices of post-biological optimism.

The world building begins with “Splan”. schuttle’s navigation vessel hovers steadily above a fractal landscape until a divine arp propels us skywards. We burst through the latent cloudsphere to marvel at the boundless synergy of the interlocking polygons. The sunburst gradient barely has time to load before an oscillating wriggle plunges us into a strangely familiar stomping ground. Hedonistic NPCs begin spawning at random, splurging joyful machine funk at each other before walking gleefully into walls. Finally, with a little help from a well known toad, schuttle unleashes the full might of his Mana on the nascent gathering.

We dock next in ‘Melonweed Musick’. Our vessel gently stirring the reeds as we descend into the marshland. The potent aroma of the swamp fills our nostrils, various apparitions seem to wriggle into view. What have we been inhaling? No time to consider, the loose murk of the breakbeat is starting to take effect and it’s all we can do to keep one foot squelching after the other. As we submit wholeheartedly to the sheer depth and clarity of the bassline, a kindly angel sweeps above the sphagnum, spraying a succession of cleansing chords over our slimy bodies. Refreshed with some useful navigation advice we continue.

In ‘Kitchen Sync’ our craft’s speedometer is tickled up to a cruising 120bpm. The world outside our window begins to swim with colour, prickly forms materialise then dissipate around us. The familiar shape of our old friend, the high priest 303 appears before us, steadying the ship. Its resonant flame warming our hearth, and our hearts too. Then begins a beautiful communion of the domestic and the otherworldly, through the interplay of acid under glimmering keys. Provoking within us an uncontrollable desire to open our curtains, to cast off our slippers and embrace the infinite morrow.

Our voyage concludes with ‘Inspo 2000’. Scintillating landing lights guide us toward our destination, our descent beckoned by woody and playful percussion. We tumble through the troposphere, our landing cushioned by the buoyancy of the gated chords, the kicks juicing what's left of our dwindling fuel supply. A luxurious breakdown brings the ground into focus. Perhaps this is home? The simulation is now so accurate that it seems pointless to question it, it is a world we have always known.

6 track EP from the great TBZ on his own private imprint. This time he brings the computer syntheses un-realness - still allowing the record to hum with the fresh low slung flavors we love him for.. . Big tip over here!!

The latest from The Robinson - that'll be Milan-based brothers Marco and Riccardo Augeri to you - opens with the jazz, live-sounding and improvised 'Life Decisions' with its cosmic synths reaching up to the stars over raw beats. 'Unconscious Habits' follows on, bringing deep, dubby drums, organic percussive lines and a deep jungle vibe while 'Running Algorith' is another humid deep house closer with warm, diffuse pads and a spiralling of deft percussion.

DJ Support: The Shapeshifters, Riva Starr, Mousse T., Michael Gray, Dr. Packer, Richard Earnshaw

Serge Funk having made a recent name for himself as a wonderkid for disco- and funky-house versions. A re-editor for the diggers as opposed to the baitheads, 'Groovy Theme' and 'Cherry Bomb' are utter bangers devoid of much relation to their originals (indeed, there's no way of telling what the samples are without a record buyers' knowledge), in large part thanks to their working into beat-centric structures that drown out the vocals in favour of kick slappage and gut-punchage. Rhythm over theme; keeping things vibey, felt.

Cindys petrochemical plant managed by her husband Norbert
He’s just half-eaten a sandwich, he’s got a little dino friend, a couple perhaps.
Surrounded by strange industrial structures and debris he’s quickly animated by inhuman images and sounds.
Fearful over a dream she had about sinking in quicksand she quickly remembered Pasolini’s words.
‘In a dense fog’ they read, no it was perhaps another instance.
She used to live on an island and swim off a beach at an isolated cove. She orders pizza often. Of all the rocks in the cove it seems that only one comes alive and sings to her.
In the voice of the core.
The factories wide consumption continues.
Twenty-two minutes per side.
Something good.

Belgian duo Borokov Borokov present their new EP on Magma Records. Inspired by a surreal, feverish dream by one of its members, World War captures the raw energy of the band's live performances.
Incorporating live musicians, including the voices of Lara Chedraoui (Intergalactic Lovers) and Frankie Traandruppel, and co-produced with Youniss Ahamad, the EP showcases Borokov Borokov's distinctive blend of chaos and artistry while venturing into new dimensions of their sound. Departing from their signature DIY approach, the band enlisted Youniss Ahamad as a co-producer to bring out a visceral, live feel. Drums, bass guitars, and brass instruments layer over their electronic foundation, with guest vocalists adding depth to each track's unique intensity.

World War is a molten blend of sounds and emotions-a dance between chaos and order, built to radiate heat that pulls listeners into its burning core. Balancing raw analog sequences, mesmerizing chants, distorted effects and hypnotic synth loops, their new output embodies the sounds of a post-apocalyptic dream, influenced by DFA-inspired Electro Funk, echoes of the Italo Disco era, angular post-punk, and trippy Acid House.

Designed for the eccentrics of the dancefloor, the EP is slated for release on February 28 on vinyl and all digital platforms via Magma Records.

Long anticipated remastering and reissue of the Jack Frost recordings, featuring Steve Kilbey of The Church & Grant McLennan of The Go Betweens. Both albums plus bonus material captured within one vinyl set. The Snow Job album has never been on vinyl before. The eponymous album has been out of print for over 20 years. Presented in special thick spined gatefold sleeve. Press interest is heightened due to recent Church activity, Kilbey solo material reissue campaign and also the inclusion of Go Betweens frontman McLennan.

2025 Repress
Echospace Detroit’s cv313 aka Stephen Hitchell joins forces with Federsen for the second instalment on the latter’s newly minted Alt Dub label with the ‘Skyspace’ EP. Over the past decade and a half San Francisco based artist Federsen has been making his mark on the dub infused techno and house sound, delivering his vintage tape delay and analogue gear driven sound via the likes of Mixcult, Greyscale, Lempuyang and Ohm Series among others. In May this year Federsen inaugurated his own Alt Dub label with a split EP from himself and Hidden Sequence, and here the story continues following the split format with more original material from himself and cv313, accompanied by both artists remixing each other to run alongside their originals across the 12’’. cv313’s original mix of ‘Skycrossing’ opens the release and in typical Hitchellfashion treats us to eight and a half minutes of deep soundscapes, spiralling dub echoes, muted drums and a subtly unfurling feel throughout. Federsen’s ‘Dub’ remix of ‘Skycrossing’ then follows, offering a more refined and reduced feel with subby pulsations and crisp drums intertwined with dubby fragments of the original tracks. On the flip-side Federsen’s original ‘Skyway’ leads, employing a sturdy rhythm section with nuanced dub echoes and rumbling low-end swells. To conclude the release cv313 offers up his ‘Dub’ interpretation of ‘Skyway’, stamping his mark on things with phasing atmospherics, intricate oscillations and fluttering percussion

Wildfires by Polly Paulusma, released 28 February 2025, includes the following tracks: "Prologue to Mary Louise", "Prologue to Red Flags", "Prologue to Dunstable Downs", "Prologue to Over and Over" and more.

As one of the brightest and most prolific new songwriters to emerge from the Birmingham music scene over the past few years, Will Stewart has made a name for himself as both an imaginative storyteller and six string gunslinger whose detailed accounts of life around the Deep South seem to capture the essence of not just the humid, kudzu-covered environs they come out of, but also the creative cultural milieu that makes such narratives possible in the first place. Taking cues from everyone from Big Star and R.E.M., to Phosphorescent and the Drive-By Truckers, and even classic Southern literary figures like Eudora Welty and Barry Hannah, Stewart has managed to carve out a place for himself as a conjurer of time, place and characters— and the stories that swirl around them— in a way that’s simultaneously reflective, empathetic and unapologetic in their presentation.

Now on his fourth solo LP, over his past three studio efforts Stewart has shown a deft touch for not just engaging character arcs and succinct studies in the human condition, but also a range of musical modes that span everything from quiet dissertations on love and loss, to brash rockers and moody explorations of the complicated nature of modern Southern living. As someone who also wears the hat of a highly sought after sideman who lends his talents to friends and fellow travelers like Birmingham locals The Blips, Terry Ohms and Sarah Lee Langford, there are few sonic spaces that Stewart’s hands haven’t touched in some way.

Stewart’s newest offering sees him poised to deliver his most ambitious project yet, with a 10-track song cycle centered around the iconic, and now defunct, Moon Winx Lodge in Tuscaloosa, AL, and some of the characters and scenarios that have played themselves out there over the years.

20 Jahre The Offenders in 2025! Und zum Jubiläum gibt's keine Nudeln von gestern neu aufgewärmt, sondern das brandheiße, nagelneue Gericht "Storm Over The Mainland" Das 10. Album der Offenders vereint in den neuen Songs alle Einflüsse und Stile der Band aus den letzten zwei Dekaden. Mit treibendem Offbeat des vorab im Januar erscheinenden "Partizani in Budapest" bis zum mit Mandoline untermalten Folk-Punk bei "Off My Chest", vom klasischen straight-foward Ska-Punks "The Way The People Think" bis zu den dominierenden Gitarrenriffs der Punkrock-Hymne "Sixteenth Round", ist es das abwechslungsreichste Album der Band. Ausgeklügeltem Songwriting, sich festsetzenden "catchy chorals" und einem perfekt abgestimmtem "kick-ass"-Sound, der für emsiges Treiben auf der Tanzfläche, vor der Bühne oder lautem Mitgröhlen sorgen dürfte! Von Anfang an engagieren und unterstützen die Offenders mit ihrer Musik und den Konzerten dabei die antifaschistische und antirassistische Bewegung weltweit. Egal ob in autonomen Jugendzentren und anderen Kultureinrichtungen, besetzten Häusern oder der Ultraszene beim Fußball quer durch ganz Europa - ihre Message ist eindeutig und findet sich selbstredend auch in den neuen Songs wieder. The Offenders sind beileibe keine Spaßkapelle, auch wenn ihre Musik davon eben jede Menge zu bieten hat. Vielleicht macht das ja auch ihren Erfolg, Glaubwürdigket und die stetig wachsende Beliebtheit seit 20 Jahren aus: "Storm Over The Mainland" jedenfalls ist jedenfalls ein Album mit Attitüde, wie es für ein Jubiläum nicht besser sein kann. Cheers & Ciao! 2005 wurden "The Offenders" um den charismatischen Sänger Valerio in Cosenza (Italien) gegründet, Ende 2008 zog es die Band in ihre neue Wahlheimat nach Berlin. Zu ihren prägendsten und bekanntesten Underground-Hits zählen unter anderem: "Hooligan Reggae" (ein Dancefloor-Klassiker vom gleichnamigen ersten Album, der weltweit in den Stadien zum Schlachtruf der antirassistischen Fans wurde) und "Marchez" (der rebellische Sound von Class of Nations - mit fast 2 Millionen Streams allein auf Spotify. The Offenders sind unzählige Male durch ganz Europa getourt, haben Russland, China zuletzt in Mexiko (Januar 2024) für ihre Konzerte bereist und sind regelmäßig Gast auf den internationalen Festival-Bühnen wie beim Mighty Sounds (Tschechien) - Rebellion (UK) - Spirit from the streets (DE), Sjock (BE) - Couvre Feu (FR) - Ruhrpott Rodeo (DE) - Los Almiros (GR) - Rudeboys Unity (CH) und viele weitere. Die Bühne teilten sie u.a. mitBad Religion, Nofx, Korn, Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, Social Distortion, Uk Subs, Agnostic Front, Selecter, Discharge, Sick of it All, Real Mckenzies, Cock Sparrer, Slime, Antilopen Gang, Pennywise, Toy Dolls and many more!

20 Jahre The Offenders in 2025! Und zum Jubiläum gibt's keine Nudeln von gestern neu aufgewärmt, sondern das brandheiße, nagelneue Gericht "Storm Over The Mainland" Das 10. Album der Offenders vereint in den neuen Songs alle Einflüsse und Stile der Band aus den letzten zwei Dekaden. Mit treibendem Offbeat des vorab im Januar erscheinenden "Partizani in Budapest" bis zum mit Mandoline untermalten Folk-Punk bei "Off My Chest", vom klasischen straight-foward Ska-Punks "The Way The People Think" bis zu den dominierenden Gitarrenriffs der Punkrock-Hymne "Sixteenth Round", ist es das abwechslungsreichste Album der Band. Ausgeklügeltem Songwriting, sich festsetzenden "catchy chorals" und einem perfekt abgestimmtem "kick-ass"-Sound, der für emsiges Treiben auf der Tanzfläche, vor der Bühne oder lautem Mitgröhlen sorgen dürfte! Von Anfang an engagieren und unterstützen die Offenders mit ihrer Musik und den Konzerten dabei die antifaschistische und antirassistische Bewegung weltweit. Egal ob in autonomen Jugendzentren und anderen Kultureinrichtungen, besetzten Häusern oder der Ultraszene beim Fußball quer durch ganz Europa - ihre Message ist eindeutig und findet sich selbstredend auch in den neuen Songs wieder. The Offenders sind beileibe keine Spaßkapelle, auch wenn ihre Musik davon eben jede Menge zu bieten hat. Vielleicht macht das ja auch ihren Erfolg, Glaubwürdigket und die stetig wachsende Beliebtheit seit 20 Jahren aus: "Storm Over The Mainland" jedenfalls ist jedenfalls ein Album mit Attitüde, wie es für ein Jubiläum nicht besser sein kann. Cheers & Ciao! 2005 wurden "The Offenders" um den charismatischen Sänger Valerio in Cosenza (Italien) gegründet, Ende 2008 zog es die Band in ihre neue Wahlheimat nach Berlin. Zu ihren prägendsten und bekanntesten Underground-Hits zählen unter anderem: "Hooligan Reggae" (ein Dancefloor-Klassiker vom gleichnamigen ersten Album, der weltweit in den Stadien zum Schlachtruf der antirassistischen Fans wurde) und "Marchez" (der rebellische Sound von Class of Nations - mit fast 2 Millionen Streams allein auf Spotify. The Offenders sind unzählige Male durch ganz Europa getourt, haben Russland, China zuletzt in Mexiko (Januar 2024) für ihre Konzerte bereist und sind regelmäßig Gast auf den internationalen Festival-Bühnen wie beim Mighty Sounds (Tschechien) - Rebellion (UK) - Spirit from the streets (DE), Sjock (BE) - Couvre Feu (FR) - Ruhrpott Rodeo (DE) - Los Almiros (GR) - Rudeboys Unity (CH) und viele weitere. Die Bühne teilten sie u.a. mitBad Religion, Nofx, Korn, Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, Social Distortion, Uk Subs, Agnostic Front, Selecter, Discharge, Sick of it All, Real Mckenzies, Cock Sparrer, Slime, Antilopen Gang, Pennywise, Toy Dolls and many more!

20 Jahre The Offenders in 2025! Und zum Jubiläum gibt's keine Nudeln von gestern neu aufgewärmt, sondern das brandheiße, nagelneue Gericht "Storm Over The Mainland" Das 10. Album der Offenders vereint in den neuen Songs alle Einflüsse und Stile der Band aus den letzten zwei Dekaden. Mit treibendem Offbeat des vorab im Januar erscheinenden "Partizani in Budapest" bis zum mit Mandoline untermalten Folk-Punk bei "Off My Chest", vom klasischen straight-foward Ska-Punks "The Way The People Think" bis zu den dominierenden Gitarrenriffs der Punkrock-Hymne "Sixteenth Round", ist es das abwechslungsreichste Album der Band. Ausgeklügeltem Songwriting, sich festsetzenden "catchy chorals" und einem perfekt abgestimmtem "kick-ass"-Sound, der für emsiges Treiben auf der Tanzfläche, vor der Bühne oder lautem Mitgröhlen sorgen dürfte! Von Anfang an engagieren und unterstützen die Offenders mit ihrer Musik und den Konzerten dabei die antifaschistische und antirassistische Bewegung weltweit. Egal ob in autonomen Jugendzentren und anderen Kultureinrichtungen, besetzten Häusern oder der Ultraszene beim Fußball quer durch ganz Europa - ihre Message ist eindeutig und findet sich selbstredend auch in den neuen Songs wieder. The Offenders sind beileibe keine Spaßkapelle, auch wenn ihre Musik davon eben jede Menge zu bieten hat. Vielleicht macht das ja auch ihren Erfolg, Glaubwürdigket und die stetig wachsende Beliebtheit seit 20 Jahren aus: "Storm Over The Mainland" jedenfalls ist jedenfalls ein Album mit Attitüde, wie es für ein Jubiläum nicht besser sein kann. Cheers & Ciao! 2005 wurden "The Offenders" um den charismatischen Sänger Valerio in Cosenza (Italien) gegründet, Ende 2008 zog es die Band in ihre neue Wahlheimat nach Berlin. Zu ihren prägendsten und bekanntesten Underground-Hits zählen unter anderem: "Hooligan Reggae" (ein Dancefloor-Klassiker vom gleichnamigen ersten Album, der weltweit in den Stadien zum Schlachtruf der antirassistischen Fans wurde) und "Marchez" (der rebellische Sound von Class of Nations - mit fast 2 Millionen Streams allein auf Spotify. The Offenders sind unzählige Male durch ganz Europa getourt, haben Russland, China zuletzt in Mexiko (Januar 2024) für ihre Konzerte bereist und sind regelmäßig Gast auf den internationalen Festival-Bühnen wie beim Mighty Sounds (Tschechien) - Rebellion (UK) - Spirit from the streets (DE), Sjock (BE) - Couvre Feu (FR) - Ruhrpott Rodeo (DE) - Los Almiros (GR) - Rudeboys Unity (CH) und viele weitere. Die Bühne teilten sie u.a. mitBad Religion, Nofx, Korn, Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, Social Distortion, Uk Subs, Agnostic Front, Selecter, Discharge, Sick of it All, Real Mckenzies, Cock Sparrer, Slime, Antilopen Gang, Pennywise, Toy Dolls and many more!

Dear Life Records is proud to present the physical reissue of the self titled debut of MJ Lenderman. MJ Lenderman is a songwriter born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. The anatomy of an MJ record might go something like this: warped pedal steels and skuzzed out guitar; a voice reminiscent of the high-lonesome warble of a choirboy; the keen observations and reflections of a front stoop philosopher. Songs snake their way from a lo-fi home recording to something glossier made with longtime friends at Asheville's Drop of Sun studios, but the recording setting doesn't seem to matter much - at its core, a Lenderman song rings true. "MJ Lenderman" was recorded, mixed and mastered for digital in 2019 by Colin Miller in Asheville NC, and was self-released online to quiet but firm acclaim. Now available as a Double LP and remastered for vinyl by Heather Jones, it offers a glimpse into the formative steps of a style; focused and precise, yet expansive and rough around the edges, that remains consistent across MJ's catalogue to date (see also 2021's `Ghost of Your Guitar Solo' (DLR 016) and 2022's `Boat Songs' (DLR 031)). Looking as firmly to the legacy of 90s slowcore as it does to the tenor of Magnolia Electric Co. and sound wall of Neil Young and Crazy Horse, these 9 songs clock in at just over an hour and offer warm, patient worlds of heavy color that blow by breezily. These are songs that wrap mysterious and urgent feeling in layers of patience and clarity that unfold anew with each timeless listen.

"Every night we've been listening to RATTLE. They have a stark yet deep trance percussion vibe that is both holistic and rocking." Thurston Moore
“Quietly dramatic and loudly intimate.” The Quietus
“Two drum sets. Two voices. One great idea.” MOJO
Rattle are Katharine Eira Brown and Theresa Wrigley, they formed in 2011 after meeting on the live circuit whilst both playing in other bands. Katharine was a guitarist who had recently started playing drums in the band Kogumaza, whilst Theresa was the drummer in Nottingham band Fists. They’ve since released two long-players, 2016’s self-titled debut album Rattle (Upset The Rhythm / I Own You) and 2018’s Sequence (Upset The Rhythm) to much critical acclaim in the music press, and with James Acaster discussing the debut on his BBC Sounds podcast Perfect Sounds!
Rattle have honed the four songs that make up ‘Encircle’ by playing them live over the last few years, adapting and stretching them into endlessly inventive new shapes, playing with the concept of time and expectation. ‘Encircle’ was recorded at Foel Studios, Wales, produced and mixed by Mark Jasper, and mastered at Liminal Audio by Shaun Crook. The stunningly colourful artwork was created by Martha Glazzard, who was also responsible for Rattle’s other mesmeric covers.
‘All Burning’ opens the album, a live favourite of cyclical tumbling and evolving wordplay. ‘All Burning’ was built up gradually layer by layer with Theresa’s cumulative snare work and Katherine’s urgent calls for action: “hold your doctor, hold your daughter, hold your horses”. If ‘All Burning’ represents fire, then it’s accompanying 12-minute long track on Side 1, ‘Argot’, is informed by the air. ‘Argot’ is a song about uncertainty, with Katherine singing wordlessly across the majority of the track. “I prefer to sing wordlessly often because it feels a bit more expressive and universal” asserts Katherine. The track feels truly epic with a satisfying release that comes with the eventual introduction of the bass drum and snappy hi-hat section.

Side 2 also pairs a shorter song with a long-form composition. ‘Ritual’ is worked up from a simple snare drum pattern which becomes more and more overlapped into an elliptical form of waltz. Katherine considers ‘Ritual’ as “very earthy song - lots of low lying mist on the ground swirling around and the drums coming together to summon something”! ‘Ritual’ was inspired by a visit to the ruins of Boleskine House so multi-dimensional themes and occult practice loom large. ‘Your Move’ is a step-up gear change with the band wanting it to feel like the tape had suddenly started to spin faster, urging movement, venturing action. Clocking in at over 15 minutes, ‘Your Move’, is mesmeric and boundless, hypnotic in its minimalism of doubled-drums and almost tribal vocal cycles.
With ‘Encircle’ Rattle have grown again, these songs are alive with elemental power. They build-up and disintegrate, existing in two places at once, embracing the nuance, tracing the circle’s edge. These are modes of song as pure gesture and eternal imagination, refined in mirrors after midnight.
Rattle has performed at The Barbican, London and toured the UK with Animal Collective and Thurston Moore Group and Europe with The Julie Ruin and Protomartyr, and performed with Hot Snakes, Bill Orcutt Quartetand Codeine.

"Every night we've been listening to RATTLE. They have a stark yet deep trance percussion vibe that is both holistic and rocking." Thurston Moore
“Quietly dramatic and loudly intimate.” The Quietus
“Two drum sets. Two voices. One great idea.” MOJO
Rattle are Katharine Eira Brown and Theresa Wrigley, they formed in 2011 after meeting on the live circuit whilst both playing in other bands. Katharine was a guitarist who had recently started playing drums in the band Kogumaza, whilst Theresa was the drummer in Nottingham band Fists. They’ve since released two long-players, 2016’s self-titled debut album Rattle (Upset The Rhythm / I Own You) and 2018’s Sequence (Upset The Rhythm) to much critical acclaim in the music press, and with James Acaster discussing the debut on his BBC Sounds podcast Perfect Sounds!
Rattle have honed the four songs that make up ‘Encircle’ by playing them live over the last few years, adapting and stretching them into endlessly inventive new shapes, playing with the concept of time and expectation. ‘Encircle’ was recorded at Foel Studios, Wales, produced and mixed by Mark Jasper, and mastered at Liminal Audio by Shaun Crook. The stunningly colourful artwork was created by Martha Glazzard, who was also responsible for Rattle’s other mesmeric covers.
‘All Burning’ opens the album, a live favourite of cyclical tumbling and evolving wordplay. ‘All Burning’ was built up gradually layer by layer with Theresa’s cumulative snare work and Katherine’s urgent calls for action: “hold your doctor, hold your daughter, hold your horses”. If ‘All Burning’ represents fire, then it’s accompanying 12-minute long track on Side 1, ‘Argot’, is informed by the air. ‘Argot’ is a song about uncertainty, with Katherine singing wordlessly across the majority of the track. “I prefer to sing wordlessly often because it feels a bit more expressive and universal” asserts Katherine. The track feels truly epic with a satisfying release that comes with the eventual introduction of the bass drum and snappy hi-hat section.

Side 2 also pairs a shorter song with a long-form composition. ‘Ritual’ is worked up from a simple snare drum pattern which becomes more and more overlapped into an elliptical form of waltz. Katherine considers ‘Ritual’ as “very earthy song - lots of low lying mist on the ground swirling around and the drums coming together to summon something”! ‘Ritual’ was inspired by a visit to the ruins of Boleskine House so multi-dimensional themes and occult practice loom large. ‘Your Move’ is a step-up gear change with the band wanting it to feel like the tape had suddenly started to spin faster, urging movement, venturing action. Clocking in at over 15 minutes, ‘Your Move’, is mesmeric and boundless, hypnotic in its minimalism of doubled-drums and almost tribal vocal cycles.
With ‘Encircle’ Rattle have grown again, these songs are alive with elemental power. They build-up and disintegrate, existing in two places at once, embracing the nuance, tracing the circle’s edge. These are modes of song as pure gesture and eternal imagination, refined in mirrors after midnight.
Rattle has performed at The Barbican, London and toured the UK with Animal Collective and Thurston Moore Group and Europe with The Julie Ruin and Protomartyr, and performed with Hot Snakes, Bill Orcutt Quartetand Codeine.

Oxblood Vinyl

If you’ve followed the global shenanigans of heavier music over the past decades, you know the name Marko Hietala.
And if you don’t, I strongly suggest you go back down the dark rabbit hole and do your homework again. There is no doubt about it: Marko Hietala has been synonymous with quality for more than four decades. Hietala has not only shaped, but also defined the sound of harder rock, as a founding member of the heavy metal band Tarot, as an essential member of the supergroup Sinergy (next to extreme talents such as Alexi Laiho) or as one of the key figures of world’s biggest symphonic metal band Nightwish. Needless to say, his thunderous bass lines and rich vocals have been echoed in the world’s most famous venues, such as Wembley Arena and legendary festivals like Rock in Rio.
However, despite all the achievements, new conquests are coming at a steady pace... Just recently, Marko Hietala has appeared in a starring role in the TV series Vain elämää, which has gathered millions of viewers in Finland.
When it comes to an endlessly talented artist with a strong musical flame in his heart, an eponymous album is always just a matter of time. In the case of Marko Hietala, it took a while, but better late than never: his long-awaited first solo debut, Mustan sydämen rovio, finally arrived to grace the spring of 2019 (later reissued in English as Pyre of the Black Heart) Guess what? Marko Hietala’s musical and lyrical tide has not dried up and the well-received debut is getting the company it deserves. To be released in February 2025, “Roses from the Deep” follows the adventurous path of its predecessor, but perhaps with even greater ambition.
“Sometime in 2017-18, Nightwish took a break – first for about 20 years – and I decided to spend my time working on my first solo album”, I’ve come up with all kinds of ideas over the years, and it was time to get them out of my system. When I set my sight on the album, I didn’t limit myself in any way. If the idea felt good, it was good...” Hietala recalls.

Chaz Bear (formerly Bundick) has been immersed in music from a young age, shaped by a household rich with sounds ranging from Michael Jackson and Elvis Costello to The Specials. Growing up biracial in South Carolina, these diverse influences contributed to the unique blend of styles Chaz weaves into his work. Nominated for Best Dance Recording at the 2020 Grammy Awards for his collaboration with Flume on “The Difference”, Chaz’s genre-defying sound has won critical acclaim. His journey began in earnest with early home recordings that showcased his prolific nature, leading to over 10 Toro y Moi albums released independently before signing with Carpark Records in 2009.

Chaz’s debut album under Carpark, Causers of This, was a seminal release that sparked a movement of sample-heavy bedroom recordings. Its success led to early assumptions that he was limited to this sound, but Chaz quickly proved his versatility with 2011’s Underneath the Pine, recorded between tours and featuring entirely live instrumentation. This pivot set a pattern for Chaz’s career: each subsequent release explored new terrain, from the psych rock of What For? to the R&B-influenced Boo Boo, all tied together by his signature production and melodic sensibilities.

Following Boo Boo, 2019’s Outer Peace marked Chaz’s return to the Bay Area after a year in Portland, embodying a celebratory homecoming filled with collaborations and vibrant playfulness. Featuring friends and eclectic references to contemporary hip hop, funk, Eurodance, and ambient textures, Outer Peace was a sharp contrast to the contemplative, isolation-driven Boo Boo and solidified Chaz’s place on the cutting edge of music.

Five days post-release, Chaz teased Soul Trash on Instagram, sharing a cassette titled SOUL TRASH V1 with a Dropbox link, which was later removed. The mixtape was officially released digitally on October 29, 2019, and has since garnered over 39 million streams. This album was also his first collaboration with Elijah Kessler, who later released an album on Chaz’s Company Records. Now available on vinyl for the first time, Soul Trash epitomizes Chaz's experimental spirit, featuring ambient sounds, lo-fi loops, and contributions from Old Grape God, and Caleon Fox. Released alongside more recent projects like Mahal and Hole Erth, Soul Trash bridges his past with his ever-evolving artistry, proving Chaz’s creative well is far from dry.

“Eerie, wailing sounds over distorted feedback drones… Vibrato-heavy harmonies chirrup and throb in agonisingly slow motion.”
The Guardian, Album of the Month

“Cinematic...carefully orchestrated...delicately explores unfamiliar territory with uncanny finesse.”
The Wire

Acclaimed Icelandic theremin musician Hekla returns with Turnar, her third album of devastatingly heavy, spectral soundscape-songwriting, entering a sublime paranormal plane of haunting dread.

Now augmenting her virtuosic solo theremin work with cello, voice, and the sacred church organ of Icelandic master Kristján Hrannar, the evolution of Hekla’s unique magic summons new worlds with Turnar. The album was recorded partly in (and named after) a medieval castle tower in rural France, its ruinous black broken in spare beams of angelic stained-glass light. But, writes Hekla, “the sound of theremin kind of opens up a portal into a new realm that both looks into a dark old world and to the future.” The record is an alternately beautiful and crushing space voyage into a glacial underworld cascading with phosphorescence and cave drip, conjuring ancient choral ritual just as readily as redolent sci-fi gloam.

Opener “Inni” begins with swooning and shimmering lines of theremin that shiver with electrified energy before subfrequency bass elevates them into a glowing plasma, hovering above a crystallised surf. Key moment “Gráminn” wails with ghostly harmonics while distorted drones crash together in a stormy and blackened netherworld sea. It traces a neat progression from Hekla’s last album - the acclaimed Xiuxiuejar - while also welcoming an expanded timbral palette and flourishing compositional confidence. At the end of side A, “Var” delicately places sonic artefacts about a desolate negative space, creating a dense inverse gravity. As with the rest of the record, a claustrophobic gauze hangs over music that could otherwise be called subverted songwriting, aligning Hekla’s sonics with avant-garde, musique concréte and sound-art.

Tri-colour striped 2LP. LP 1: Red, Black, Blue LP 2: Yellow, Black, Green Limited to 300 copies. The classic hardcore punk album from New York's H2O, the third album is their 1990s-era trilogy, is back in print for the first time in 25 years. Featuring guest vocals from Roger Miret (Agnostic Front), Civ (Gorilla Biscuits, CIV), Freddy Crecien (Madball), Dickie Barrett (Mighty Mighty Bosstones), and Tim Armstrong (Rancid). Repackaged with a deluxe gatefold jacket and updated artwork, this 25th anniversary edition comes with a 2nd LP featuring the 1998 "Faster Than The World" demo session (17 songs), engineered by Tim Armstrong (Rancid) and previously unreleased.

Repressed Blood Red Vinyl of NECK DEEP's sencond full lenght proper, originally from 2015. Kerrang!: "Life's Not Out To Get You" is a must-listen for any fan of pop-punk." #31 Greatest Pop-Punk Albums of All Time - Alternative Press: "Neck Deep have solidified their position as one of the leading bands in the new wave of pop-punk. Top 10 Essential Records of 2015" - - NME: "Neck Deep have produced an album that is both anthemic and emotionally resonant." - Rock Sound: "Neck Deep have delivered their most mature and accomplished album to date." #3 on Rock Sounds Top 50 of 2015 Following "Wishful Thinking," with their second studio album, "Life's Not Out To Get You", Neck Deep, released what is easily one of their most career defining albums and one of the largest albums in the pop-punk genre. - Featuring fan favorite songs: "December," "Can't Kick Up the Roots," & "Serpents" - DIY wrote the "full-length feels both quintessential and refreshing, a modern classic_The hooks are glorious, the bounce is addictive and it's a little rough around the edges for good measure." In the little over a decade since Neck Deep formed in the Barlow brothers' spare room in Wrexham, Wales, a lot has changed. From the scrappy, naively hopeful beginnings that define the starting of so many teenage bands, the pop-punks have gone on to be one of British Rock music's most successful global exports in recent memory: top 5 records in both the US and UK, global touring, viral hits and over a billion plays, just some of the fruits of ten years spent mastering their craft. - For Fans Of | Blink-182, Green Day, & State Champs

Es ist keine leichte Aufgabe, an das erste Album anzuknüpfen, aber nicht alle Bands waren wie Motörhead.
Wenn sie nicht gerade die Massen mit ihrem kompromisslosen, kopfzermürbenden Hardrock-Markenzeichen
vernichteten, machten sie sich an die Arbeit am Nachfolger ihres gleichnamigen Debüts. Das Ergebnis? Eine
ohrenbetäubende, Schädel spaltende Platte mit Hits wie Overkill und No Class und einem unauslöschlichen
Abdruck in den Geschichtsbüchern des Rock.

"With all songs written by the band over the past year or so, the album was recorded and produced by Michael Giblin (The Split Squad) at Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania in Sep 24 and mastered at Rare Form Mastering by Greg Reierson, Like all three previous Vapors releases, this album conveys an individual feeling of it's own, both lyrically and musically. The title derives from a line in the song ""Forever & Ever"" but it also describes perfectly the high velocity, guitar and bass, heavy punked up tempo that runs through a number of the songs, whilst conjuing up an image of bottled-up anger that runs through a number of the album's lyrics.
Best known for their major worldwide 1980 hit ""Turning Japanese"", The Vapors originally split in 1981 after two short years producing six singles, two albums, three major US tours and an Australian tour, and countless shows in the UK. After a 35-year hiatus, the band reformed for a series of four shows in Ireland and England in 2016 which were so well recieved that they continue to tour extensively, with over 160 gigs played since, with a comeback album ""Together"", in 2020 and several singles released along the way."

2022 Repress

Tapper Zukie's 'Black Man' album originally came out in 1978 as a Jamaican only release on Tapper's' Stars imprint. Long deleted it has become a classic in Mr Zukie's vast cannon of musical biscuits and is well overdue this worldwide release for the first time.
Tapper Zukie (b1956. David Sinclair, Kingston, Jamaica) was raised in the rough and tough West Kingston area of Jamaica, between the districts of Trench Town and Greenwich Farm. Living pretty much on the streets from an early age, the youths including the young Tapper had no choice but to fall into the hands of the Political Parties that controlled various ghetto areas of the town. Music seemed like the only way out of a life of crime and gang culture. A path that Tapper Zukie found by the mid 1970's was establishing himself as a named star on the DJ Roots circuit. Back home in Jamaica he was also getting a name for his production work for other local singers such as Prince Allah and the group Knowledge. To release these productions and his own material in Jamaica, Tapper started up his own label called Stars. It's this label that saw the initial release of this album 'Black Man'. A great collection of Tapper tunes such as his biblical cut 'My God Is Real', 'Revolution' and the tile track of this collection 'Black Man' and some work overs of some of his felloe Jamaican Artists like 'Poor Man Problem' a work over of Johnny Clarke's ' Blood Dunza' and also Mr Clarke's Leggo Violence'. 'Yaga Yaga' re working Horace Andy's and Tapper's big hit 'Natty Dread ah She Want'. 'Gather Them' a reworking of Knowledge's tune of the same name with the help from bands like Jah Wisdom and Delroy Fielding. A great collection of tunes and reworkings that we hope will find a wider audience with this release.
For the CD issue of this release we had added Tapper's 'Liberation Struggle', 'Get Ready', 'Prophesy' and 'Fire Bun' tracks from Tapper Zukie's back catalogue that seem to sit well and follow the theme and meanings of the 'Black Man' album.