Search:prisoners of the sound

JTQ Return to Acid Jazz… At the very birth of Acid Jazz there was the James Taylor Quartet. Hammond player extraordinaire James Taylor was fresh from the split of The Prisoners when he recorded Herbie Hancock’s ‘Theme From Blow Up’ and signed with Eddie Piller’s Re-Elect The President label, the precursor of Acid Jazz. Then, in 1993, after albums for Polydor and Big Life, Acid Jazz and James hooked up again and released ‘In The Hand Of The Inevitable’, for many the finest JTQ album. In March this year James found himself backstage at the Royal Albert Hall - The Brand New Heavies were about to take the stage - with Acid Jazz’s Eddie Piller and Dean Rudland and a plot was hatched... James returns to the label with this brand new 7-inch single: ‘Wildflower’ b/w ‘Guiding Light’.

The A-side is Bossa-nova tinged slice of sunshine pop featuring James’ vocals. It sounds like an old private-press 45, unearthed in a dank warehouse basement in Oregon, and is another JTQ classic. The flip takes us into jazz funk territory. Presented in a one-o^ version of the latest Acid Jazz house-bag, with classic labels.

Two Drumcode mainstays, Layton Giordani & Bart Skils, join forces on rapturous but dark-edged techno thriller ‘Deadly Valentine’. Skils is globally renowned for his chart-invading take-no-prisoners techno. The Dutch producer’s last release on Beyer’s imprint was the 2024 ‘Sakura’ EP comprising collaborations with SUDO and Drunken Kong. Giordani, also a chart topper, at the forefront of an exciting new genre-bending sound, combines influences of melodic house, progressive, and indie dance with techno. His last DC outing was a recent rework of the seminal ‘Let’s Go Dancing’ from Tiga and Audion, and the otherworldly but peak time ‘Freaks At Night’ single last June.

The duo have a history of playing B2B at massive events like Drumcode, Loveland and Awakenings. This is their first collaborative standalone single (their ‘Midnight Magic’ was on Layton’s 2020 Drumcode LP). 'I was listening to Spotify and going through an indie dance rabbit hole’ Layton says. ‘I stumbled upon this track, was instantly hooked, and knew Bart was the right guy to collaborate with on this record.’ ‘Layton sent me the vocal idea and I turned it into an arrangement with a rolling groove’ Bart says. ‘After that the track was updated several times and mixed with a new vocalist for release.’ ‘Deadly Valentine’: complex, steady percussion with insistent techno beat gives a dark questioning edge to the high, sweet vocal, fast, echoing, often layered or harmonising with itself, singing the apparently romantic wedding ceremony lyrics in French & English.

Spin Desire Records is proud to present its first release of the year, a stunning EP by Namur, key member of the renowned Parisian collective :

Beau Mot Plage

Equally talented as a producer and DJ, Namur delivers a new EP featuring four captivating tracks that skilfully blend house, proggy hints and touches of breakbeat. With deep grooves, mesmerizing textures and finely crafted soundscapes which make for a perfectly balanced energy.

This release is sure to connect with both dance floor regulars and those seeking refined electronic music. We could not be more excited to unveil this one as it’s been in the pipeline for quite a while now. A hot take on modern days tech house and timeless addition to any record collection.

Liverpool’s breakout techno star Massano’s second solo release on Drumcode, ‘The Lights’. Following this year’s stellar three-tracker EP ‘Telepathic’ after Massano’s track on last year’s Drumcode A-Sides Vol. 12, Adam Beyer welcomes him back to his imprint.

Massano’s rise continues meteoric, with thunderous festival performances at Tomorrowland, Kappa Futur Festival, Ultra, & ElRow, sold out headline shows at Mute, Brooklyn Mirage, and Hi Ibiza … alongside releases on Afterlife and his own label Simulate which reflects his technology-dominated futuristic vision.

With chart topping success and the prestigious honour of having a BBC R1 Essential Mix, Massano’s aggressively powerful techno and rattling, insistent percussion interspersed with strong melodic riffs is clearly in ever-increasing demand. ‘The Lights’: with typical insouciance, Massano audaciously and successfully melds contrasting scenes/cultures/times – a bubbling, arpy bass and breakdowns of melodic, ‘hammered synth’ notes bring a North African/Middle Eastern vibe, until an interlude of building tension, with demanding drums, siren call, hard stabby chords and a huge drop, introduces a spacey, dystopian, futuristic techno sound. Fast, furious, takes no prisoners, dancefloor-compulsive.

A sonic portal to a parallel universe where neon-soaked dreamscapes transform the stark realities of a post-pandemic world. Music for a forgotten future, where echoes of the 80s cast long, enigmatic shadows through a rich tapestry of emotion that charts a journey from isolation and fear towards healing and hope. This is the journey of Season One and Season Two, the debut companion albums for the solo project of Italian composer Battaglia, both out this fall on Four Flies Records.

In 2020, as the world retreated onto itself due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Battaglia entered the recording studio. Driven by a desire for experimentation, she decided to focus on the classic synths that have made history to create a sonic and emotional alchemy that reimagines the 80s to resonate with our current experiences and sensibilities.

Drawing inspiration from the cinematic magic of iconic early-80s films, and especially the haunting soundtracks of Tangerine Dream and John Carpenter, she crafted a soundscape that goes beyond nostalgia to capture the spirit of a generation navigating uncertain times.

Season One and Season Two explore the complexities of a world grappling with lethal pandemics, climate catastrophes, and nuclear disasters through themes such as longing, fear, and hope, set against a scenario that blends elements of dystopian and post-apocalyptic science fiction and, at times, horror.

Season One delves deeper into the darker aspects of this new reality, evoking a sense of unease and uncertainty, occasionally interspersed with soothing flashes of light. In Season Two, while darkness still lingers, the sonic landscape is infused with a sense of optimism and determination, offering glimpses of a possible salvation.

With Battaglia's signature blend of dark wave, synth-pop, suspenseful electronica, and cinematic vibes, Season One and Season Two create a sonic world that is at once hauntingly familiar and utterly captivating -- the perfect soundtrack, one is tempted to say, for the countless sci-fi/horror-fantasy series that have been flooding streaming platforms in the last decade.

The covers of both albums were designed by Eric Adrian Lee, who conceived them as two sides of the same image, two versions of a world in crisis but whose ruins contain the potential for rebirth.

Battaglia's Season One and Season Two will be available on black vinyl LP starting from October 25th. Digital versions of both albums will also be released on the same date, featuring five bonus tracks (two on Season One and three on Season Two).

The first contact is a common science fiction theme about the first meeting between humans and extraterrestrial life. The theme allows authors to explore a variety of philosophical concepts by adapting the anthropological topic of the first contact with extraterrestrial cultures. But then what are the Topics of a possible “Second Contact”? What would have happened to civilization if the extraterrestrial life force returns. Are they ready to greet it?

In this case, the second contact comes in the form of SEELEN. Label head and part-time intergalactic traveller Janein’s second full EP on the Imprint. And he hasn’t returned to take prisoners.

The Title track takes you for a wild ride from the second one. A warbling, acidic texture marks the foundation of what is an absolutely destructive and fiery cut. One of Janein’s heaviest percussion tracks to date takes the mood to an absolute frenzy while the acid-textures and metallic Chords can almost singe your eyebrows off if you get too close to the speaker.

In comparison, Gaja tones it down somewhat with mellower synths and an absolutely funky Bassline. But do not underestimate this track in comparison to Kobald M. This track will ensnare you into its hypnotic chokehold. It is the kind of cut you can play in any situation and not a single person will leave the dancefloor.

Meeting the Alien for a Parlay, translating its transmissions on this record are musical linguists Somewhen and Peryl.
While Somewhen has leaned into Kobald M’s destructive potential, adding a chaotic, out-for-madness kind of energy, that is sure to bring insanity to any warehouse, Peryl, known for his cathartic breakbeat excursions, has absolutely deconstructed Gaja making it into a track that sounds like the moment an unknown flying object enters the atmosphere of the earth.

DJ Girl is a DJ and producer who was raised in Detroit, but since the pandemic has been based in Austin, Texas. She's the co-founder of the up and coming Eat Dis Records and her recent releases have been generating excitement in all the right places.
In some ways, 'Hellworld' feels like a direct relation to a lot of early 2000s Planet Mu releases. It could sit neatly alongside Hellfish or Neil Landstrumm, with a similar anything-goes, gleeful attitude, but instead DJ Girl mashes together a driving sound that is founded upon Detroit techno and electro, Chicago juke and Miami bass, with an old school/new school production style that's finessed with distortion and sparse IDM production.
It's a midwest USA style that takes a leaf from DJs and producers such as the wild-style hard techno of Lenny Dee, the tough midwest acid of Woody McBride and the system wrecking electro of Dynamix II, with a joyful, take-no-prisoners bounce.

'Hellworld' kicks off with the industrial juke of 'Get Down', followed by the powerful electro of 'Opp Pack Hittin' (the first of two tracks to feature MC Malik McFly).

'Technician' is a chirpy old school electro track that gets crazier as it progresses, while 'Lucky' mashes together samples and rough beats like an electro version of breakcore.

'Gallery' again features Malick McFly and switches between footwork beats, pumping techno and electro.

'So Hot' is hard 8-bar electro while 'When U Touch Me featuring Irish producer Lighght feels like a very manic take on hyperpop.

The album ends with the tough, spiralling acid of 'Groover' which wouldn't be out of place on a late nineties Jeff Mills mix. The fun is infectious on this one.

In the pantheon of classic free jazz, Noah Howard's The Black Ark looms large. Recorded at Bell Sound Studios in New York City in 1969 – just prior to the alto saxophonist's relocation to Europe – the album was eventually released in 1972.

The Black Ark exhibits not only the power and imagination of Howard's playing, but also his breadth as a composer and bandleader. Listeners expecting unrelenting blasts of "energy music" might be surprised to find a cohesion atypical of free jazz; amidst the wild, impassioned solos, Howard weaves in Latin rhythms and fat-bottomed grooves.

The first side, consisting of "Domiabra" and “Ole Negro,” sets the album's tone. Both tracks sound as if they could have appeared on some of Blue Note's proto-spiritual jazz, groove-heavy releases – evoking the likes of Lou Donaldson or Horace Silver – before ceding the floor to the horn players' anarchic firepower.

As John Corbett writes in the liner notes, "Two players stand out. Bassist Norris Jones – who would soon consolidate his name into a one-word reversed amalgamation/permutation of the two, Sirone – is given ample room, largely unaccompanied; his corporal approach foreshadows later work with the Revolutionary Ensemble. But the secret weapon on The Black Ark is Arthur Doyle. Straight from basement rehearsal sessions with Milford Graves, whose ensemble he had joined and who remained a favorite of the drummer for decades, Doyle is a human flamethrower."

Trumpeter Earl Cross' guttural, vocal effects complement Doyle's take-no-prisoners approach, while the estimable combination of Muhammad Ali (Rashied's brother) on drums and Juma Sultan on congas adds an ever-shifting propulsion. The septet is rounded out by the enigmatic pianist Leslie Waldron, who anchors the group with imaginative accompaniment and occasional boppish flourishes.

Every bit worthy of its reputation as an "out-jazz" holy grail, The Black Ark only sounds better with age. It remains the ideal record to convert the remaining free-jazz skeptics.

First EP from a new project formed in 2023 by Allan Crockford (The Galileo 7, The Prisoners,The James Taylor Quartet etc) and Ian Button (Papernut Cambridge, Swansea Sound, Death In Vegas etc)

Both writers bring their influences to the four songs here, with dual lead vocals and a mix of Medway psych, horror- garage, and kitchen sink new- wave pop vignettes. There's paranoia and psychosis, a cautionary tale about gullibility, and a love song straight out of 1978...

Recorded in Rochester and Folkestone, and released jointly on Button's Gare du Nord and Crockford's Fool's Paradise labels, this 7" is the first to be pressed on the new bioplastic compound Evo-vinyl.

Cold Steel's patented brand of aggressive, hardcore thrash metal takes no prisoners on 'Discipline & Punish'. To bring the album to life, the group decamped to Philadelphia and teamed with producer Arthur Rizk (Blood Incantation, Power Trip, Cavalera). In the studio, they drew on influences like Metallica, Machine Head, and Slipknot while sharpening and solidifying their own signature sound.

Love & Rage, the brilliant 2024 debut album from London Queercore trio Shooting Daggers turned many heads with its jaw dropping depth and melody as well as blinding energy, feminist fury and angst. It has to be said that the band are not just bashing it out here. The playing is knockout and the vocals in particular are a standout. Singer Sal proving that she can do hard and fast and cool and melodic with equal aplomb. Add in some really inventive vocal arrangements and harmonies, and you have a band that is pushing that hardcore envelope big time. 2nd edition in Pink vinyl, full colour single outer sleeve, with a full colour printed inner sleeve, with an exclusive A4 poster included as well as a full download code. `Shooting Daggers may well have already made 2024's finest punk album'- Metal Hammer 'a ferocious brand of self-styled queercore punk rock that takes no prisoners' - Kerrang. 'a truly empowering album' - Noizze.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a 2024 six-part TV miniseries based on the international bestselling novel by Heather Morris, inspired by the real-life story of Holocaust prisoners Lali and Gita Sokolov.

The story follows one man, Lali, a Slovakian Jew, who, in 1942, was deported to Auschwitz, the concentration camp where over a million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust. Shortly after
arrival, Lali was made one of the Tätowierer (tattooists), charged to ink identification numbers onto fellow prisoners’ arms. One day, he met Gita when tattooing her prisoner number on her arm, leading to a love that defies the horrors around them. The cast features Harvey Keitel, Melanie Lynskey, Jonah Hauer-King, and Anna Próchniak.

• 180 GRAM AUDIOPHILE VINYL
• INCLUDES 4-PAGE BOOKLET
• ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK TO THE 2024 SKY TV MINISERIES STARRING JONAH HAUER-KING, ANNA PRÓCHNIAK, MELANIE LYNSKEY AND HARVEY KEITEL
• MUSIC COMPOSED AND PERFORMED BY LEGENDARY FILM COMPOSER HANS ZIMMER AND KARA TALVE
• SOUNDTRACK NOMINATED TWO TIMES AT THE PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS
• FEATURING “LOVE WILL SURVIVE” PERFORMED BY BARBRA STREISAND
• BLACK VINYL

Music for the series was composed by multi Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer and Kara Talve. The soundtrack also features the brand new song “Love Will Survive” by global music icon Barbra Streisand. The music for the show received 2 Primetime Emmy nominations, for “Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics” and “Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score)”

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is available on black vinyl and includes a 4-page booklet.

Since forming in 2008, Falling In Reverse have racked up a fanatical fan base, so much so that the band"s legendary videos have been viewed over 30 million times. The attitude of the 1980"s Sunset Strip, the bravado of battle-ready rap, the take-no-prisoners bottom end of metalcore and the boundless revelry of underground EDM parties have all beautifully converged in this one band and this new album. It"s for everyone on Instagram, on Twitter, or anyone with a brain and two ears. "My dad raised me on metal, but my first serious love was hip-hop," Ronnie explains. "When I heard Dr. Dre"s The Chronic, that"s when I fell in love. I didn"t know what the hell they were talking about, the beats were intertwined, and it came inside of me and took me over. When we added hip-hop elements I was thinking, "Should I do this? This sounds crazy! Are people going to like this?" Now I"ve never been so proud of something. The final product, Fashionably Late, is the best work I"ve ever done." First time pressing on limited edition Clear w/Hot Pink Splatter vinyl to celebrate the album"s 15th anniversary!

Comes with insert and download coupon.

Imagine a Latin remake of Back to the Future. The mad scientist is Arsenio Rodriguez (the godfather of salsa) and the young student who travels through time with him is Eblis Alvarez (Meridian Brothers). This album can only be described as the perfect soundtrack for that movie that never was.

After the massive buzz generated by his first solo album, Mentallogenic, Alex Figueira got back in the studio to work in a more collective fashion this time, carefully assembling the second album of his largest project to date, Conjunto Papa Upa; a team of 6 musicians, spanning 3 generations of some of the best talent in the Latin and avant-garde scenes.

In an era where tropical music is dominated by purely electronic and rhythmically uniform sounds, the ten songs encompassed in “Fruta Madura” (“Ripe Fruit”) wander through the most diverse tempos, rhythms, and motifs effortlessly. A real breath of fresh air that gracefully incorporates soul, funk, jazz, psychedelia, and electronics into a solid tropical, irresistibly polyrhythmic foundation, without ever succumbing to the many genre clichés.

The distinctive production and catchy songwriting of Figueira shine in a very distinctive light on this second full-length. Living up to his reputation (Miles Cleret, founder of Soundway Records, called him “one of the scene's truly authentic and eccentric producers”), he takes the opportunity to show he’s not afraid to keep walking his own path.

Taking the band for a wild ride through the traditions of Africa, America, and the Caribbean; contrasting them with a ridiculously wide plethora of vintage, contemporary, and futuristic sounds, and pivoting on the exuberant musicality displayed by his musicians; the result leaves no doubt: this album is destined to be considered a future classic of the exciting tropical psychedelic music of the 21st century.

Addressing the most diverse themes in this new collection of songs, things take on a much more mature tone, as the title clearly suggests.

The opening track “El segundo es más sabroso” (“The second one is tastier”) sets the tone in the most assertive way imaginable, with the band boldly declaring, through multiple metaphorical references (laid upon a crazy mix of Dominican merengue, Detroit techno, classic and free jazz, dub, and electro), that the bar will be set higher with this second album.

The remaining compositions touch upon the most diverse subjects, with a fair dose of humor, sarcasm, and postmodern “magic realism”. “El Algoritmo” (The Algorithm) is a parranda-cumbia hybrid (for lack of a specific term) about the omnipresence of technology in our lives. The sophisticated Latin soul of the titling track “Fruta Madura” makes a case for the beauty of the maturity process. Some key philosophical teachings of Marcus Aurelius (the role of causality, the impositions of “the logos” and the importance of self-control) get a twisted cumbia treatment on “Reos del Deseo” (Prisoners of Desire). “No le pongas Coca-Cola” (“Don’t put Coca Cola in it”) shows us the most satirical side of the band, accusing those who mix Coca Cola with Rum of committing "sacrilege", on a powerful base of Dem Bow (the grandfather of Reggaeton), intertwined with touches of soul, salsa, and Cuban comparsa.

"Háblame Claro" (“Talk to me clearly”) is a story of heartbreak that evokes in its first part the spirit of the erotic salsa of the 80s (a subgenre deeply despised by purists), and after an unexpected samba interlude, leads to the hardest salsa of the 70s (a subgenre adored by purists), to end up in the surprising form of pure Afro-Cuban ceremonial music.

“Tu mamá tenía razón” ("Your Mom Was Right") is an attempt to exalt the spirit of the Latin American soap opera in the key of “acid bachata”, to recount a real-life case, witnessed by the band on countless occasions: the partying woman who arrives at the show accompanied by her bitter husband, who obviously does not like to dance. A very cheeky song to talk about the very serious and pertinent topic of female empowerment.

“La misma vaina” (“The same thing”) with its indescribable blend of bantú, candomblé, and Mozambique rhythms with abstract synthesizers, is an ode to adventure in favor of the aversion to taking risks and seeking predictability.

“Amigas picadas” (“Salty friends”) is another humorous song recounting another real-life case witnessed by the band on countless occasions: a love encounter sabotaged by the girlfriend's friends, who all happen to fancy the same guy. A jazzy take on the ancient Dominican rhythm of pambiche (grandfather of merengue), with generous psychedelic touches, resembling the classy late 60s releases of Guadeloupe's legendary producer / label owner Henri Debs.

“Vinimos a hablar” (“We came to talk”) takes sarcasm to the highest level, to ridicule the absurdity (also experienced by the band firsthand) seen in live music venues where people pay a ticket to go and have conversations that could be carried out much better on any bar, where no band is playing. The music alternates between a delicate melody with loose, sparse percussion and a full-on, pumping Angolan semba, with a techno kick drum included; bringing things to an apotheotic grooving finale, where the peculiar swing of Venezuelan calypso from the Callao region is thrown on top of all the precedent elements; closing the album in the most uplifting, “end of the carnival parade” feel.

The artwork is a delicate and impactful oil painting by Colombian artist Kevin Simón Mancera, who has collaborated many times with the label before (“Maracas, tambourines and other hellish things” tape and the Lola’s Dice LP).

What the experts are saying:

“Alex (Figueira) dove into this work with a brutal cohesion between lyrics and synths. Timbre poetry, sound poetry (you name it). And that, superimposed on his always impeccable percussive base, confirms the title of “avant-garde visionary of our beautiful Latin music”".
EBLIS ALVAREZ (MERIDIAN BROTHERS)
“Papa Upa's infectious quirkiness is a balm against boredom. A mature album, but without an expiration date”.
GLADYS PALMERA

“Here there is a lot of strength, drum, cadence and psychedelia, lost dance rhythms, united in an intercontinental Latin/African/and Caribbean journey, a unique winning combination that we could consider the new “Ritmo Figueira”.
DISCODELIC

Conjunto Papa Upa are: 



Alex Figueira - Timbales, percussion, vocals. 

Gerardo Rosales - Congas, percussion, vocals. 

Ramón Mendeville - Bongos, percussion, vocals. 

Randy Winterdal - Bass.

Andrew Moreno - Guitar.

Nico Chientarolli - Organ, piano, synths.



All songs written by Alex Figueira. 

Arranged and performed by Conjunto Papa Upa. 

Recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by Alex Figueira at Heat Too Hot, Amsterdam.


2024 Reissue

Alphacut Records reloads its third wave with an upfront jungle plate. Meticulously selected over the years since the last allover amen statement Fundamentals EP as of cat.nr. ACR 3001, these four new killer tunes take no prisoners as well.

Sumone (with his Planet Mu fame) and Dan Miles (formerly Skubi like on Modern Ruins) as the midwest cowboys meet the North Sea sailors Istari Lasterfahrer (running his Sozialistischer Plattenbau) and Ill_K (on Nord and re:st)to execute this smashing Darka Mentors EP!

"Wicked Man Sound" is one of the most sinister jungle sciences we came across lately. Choppage on point, layerslike spread, stabbing basses, dark percussion, oldskool pads - you name it. "Crash!" feels like a UK hardcore banger, but is refreshingly switching breakbeats instead of gabba kicks. "Echo Chamber" drops an irresistible rave stab into the dubber dungeons and "Kuro" celebrates a very samurai style of a halftime cut to round up this breaksfest menu with ease.

Alphacut operates on a non-profit level, most releases cover their costs, if even. Half of any returns will be donated to Webster's Amen Break Gesture campaign II raising funds for the original creator of The Winston's Amen Brother breakbeat: Richard Spencer. With the deepest respect for this milestone of a sample!

Sugaray Rayford is a man with a message and a larger than life personality and voice to deliver it

Working with producer, songwriter Eric Corne for the past 3 albums, the soul-blues powerhouse has crafted an incendiary sound and narrative, combining classic soul melodies and funky R & B grooves with raw blues power.

The pair's first collaboration, 'Somebody Save Me', earned Rayford a 2020 Grammy nomination. Later that year he took home Blues Music Awards for 'Soul Blues Male Artist' and 'B.B. King Entertainer of the Year.' Rayford's follow up In Too Deep won a plethora of awards including the Blues Music Award for 'Soul Blues Album of the Year'.

His new release is entitled 'Human Decency'. The title track is a simple reminder that our similarities are stronger than our differences and in the end, there is no black or white or left or right, there are only hearts and minds.

About the leadoff single, "Run For Cover" a song that takes no prisoners, Q Magazine declares, "The bluesey soul of Rayford comes on full steam with this powerhouse single."

"We're calling people on their bullshit but we're having fun with them. That's my way. I'm gonna tell it to you straight but with love in my heart. I always bring some suga with the salt!" says Sugaray, bellowing with laughter.

An all-star cast lent their talents to the album, including guitarist Rick Holmstrom and singer Saundra Williams who are both from Mavis Staples's band, along with bassist Taras Prodaniuk (Lucinda Williams, Merle Haggard).

'Comrade Detective' ('Tovaraul Detectiv') is an
American buddy cop series created by Brian
Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka.
Each episode is a different 'lost' episode from a
fictional Romanian television show that had been
commissioned by the Communist Party to promote
communism during the Cold War.
The episodes were filmed in Romania with local
actors and later dubbed into English for effect.
The episodes feature the voices of Channing
Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Nick Offerman,
Jenny Slate, Jason Mantzoukas, Chloë Sevigny,
Jake Johnson, John DiMaggio and others.
The soundtrack features rare versions of
'Flashdance, What A Feeling', 'Obsession' and the
smash hit 'I Can't Wait' by Nu Shooz along with
Joe Kraemer's original score

Nach einer phänomenalen Konzertreihe im Dezember 2022 zum 40. Jubiläum ihres Debütalbums "A Taste Of Pink" (1982) beschlossen die britischen Kult-Garage-Rocker The Prisoners neue Musik zu machen. "Morning Star", ihr erstes neues Album seit 1986, wurde in nur zwei Tagen in den Abbey Road Studios aufgenommen. Gegründet in der Spätphase des Mod-Revivals Anfang der 1980er, inspirierte ihr einzigartiger Sound aus 60er Garage-Punk (The Who) und Psychedelia (Small Faces), dem Groove von Booker T & The MGs und der Intensität der Punk-Bewegung eine ganze Generation zukünftiger Musiker von The Charlatans über Inspiral Carpets bis zu den Happy Mondays. Ihr Organist war/ist übrigens die spätere Jazz-Funk-Koryphäe James Taylor.

Zweimal Gimp Fist! Die Alben "UNIFICATION" und "ISOLATION"! Jeweils 15 Songs auf jedem Album und wie nicht anders zu erwarten, liefert die North-East Oi! Division wie gewohnt Songs der Extraklasse ab! Den klassischen UK Skinhead & Punk Sound mit abwechslungsreichen Mischung aus straight forward Punkrock-Hymnen, druckvollen Singalongs und mitreißenden Oi!-Shoutern beherrschen die drei Engländer bis zur Perfektion! Abgerundet durch das ausgeklügelte Songwriting und treffsichere Lyrics von Sänger Jonny Robson hat sich die Band seit 2005 weltweit eine riesige Fangemeinde erspielt. Nicht umsonst sind Gimp Fist auf dem Rebellion-Festival in Blackpool jedes Jahr einer der Headliner und von Craig Charles in seiner BBC Radio 6-Sendung fast in den Punk-Adel erhoben worden. Limitiertes rotes Vinyl mit blauen Spritzern!

Mood II Swing are giants of NY metro area club culture. On calibre with heavy-hitters like Masters At Work and Blaze, Lem Springsteen and John Ciafone's output boasts the bejeweled crown of deep house supremacy, spanning from the early 1990's to the latter part of the decade, molding and modeling a sound painstakingly tailored to the vanguard of minority and transgendered club scenes, pre-purge New York. One of their first and most explosive claims to the throne was 1992's "Wall of Sound" EP, a no-prisoners-taken masterpiece with the confidence and cockiness of two producers just out the gate and fully assured of their total domination of the craft. "I Need Your Luv" is, to this day, the indisputable measuring stick of cunty club tracks, opening as the curtain lifts with the outpouring of one fierce ruling diva, quickly picking up force in a storm of wide swinging-drum programs, punching bass drives and sparse, splitting synth stabs, all punctuated with unyielding vocal cut-ups and yearning cries. On the flip, "Penetration" delivers the same expert method, albeit with a more abstract, dreamy air about it, a bumping, endlessly ascending standard of the vocal-sample driven deep house track of the early 1990's, constantly building and morphing in its deceptive complexity. Brilliant, timeless and time-defying, "I Need Your Luv" & "Penetration" have finally been reissued for the first time since their original debut 21 years ago, the latest feature in Slow to Speak's ongoing CORE series, a testament to the formative years of NY house lore.

Crypt of the Wizard is proud to present Dipygus - Dipygus on vinyl and digital formats. Breaking bones, sucking the marrow dry and concocting its own mind-bending blend of cryptid death metal mutilations for over a decade now, Dipygus are a North American quartet powerhouse of crushing caveman gore grooves and monstrous neanderthal percussive slaughter. With already a blood hungry host of extended plays, splits and full-lengths under their gut string loincloths, Dipygus burst forth into 2024 with their self-titled third album—pushing the primitive psychosis of their sonic assault into new arenas of hallucinogenic cannibal combat. Rife with the foetid stench of mouldering mammoth corpses, Dipygus have spared no prisoners for their latest album; amping up their jungle fever dead dreams with skull smashing drumwork, monolithic bass brutality, captivating death hooks, venomous hypnotic leads, guttural flesh growls, ancient cryptid thematics and a truly diseased atmosphere, one that is as equally oppressive, as it is ferociously ominous. Freak induced fatalism from the backward fringes of time, Dipygus have once again laid morbid massacre to the audio waves and created their most potent slab of infectious caveman styled death metal to date, one that any cannibalistic monster marauder would be thrilled to sharpen their gnarled bone axes upon.

Grilchy Party presents another epic from Da Buze Bruvaz own Clever 1 and mysterious production wizard Lord Beatjitzu. This new adventure follows where the last one, Perverted and Drunken, left off. They have cooked up another album following the footsteps of their classic Perverted and Drunken LP. This new adventure follows where the last one left off. Introducing Master Sip, Legendary Teacher Of Bruce Lo Da First Drunken. It is illuminating one of the many chambers of their Drunken Fly Chi style, the martial arts mind states of Clever 1 and Lord Beatjitzu combining as the "Fly Chi School Of Da Drunken Artz". The duo pops the listener in the face With vicious, bloody Nunchuck Lyrics over high-velocity, swift kick-in-the-chest production. With these seasoned masters of their perspective arts, they form a powerful, unstoppable combo and truly take no prisoners in this Action-Packed sophomore foray. It's a pure Saturday morning Kung Fu sound theater where Wing Chun enters the world of Drunken Fist on Wax. Beware as you enter the Dojo and watch your step!

Since the early 80's Allan Crockford has been a major figure in Medway's garage rock scene, including playing for The Prisoners, Billy Childish's Thee Headcoats, the original line-up of the James Taylor Quartet, The Solarflares and many more. Since 2010 he has fronted his own band, The Galileo 7, as writer, guitarist, and lead vocalist. Their unique blend of powerful '60s garage rock'n'roll, psychedelic vocal harmonies and quality songwriting has now featured on no less than eight albums. Their ninth, You, Me and Reality, sounds like the work of a seasoned rock 'n' roll band dialling things up one and approaching its zenith. The group performances of the quartet of Allan Crockford, Viv Bonsels, Paul Moss and Mole ooze energy and dynamics - whether it's the garage ramalama of opener 'Can't Go Home', the woozy psychedelics of 'Slow Down', the chipper folk-rock of 'A Simple Man' or the '60s mod-pop stomp of the title track. As with 2019's last album proper, There Is Only Now, all four group members share lead vocal duties, with Viv's contributions adding an affecting indie-pop flavour that coyly suggests new directions. You, Me & Reality largely eschews its predecessor's predilection for ambling unplugged off the beaten path, instead sticking with up-tempo ensemble performances that showcase the players' musical chops and vocal interplay in the kind of warm, fizzy, analogue soundscape that's become a touchstone of many Medway bands.

Previously Unreleased Album. In the Fall of 1993, between contracts with Capitol and RCA, The Smithereens ventured into Crystal Sound Studios NYC to write and record a new album for their own label. The results of those one month marathon recording sessions is this album, unheard by the outside world until now, and appropriately titled “Lost Album”. The Smithereens’ take no prisoners sound, reflecting their Garden State roots, has resonated with fans worldwide over the course of 17 albums and 2500+ live shows. They've also inspired generations of musicians, including Kurt Cobain, who counted The Smithereens as a major influence. Founded in New Jersey in 1980, The Smithereens have been creating electrifying, original rock’n’roll for 41 years. Jim Babjak (guitar) Dennis Diken (drums) and Mike Mesaros (bass) grew up together in Carteret and lead singer, the late Pat DiNizio, hailed from Scotch Plains. The Smithereens’ fame escalated, they were in heavy rotation on MTV and appeared on The Tonight Show, Conan O'Brien, and Saturday Night Live.

Bring back my Bass Butches! They’re bossy & they mean business. Rag-tag rhythm riders Maara and Roza Terenzi come together for a freaky friday sound swap; trading auditory secrets only a mixologist would know to conjure up a 2 track tek-trailblazer. Not for the faint hearted deejay, the record flaunts their distinct signature sounds as they reincarnate the status quo of experimental club music one snare at a time.

Percussively penetrating the core ethics of composition, the A side flirts and squirts all over a rhythm so raucous, the bass battens down the hatches. Stir the pot, rock the boat, roll the dice and ride the bass, surrender to the unruly structure as the groove gets full custody.

The bareback B side breaks rules and regulations; leading you to high-tech temptation, fast and furious with an explosive temper that can’t be tamed.

Tickling the rim of electro and bass yet ditching the doctrine, Loose Lips Sink Ships is a take-no-prisoners secret source of dancefloor dopamine, the sleek modern rendition of a ritualistic beatdown destined to weave motifs together and breed atmosphere.

It takes 2 to techno, but these are the number 1 drum degenerates of the future wave party starters.

Referred to as "one of Reggae's quietest superstars" Jackie Mitto aka "The Keyboard King" had a remarkable path in Reggae music, a protege of Sly Stone, he started his career as part of Studio One's in house recording band and later went on to work with artists such as Bob Marley, UB40, Barry White, Peter Tosh and Oscar Peterson. This album was the result of a rare occasion of being on tour in Africa and establishing musical connections with musicians from Ghana, recorded in Accra and mixed in London. Predominantly instrumental, this album is essential to any dub conscientious record collection, as it culminates the career of a Reggae legend whilst under new influences in West Africa resulting in an unmistakably characteristic modern dub sound. Re-issued on vinyl with remixes previously only availably on CD format.

Keita Sano is a prolific Japanese producer who has released on revered labels such as Mister Saturday Night, Lets Play House, Morris Audio and 1080P. His fusion of dark, distorted, acidic textures and crunchy disco beats gives his produc tions a unique sound which works perfectly for Delusions Of Grandeur and the label is proud to welcome him for his debut DOG EP entitled Love Is Emotion.

The title track comes on like a proverbial runaway train with heavy, pounding beats and bassline forging things ahead while the most twisted, tripped out FX rise and fall creating an absolute juggernaut of a track which takes no prisoners. A decept ively simple DJ tool which is loaded with drama for maximum impact on the more left of centre dance floors.

Up next we have Violet which takes a low-slung deep house approach but with the grit and dirt that Keita always brings to the party. The first half of the track teases with tension-building chords and syncopated bassline which bounces around a massive four on the floor kick drum. Things fall away in the middle of the track to reveal a beautiful, heartwarming piano part, setting the scene before things get truly epic with orchestral strings bringing a touch of the film noir to proceedings.

I’m A Man picks up the pace again for an intense acid work out which pushes the sonic boundaries to the limits with seriously warped FX creating mayhem around a simple, percussive disco groove. As secret weapon DJ tools go, this is right up there.

Closing out this mind-bending release Keita remains in experimental mode on Love Is Emotion offsetting melodic arpeggios and sweet chords with off-kilter sonic madness ensuring things remain dark, dirty and deep.

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

RAR001 was featured in Resident Advisor's Best music of July list

RANT & RAVE
An enigmatic new sound is oozing out of your speakers. Seemingly self-tasked with reviving the essence of the techno rave style, Rant & Rave Records presents the world with an updated vision that sounds exactly like it should. Based in Berlin, the techno epicenter, It's a dangerous new label, unafraid to stir things up and break the rules. Run by Tresor resident and Sonic Groove recording artist Maedon, the label intends to inject some hard-hitting fun back into the techno underground. About to be revealed; EPs from Maedon, Lady Starlight, JoeFarr (of Turbo fame), and veteran industrial techno guru Mark Crumby, (aka Codex Empire, Konstruktivitis). Look for Rant & Rave records this summer at all fine record shops.


RAR 001
Berlin-based American expat Maedon (Tresor, Sonic Groove) ushers in the arrival of Rant & Rave Records with a slickly produced debut EP entitled 'Cease and Desist'. '1989' opens with booming kicks, driving mechanical percussion, and hallelujah samples interspersed throughout. The droning rave synths sound eerily akin to kamikaze dive bombers heading directly for your brain. 'Grandstand' and the title track 'Cease and Desist' continue in this direction, abundant with hypnotic electronics and relentless energy. On 'The Worlds So', Maedon shares her thoughts on the state of world current events with looped vocals 'The worlds so fucked... all we can do is dance'. Gritty, dark rave tracks for peak time workout that provide a nice blueprint of what to expect from this label. No prisoners taken.

LDS takes no prisoners on this blistering new techno workout for Exos' Planet X & X/OZ labels.

Opener 'Karplusfunk' is a 100-mile-an-hour assault with caustic hit hats over clipped, kinetic drums. Manic synth lines ride up and down and the energy levels are off the chart. 'Mvoper FM' is slightly paired back but is still warp-speed icy techno to take dance floors on a white knuckle ride through the cosmos.

The Exos remix of 'LD5' has snares that sound like sheet metal blowing in the wind while solar clouds peel off the groove. The flip side offers two more cuts of head-melting techno experimentalism.

Young South Coast UK producer Lyra’s ‘Give It Up 2 Me’ has been a very 2023 entity so far, racking up 170k + streams as an unofficial Soundcloud upload, starting to make an impact on Tik Tok (especially via the L Major remix) whilst being, in 4/4 terms, on the nippier side of things.

Rocking along at an unapologetic 160bpm, ‘Give It…’ goes big on energy, and low on musical frills, as the song (a faithful cover of Ojerime’s original) and driving bass/drums combo do all the work for what is a minimal, avant - donk workout.

On the remix front, Limoux slows things down with a 135bpm 4/4 mix that feels like it has roots in LDN 2015 style foot shuffling, but with added sense of contemporary punch and reach.

Stepping up on an old school / new school junglist front, L Major’s mix takes no prisoners, with his rolling, cut up breaks and big Reese b-line set to cause damage to unsuspecting systems everywhere.

Closing proceedings, the Jag Limbo mix doesn’t seem to know if it wants to be Overmono or Giorgio Moroder, is in reality neither, and arguably none the worse for it.

In 2021 Velocity Press published Who Say Reload: The Stories Behind the Classic Drum & Bass Records of the 90s, an oral history of the records that defined jungle/drum & bass straight from the original sources. The deluxe coffee table book has since sold thousands of copies and prompted many to comment that it should have an accompanying soundtrack.

Now author Paul Terzulli has compiled a Who Say Reload album. However, where the book focused solely on classics and anthems, the compilation takes a different route and offers up a selection of top-quality tunes from some of the scene’s most respected artists and labels.

Like the book, the album covers the genre’s nineties golden era, and the many styles of D&B are represented. Pioneering producers and crowd-pleasing favourites sit alongside a few sought-after obscurities by the unsung heroes of the scene. Most importantly, there are some absolute bangers!

The 16 tracks are spread over two volumes of 2 x 12"s, and there is also a 13-track digital version, taking you on a journey through music forged from raw breakbeats and basslines that soundtracked a culture of all-night raves, specialist record shops and pirate radio stations.

Jungle/drum & bass is approaching its 30th anniversary. Its sonic and cultural legacy is still being felt today. There’s still plenty of old music that might be “new” to some, and these tunes still pack as much of a punch as they did back in the day. That unique energy generated by a combination of breakbeats, bass and creativity never gets old.

Produced in conjunction with Above Board distribution. All tracks mastered from original sources and fully licensed. Mastering by Beau Thomas @ Ten Eight Seven Mastering. Liner notes from Who Say Reload author Paul Terzulli. Photography by Eddie Otchere. Artwork and design by Protean Productions.

"Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the bassbins, Mysticisms brings the latest in its Dubplate series. After the success of his first digital dubb excursions on the version, Persian returns with a second 10” of reggae inspired electronics, covering Bass, Breaks, Digidub and now also, Jungle.

Taking no prisoners with the massive opener Survival Dub, Persian marries classic breakbeats and toasting to bouncing, dance floor effect. THE party starter. This is followed by Smoke Mari, a looping steppas of FX and breaks to lay down the Dubplate clash.

As ever the link between rave, breaks and sound system culture is explored, this time with the Roots’n’Lovers opening of There Is No Love giving way to a Junglist drop, before risin’ to a beautiful soul sermon.

Finally, taking it all down, tings wrap with the deep, sampledelic dub of Zatoichi’s Troubles. With a bass to destroy many a speaker, it’s lanquidity morphs from the EP’s hedonism of sound clash styles to a gliding “tokers delight”.

Smoke the Mystery. "

Punk pioneers Crass continue their vinyl reissue series, re-pressing their limited releases by adjacent artists through Crass Records, in association with One Little Independent. The series, including over twenty bands and solo artists recorded at the legendary Southern Studios and produced by Penny Rimbaud, continues with two more historic pieces from the Crass Records catalogue; The "Grey" EP by North London post-punks Lack of Knowledge, and "Beware" by US anarchists Sleeping Dogs. Sleeping Dogs were one of only two American bands to release on Crass Records and in 1982 their sardonic and sludgy, but politically sharp, hardcore made up the "Beware" EP. They were first formed under the moniker Arsenal by the late artist, and designer of the iconic Crass logo, David King. "Beware" showed the originality and potential of Sleeping Dogs, even as Rimbaud and Crass guitarist Phil Free augmented the band"s sound for the studio session. The front cover of the single featured its own striking image, courtesy of King. Sleeping Dogs disbanded shortly after, re-emerging briefly under the new guise of Brain Rust a few years later. Distorted, biting, and beat-driven, the collection is a well-researched and poignant expose of Western imperialism. First released on 7" vinyl, limiting the sound, the new series has been remastered for 12" by Alex Gordon at Abbey Road Studios, allowing them to be heard as never before. This, plus enlarged replicas of the original covers, brings new gusto to their already radical sound. Penny Rimbaud notes that "Our (Crass") interest was never in personalities, profits or power, and neither did we have time for reformist liberals. Our position was solidly revolutionary; we took no prisoners. Talking the talk was never enough for us, no, we demanded that we also walk the walk. Ours wasn"t a show, it was a battle, not a living, but a lifestyle, a lifestyle with a difference - rather than looking only to ourselves, we sought to share our gains. I feel that this willingness added great strength to the form of anarchism that we practiced both on stage and out on the street."

Finnegan's Hell has spawned a new subgenre within Celtic punk and folk rock by adding influences from hard rock, hillbilly country and Swedish folk. What the press has labeled "The New Wave Of Swedish Celtic Punk", takes no prisoners. With the focus on great melodies and sing-alongs, "One Finger Salute" is an album which will stand the test of time.

PRESS QUOTES ABOUT THE BAND:

"This is so good that I'd say it is superior to the latest offerings by the flagship bands of the sub-genre (looking at you Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys)" - The Mighty Decibel

"These Swedes have a solid grasp of the Celtic punk idiom and are able to use stomping folk melodies and traditional instrumentation to reveal, and revel in, the gnarlier side of life." - Vive Le Rock

"They may not be as well-known as the Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, Blood Or Whiskey, or The Mahones, but they are gaining quite a reputation on the European scene. Listening to the band's last album, "Work Is The Curse Of The Drinking Class", it's easy to see why."
- IPA Music

"They're hard to describe, but just imagine a blend of Metallica and The Kilfenora Ceilí Band and you'd be about right." - The Irish Times

2015 DEBUT ALBUM FROM O R K AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON
VINYL
"An electric storm that takes no prisoners but could seduce an army"
Prog"Impressive debut" Drummer
"Expertly done" Rock a Rolla
A band comprising some of contemporary music's most revered creators, O.R.K.
released their debut album 'Inflamed Rides' in 2015. The band are: accomplished
singer & composer LEF (lead vocals), Pat Mastelotto (drums, King Crimson), Colin
Edwin (bass, ex-Porcupine Tree) & Carmelo Pipitone (guitars, Marta Sui Tubi).
'Inflamed Rides' is an intriguing collaborative debut release which defies easy
categorisation. A primordial & energetic fusion of playful acoustic psychedelia,
precise math rock & intense ambient electronica, the album delivers a
soundscape rich with controlled chaos, much praised on release.
This new Kscope edition has been remastered in 2022 by Francesco Guadalupi.
Available for the first time ever on vinyl, pressed on a stunning blue edition.

For fans of - Booker T & The MGs, James Taylor Quartet, Georgie Fame, Big Boss Man. Groovy Hammond garage rock instrumentals from Billy Childish (Thee Headcoats/CTMF etc) and featuring James Taylor (Prisoners/JTQ) We’re loving this new album by The Guy Hamper Trio! Who’s in the band sunshine? Mainly myself on guitar, Julie on bass, Wolf on drums, and of course Jamie on Hammond. A great bonus is Thee Headcoats with Bruce and Tub guest as rhythm section on a track or two. You and James Taylor go back a long way. Do you remember how you first met? The Prisoners were a young group who played with us (the Milkshakes) in the early 1980s. One day they turned up with an organ player, Jamie. Jamie used to then borrow my Selmer guitar amp to play through. You’ve revisited a few old classics on this album, and given them a true makeover. How would you describe The Guy Hamper Trio’s sound? I guess there must be a derogatory term for it but I might need some help finding it. In the very early days of The James Taylor Quartet (Wolf was their drummer back then), I was in the Natural Born Lovers (A blues group with Big Russ and Sexton Ming). We used to be the support for them. I really liked their sound and I guess The Guy Hamper Trio is not a million miles from that blues-influenced, film soundtrack vibe, man. There you made me say “man”. Next thing you know I will be saying “cool!” Let’s just say it's a wizard sound, Jamie is such a great player. Prior to this album The Guy Hamper Trio’s sole release was the ‘Polygraph Test’ 7” from 2009. Why such a big gap? It takes time for all of us to get all our solders in line. “Get on with it mush! And trifle not, your time is but short!” What inspired the album’s title track All The Poisons In the Mud? It’s actually the title of a novel I’ve been writing, and rewriting, over the past 12 years, and is taken from a quote from I Claudius by Robert Graves - a formative influence on me as a 15 year old. The sleeve art is pretty different to your other recent records, could you tell us a about that? Who designed it? I nominally designed it but the truth is that it's essentially a rip off of a Saul Bass sleeve he did for Duke Ellington. We started mining that seam back in the Milkshakes when Bruce (Brand) did the sleeve for Thee Knights of Trashe. The album closes with a storming cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Fire”. What do you think Jimi would make of your version? I've been a fan of Jimi since my elder brother brought his records home in the '60s. Jimi was well known to “dig” others work and interpretations and would no doubt smile, narrow his smoky eyes and say “cool man!” and I would no doubt reply "wizard Jimi!" TRACKLISTING 1. All The Poisons in the Mud 2. Come Into My Life 3. Moon of the Popping Trees 4. Girl From '62 5. Full Eclipse of the Sun 6. Sally Sensation 7. 7% Solution 8. Step Out 9. Polygraph Test 10. The Kids are all Square 11. Skinwalker 12. Fire

Idiology was originally released in 2001 and is now finally back on vinyl. This re-issue is pressed on white color vinyl and presented in a die cut jacket with artworked inner sleeve and free download card. From their beginnings in 1992, Cologne native Jan St. Werner and Dusseldorfer Andi Toma have consistently challenged electronic music"s paradigm in often surprising and always intriguing ways. Idiology is the duo"s seventh album and is no exception to this rule, as Mouse on Mars surround themselves with strings, woodwinds, brass and the band"s own heavily modified fleet of machines in the St. Martin"s Tonstudio. Fans should once again brace themselves for the inevitable shock of the new as Germany"s most irreverent audio renegades have created the perfect soundtrack for a highly sinister dance party. Kicking off with "Actionist Respoke", the album"s first single, Mouse on Mars officially declare their independence from glitchtronica"s shoegazing legions. Longtime collaborator Dodo Nkishi lends a uniquely warped vocal sensibility to the track which already features Mouse on Mars"s darkest grooves to date. The rest of the album continues to thicken the group"s sonic stew. Tracks such as "Presence" and "Catching Butterflies With Hands" have their populist intentions undermined by Werner and Toma"s meddling hands, while the duo reprise their flirtation with the orchestral as heard on the opening tracks from 2000"s Niun Niggung. At the other end of the spectrum, "Introduce" is a truly evil slice of twisted lympho-zoid hip-hop. Idiology takes no prisoners in its dual-pronged assault on the conventions of modern music. Only with the loungy closing number, "Fantastic Analysis" (a term Werner and Toma invented to describe their working process), do Mouse on Mars let the arrangements breathe a long sigh of relief, the calm after the storm. To enable these stylistic achievements Mouse on Mars enlist the help of partners in crime such as: Nkishi, the multi-talented Harald "Sack" Ziegler, house icon Matthew Herbert on piano, violinist Matty Arouse, in addition to fellow programming wizards Adam "Vert" Butler and F.X. Randomiz. The latter two toured with Mouse on Mars in 2000 as they successfully triumphed over audiences around the globe.

This is the 3rd pressing of the standard black vinyl.

This next chapter of Timmion's talent scouting in the US will land home with the Purple Heart of Soul, and turn even the coldest of us to the love side. No prisoners taken. It's time for Jonny Benavidez to lay his falsetto over the ever smooth backing of Cold Diamond & Mink. With the sweet as candy mid-pacer "Tell Me That You Love Me" he should go the whole mile.

Those, who have an insatiable thirst for crossover soul sounds by groups such as The Commands and TSU Toronadoes, should snatch up this piece of wax without haste. Texas made and California raised, Jonny has polished his teeth for years in doo wop groups and sung backing harmonies for big names such as Archie Bell and Eugene Pitt from The Jive Five. Currently residing in Austin, Texas he's forming and coating even more sweet tracks for Timmion.

It might not break the charts, but for some with the proper ear for beauty, this will undoubtedly be the new soul record of the year. Have a listen, if you are one of those privileged people.

After two UK #1 albums, 2 million album sales and an array of international acclaim, you might’ve thought you knew what to expect from Royal Blood. Those preconceptions were shattered when they released ‘Trouble’s Coming’ last summer. Hitting a melting pot of fiery rock riffs and danceable beats, they delivered something fresh, unexpected and yet entirely in tune with what they’d forged their reputation with.
The reaction was phenomenal, with highlights including 20 million streams, a premiere as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record and a run on Radio 1’s A-list and earned alternative radio support and media attention across the globe. In short, Royal Blood are primed to be bigger than ever before. That feat is set to be realised when they release their eagerly anticipated third album ‘Typhoons’ on April 30th via Warner Records.
When Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher sat down to talk about making a new album, they knew what they wanted to achieve. It involved a conscious return to their roots, back when they had made music that was influenced by Daft Punk, Justice, and Philippe Zdar of Cassius. It also called for a similar back-to-basics approach to what had made their self-titled debut album so thrilling, visceral and original.
“We sort of stumbled on this sound, and it was immediately fun to play,” recalls Kerr. “That’s what sparked the creativity on the new album, the chasing of that feeling. It’s weird, though - if you think back to ‘Figure it Out’, it kind of contains the embryo of this album. We realised that we didn’t have to completely destroy what we’d created so far; we just had to shift it, change it. On paper, it’s a small reinvention. But when you hear it, it sounds so fresh.”

Those traits pulsate throughout the new single and title track. Kerr’s spiralling bass riff casts an hypnotic allure as it grows in intensity, while his vocals switch at will between a raw rock roar and a soulful falsetto. It’s underpinned by Thatcher’s thundering beats, his taut rhythms infused with groove-laden hi-hats.



After setting the tone with ‘Trouble’s Coming’, the album opens in breathless, take-no-prisoners style with the fierce metallic grooves of ‘Who Needs Friends’ hitting an early visceral peak. Royal Blood further reference their fresh array of influences by deploying vocodered vocals on ‘Million & One’ before dynamically switching between the biggest contrasts of their sound with ‘Limbo’. Already a fan favourite having been a regular during the duo’s 2019 shows, ‘Boilermaker’ lives up to its reputation and is more than matched by ‘Mad Visions’, which evokes a hyper-aggressive Prince. It ends with a final surprise in the shape of the stark piano ballad ‘All We Have Is Now’, a vulnerable and revealing reminder to live in the moment.

That song’s unguarded sentiments gives the album a redemptive finale. Whether directly or allusively, the album focuses on exploring the flipside of success that they’ve experienced. It comes from the realisation that success is much more complicated than it seems and that having the time to regain perspective is a precious commodity which becomes ever more elusive. The situation called for reflection and change, which Kerr addressed in Las Vegas. He downed an espresso martini and declared it to be his last drink, and soon discovered that his new-found sobriety would have a positive impact upon his creativity and life as a whole.

That new approach manifested itself in the duo’s decision to produce the majority of ‘Typhoons’ themselves. ‘Boilermaker’ was produced by Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme, the two bands having first connected when Royal Blood supported them on a huge North American tour. Meanwhile, the multiple Grammy Award winner Paul Epworth produced ‘Who Needs Friends’ and contributed additional production to ‘Trouble’s Coming’.