Buscar:re test records

We are ecstatic to announce that Sparkz’s debut High Focus EP ‘Overload’ is now available for pre-order!

As a long time player in the UK Scene with the likes of The Mouse Outfit, Voodoo Black, and LEVELZ - We’re sure that most of you will be familiar with Sparkz by now.

Coming in strong with his second single ‘Mean It’, Sparkz brings the heat with an unforgettable party banger that is guaranteed to liven up even the dreariest of functions. Fully self-produced, written, and recorded by the man himself, ‘Overload’ is a testament to the years in which Sparkz spent honing his multi-disciplinary skillset.

Due for release on the 24th March, ‘Overload’ will be landing just in time to welcome in the change of the seasons, because we can assure you that these tracks have already secured themselves a place on our summer playlists!

‘Overload’ is available to pre-order now on a limited run of 250 black vinyl, as well as available to purchase digitally from the HF shop, and across all digital platforms.

Hi Scores is beyond excited to present SSR Records: In Retrospect. This 2LP compilation album presented in a beautiful gatefold sleeve and through all digital platforms, wishes to highlight the immense and hard to grasp legacy of the Brussels based label. SSR Records was founded in 1988 by Marc Hollander as a sub label of his Crammed Discs and spanned the nascent years of house, acid, rave, trance, new beat, hip-hop, future jazz and broken beat, collaborating internationally and racking up close to 200 releases until it was put to sleep in 2002. Far ahead of their time, SSR Records released music of both European and North American artists that hadn’t broken through yet, such as those collected on this compilation: Move D, Nu Era, Gemini, Bjørn Torske, Glenn Underground or Matthew Herbert.

SSR Records was run by Crammed Discs chief Marc Hollander and Minimal Compact singer Samy Birnbach aka DJ Morpheus. SSR Records: In Retrospect comes with extended liner notes, exploring the pivotal milestones in the history of the adventurous label and zooming in on the origins of all records featured on the compilation.

All nine tracks on SSR Records: In Retrospect were selected by Hi Scores’s head honcho Kong DJ and have been remastered. Created between 1990 and 1996 and in the at the time pioneering spheres of house, breakbeat, electro and trance music, these treasures from the vast SSR catalog today stand as a stunning testimony to a truly remarkable and timeless musical legacy. Kong DJ: ‘While collaborating with Crammed Discs on the releases of Aksak Maboul in 2016 and Zazou / Bikaye in 2018 on Ensemble, I began to grasp the impressive catalog of the label and its sub labels, including SSR. Surprised by the tiny footprint SSR had left on the world wide web - often the case for labels ceased before the internet revolution - I wrote an article for British website The Vinyl Factory.

This would later prove to be the first step towards this compilation album, collecting favorites from the label as a kid in a giant candy store.’

In 2016, After Reissuing Two Bruce Haack Albums, Haackula And Electric Lucifer Book Ii, Telephone Explosion Began Speaking With Ted Pandel (bruce's Lifelong Friend And Business Partner) About Working On The 1970 Masterpiece The Electric Lucifer. It Turned Out There Was Another Matter That He Wanted To Discuss: Finding A Final Resting Place For The Bruce Haack Archive.

We Were Shown Test-pressings Of The Electric Lucifer Board Mixes From His Columbia Studio Sessions, Countless Pieces Of Written Music, A Large Number Of Personal Photos, An Invitation From Raymond Scott Inviting Bruce To Play His Newly Created Electronium
Instrument (now Owned By Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh), Poems, Press Clippings, And, Most Importantly, A Heavyduty Shelf Containing 213 Reel-to-reel Tapes. All Of The Chosen Material On The Preservation Tapes Is Unreleased, Has Only Been Heard By A Handful Of People And Showcases A Relatively Unknown Period In Bruce's
Musical Career Where Bruce Was Recording For Sparrow Records (who Billed Themselves As "america's Best Christian Music Record Label'). Bruce's Signature Farad Vocoder Continues To Feature Prominently, But The Lyrical Content Is Decidedly More Religious.
The Bruce Haack Archive Is Now Resting In The Provincial Archives Of Alberta, In Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada.

Orpheu the Wizard has a magic touch at finding records that fall between the gaps in music - oddities, curios, the weird, the wonderful. But that's just half the trick. It takes a sensitive and selective ear to construct a coherent, accessible narrative from them. So you get DJs who can play for the crowd and "selectors" adept at mining the black gold. In Orpheu, you've got yourself someone who can do both. On a festival main stage, he can keep it weird enough for the heads. In an audiophile setting, he'll keep the flow.

These skill sets come into play on the fifth The Sound of Love International compilation. Jumping between genres, decades, continents, the truly rare, and many B-side cuts that passed you by. But never eclecticism for its own sake; this collection makes sense. Orpheu never loses sight of the listener - he's a friendly and knowledgeable guide to the cosmic outer reaches.

He opens his account with the warm, psychedelic electronics of Drawing Future Life, with ‘1969’. Tucked away on the B-side of an LP of ambient/trance hailing from Fukuoka, this is a very pretty piece of music on a truly rare piece of wax. Then, leapfrogging a couple of decades and timezones, we have Rutuu Poiss' "IHATSIN." Off-kilter, experimental sounds with an endearing melodic hook, followed up by the with lethargic ambient breakbeat of Digital Distortion's "Mellow Bug".

On the B-side, things start to get lively. French Audacity featuring Valerie's "That Fine One" is Gallic garage that has simultaneously got it hugely wrong and mas­sively right. Owing as much to new wave as New York house, this is propulsive and quirky dance music at its finest. Next, we're on a ferry over the channel for DJ Spike and "Gaps In Space." Up-tempo electro with a fondness for sampled vocal cut-ups, like its predecessor.

lnterdance's "Kurz" (another B-side) is the perfect segway - house from 1990 with that sweet, slightly goofy naivete. Things move toward the gnarly with Bad Behaviour and "Living on Smoke," a lesser-known cut on the legendary Atmosphere records. The tempo edges upward on "Systematic Input" by Frequency, hectic hardcore techno that still retains a lightness of touch.

"Lushes" by Diffusion spins us off into space, filigree techno with an emotive trance edge. The chiming intro of "Blue to Be Happy" by MFA lulls us into a sense of false security before massively putting the boot in with a pounding kick drum, bassline, and arpeggiation. From there, it's a sharp left turn into the urban psychedelic dub of R.I.P's "E.O Pan" on cult label Digi Dub.

Sticking with UK sound system music but taking it down a notch, Orpheu closes proceedings with a leftfield reggae excursion from the master of the mixing desk, Mad Professor’s"Oh Hell".

It's a compilation as varied as the many moods and grooves of Love International itself - from sun-dappled olive groves to moments deep in the strobes. This is serious music for party freaks or party music for serious freaks. Tisno is calling.

Black Duck captures a band already deeply in tune with one another. The three-piece super-group consists of Douglas McCombs, Charles Rumback, and Bill MacKay each has a distinct musical voice that is instantly recognizable, yet blends seamlessly with one another-their time performing together, playing to the moment and reading each other and the spaces they"re in formed a fluency between the trio which allows them to follow each other down winding paths and short tangents alike. McCombs is a founding member of Tortoise, Pullman, and Brokeback and the long-standing bassist for Eleventh Dream Day, an artist whose contribution to the music world can not be overstated. MacKay began releasing records in the early 2000s. He has released several acclaimed solo albums with Drag City as well as a duo album each with Nathan Bowles (Banjo, Black Twig Pickers), and Katinka Kleijn (Cello, Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO)), and two beloved records with Ryley Walker. Rumback burst onto the fertile Chicago improvised music scene in the early 2000"s. His fluid technique and expressive playing garnered him much attention. In addition to his solo releases, Rumback has recorded with Ryley Walker, jazz greats such as Jim Baker, James Singleton, and Greg Ward. Black Duck"s debut is a testament to that fluency, an expedition led by three veterans into alluring worlds bathed in myriad splendors. Black Duck is a gallery of sonic tapestries, unbound by any genre constraints. Black Duck redefines what two guitarists and a drummer can do, pieces move from breezy shuffles to stormy blues rumbles to gorgeous textural drones. Playing entirely improvised live sets for years helped develop the trio"s acute senses for one another, knowing precisely how to listen to the others and bolster whatever direction they move in. In the short time the trio have played together, they have performed at Big Ears Festival and alongside acts like Yo La Tengo.

Sungate's new V.A. record, "Killer Loops", is a testament to the musical talent of Volpe, Johannes Volk, Deano and Taupe, delivering four captivating, dubbed-out and grooving tracks.

„Since I Have A Lover” erscheint auf Vinyl!

Der R&B-Sänger 6LACK aus Atlanta ist bekannt für sein ehrliches Storytelling, einen kühlen Gesang sowie seine minimalistischen Beats, auf denen er persönliche Herzensangelegenheiten behandelt und verarbeitet.
Seine beiden Alben „Free 6lack‘‘ und „East Atlanta Love Letter‘‘ erreichten beide sowohl Gold- als auch Platinstatus. Er kollaborierte unter anderem mit Künstlern wie Jessie Reyez, Zoe Wees, Khalid, J. Cole, Future oder Lil Baby. Neben seines Gesangstalents ist der Künstler auch für seine Rapkünste bekannt und wird mit seinen unterschiedlichen musikalischen Einflüssen aus R&B, Rap und Art-House-Soul von pitchfork als eine der wenigen Künstler beschrieben, die ein „Verständnis für die kommerziellen Winde des Genres
beweisen‘‘. Nachdem er sich in den letzten 4 Jahren weitestgehend aus der Öffentlichkeit zurückgezogen hat, veröffentlichte er am 24.03. sein Album „Since I Have A Lover“. Auf diesem Projekt befasst sich 6lack mit Themen wie Liebe und persönlichem Wachstum. Es ist eine Antwort auf die toxischen Erzählungen, die in letzter Zeit in der Musik und Kultur zentrales Thema waren. Das Album wird ab dem 23.06 dann auch auf Vinyl erhältlich sein.

Introducing the 5th release from Tokyo's experimental dub label newdubhall.
Following the impressive works of Babe Roots and DeadBeat, this time they bring you Element, a producer hailing from Kyoto.

Building on Element's previous successes, such as 2021's 12inch "Freedom" (Riddim Chango) featuring captivating vocals of Nazamba, and 2022's "Andromeda EP" (Bokeh Versions / Riddim Chango) which showcased the collaboration with Duppy Gun, he continues to push boundaries.

On Side A, titled "Particular Angle," Element presents a mesmerizing blend of new roots, grime, and dub techno, intricately woven together to create a weighty dub soundscape. This side is a testament to Element's mastery, as they effortlessly navigate these diverse genres and deliver a powerful sonic experience.

Flip the record to Side B, aptly named "Blurring Off Into Its Opposite," and the listeners will be transported into an experimental ambient journey. Here, Element skillfully intersects noise and bass, drawing inspiration from Gil Melle's iconic 1971 soundtrack for "The Andromeda Strain." The result is an atmospheric soundscape that captivates the imagination and pushes the boundaries of ambient
music.

Both sides of this release truly embody Element's distinctive and original style, showcasing their unparalleled creativity and artistic vision. Prepare to be immersed in the enigmatic world of newdubhall as Element's unique soundscapes unfold.

Discover the profound and captivating universe of newdubhall with this exceptional release.

Die Detroiter Post-Punk-Band Protomartyr kündigt heute ihr neues Album "Formal Growth In The Desert" für den 2. Juni bei Domino an und präsentiert die erste Single 'Make Way'.

Protomartyr, bestehend aus dem Sänger Joe Casey, dem Gitarristen Greg Ahee, dem Schlagzeuger Alex Leonard und dem Bassisten Scott Davidson, sind zu einem Synonym für bissige, impressionistische Assemblagen aus Politik und Poesie, Wahrem und Schrägem geworden.

Casey beschreibt das zugrundeliegende Thema von "Formal Growth In The Desert" als ein 12-Song-Testament über das "Weitermachen mit dem Leben", selbst wenn es sich unmöglich hart anfühlt. Die stimmungsvolle Lead-Single/Video "Make Way" ist gleichzeitig der Eröffnungstrack von "Formal Growth In The Desert", in dem sich Casey zu Beginn des Albums direkt mit der Tragödie auseinandersetzt: “Welcome to the haunted earth // The living after life // Where we chose to forget // the years of the Hungry Knife.”

Das begleitende Video, bei dem Trevor Naud Regie führte, ist eine beeindruckende filmische Meisterleistung. Über das Video sagt Naud: "Es gibt eine bewusste Verbindungslinie zwischen den Videos zu "Make Way" und 2020's "Worm In Heaven". Die beiden Songs fühlen sich zusammengehörig an. Deshalb wollte ich, dass die Videos sich so anfühlen, als würden sie in der gleichen Welt existieren. Es gibt verschiedene Ebenen von Experimenten, die alle in einer geschlossenen Umgebung stattfinden. Wir wissen nicht, was mit der Welt da draußen passiert ist, aber es gibt einen Unterton, dass irgendwas nicht stimmt."

Am 9. Juni 2023 wird Capitane Records Adam Greens "Friends of Mine" anlässlich des 20-jährigen Jubiläums des Albums neu auflegen. Für Fans von Green und seiner Band The Moldy Peaches mag es schwer zu glauben sein, dass es schon zwanzig Jahre her ist, dass in den frühen 2000er Jahren eine neue Generation von Künstlern, Interpreten und Songwritern die Indie-Rock-Welt in Flammen setzte. Innerhalb von gefühlt nur wenigen Monaten versorgten Bands wie The Strokes, The White Stripes, The Libertines und The Moldy Peaches das Indie-Publikum mit neuen Versionen und Interpretationen des Rock'n'Roll-Kanons, Mit Einflüssen, die sowohl Standards wie The Velvet Underground, Television, The Stones, The Doors, The Stooges, Leonard Cohen, The Modern Lovers und Bob Dylan als auch neuere Künstler wie Beck, Daniel Johnston, Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Will Oldham, Pavement und The Silver Jews umfassten. Die Ergebnisse variierten zwischen geradlinigem Rock'n'Roll und Punk mit einem vom Folk inspirierten Songwriting-Bewusstsein. Vorbei waren die zerrissenen Jeans und Flanellhemden von einst. Enge Hosen und Lederjacken regierten den Tag...und die Nacht. Nach erstem Solo-Album und dem Erfolg seiner Band The Moldy Peaches (die 2001 zusammen mit The Strokes bei Rough Trade Records unterschrieben und anschließend mit ihnen auf Tournee gingen) schrieb und nahm Adam Green Friends of Mine auf, das bahnbrechende Album, das eine neue Richtung in seiner Karriere einschlagen sollte. In Abkehr von den selbst aufgenommenen 8-Spur-Analogaufnahmen seiner früheren Alben wandte sich Green einem Sound zu, der zu dieser Zeit eindeutig als Hi-Fidelity-Sound bezeichnet werden konnte, komplett mit Band und einer Streichergruppe (mit Arrangements von Jane Scarpantoni). Friends of Mine orientierte sich an den Werken von Serge Gainsbourg, Scott Walker und Frank Sinatra, während der lyrische Inhalt wie von der symbolistischen Poesie und dem Surrealismus von Brecht und Dylan abgeleitet schien. Das Ergebnis war etwas völlig Neues, eine Platte, die sowohl rührend traurig als auch sardonisch, satirisch, lässig und sogar laut lachend komisch sein konnte. Songs wie "Jessica" oder das Titelstück wurden zu Hymnen für eine neue Generation junger Indie-Rock-Fans in Europa, in Deutschland wurde Adam Green besonders gefeiert, von Indiekids, der Musikkritik, im Feuilleton und auch fast sogar in der Klatschpresse. Capitane ist stolz darauf, Friends of Mine nun als Doppel-LP bzw. 2CD und limitiert erstmals als farbige Einzel-LP wieder zu veröffentlichen. Die Deluxe-Edition enthält auf einer zweiten Disc Outtakes, B-Seiten und Live-Versionen und Linernotes zu den Songs von Green, die neue Einblicke in seine oft kryptische lyrische Methodik sowie Anekdoten aus der Entstehungszeit der Songs bieten. Ebenfalls gibt es Auszüge aus einem Gespräch zwischen Green und Dan Myers (Produzent), Steven Mertens (Bassist), Matt Ramono (Schlagzeuger) und Larissa Brown (Zeit). Die fünf alten Freunde tauchen tief in die Produktion von Friends of Mine ein und tauschen Geschichten über die vergangene Zeit aus. Die 2023er-Ausgabe von Friends of Mine ist ein Fenster zu einem wesentlichen Teil unserer jüngsten Vergangenheit und ein Zeugnis für einen Künstler, der den Test der Zeit bestanden hat. Adam Green ist immer noch dabei - genau so sleazy, weird & funny wie vor 20 Jahren!



Doppel-LP, zweite Platte mit B-Seiten, Demos, Outtakes und Liveversionen, klassisch schwarzes Vinyl im Klappcover, bedruckte Innenhüllen mit neuen Linernotes plus 4-seitigem Insert mit Interview! Definitiv Deluxe!

Am 9. Juni 2023 wird Capitane Records Adam Greens "Friends of Mine" anlässlich des 20-jährigen Jubiläums des Albums neu auflegen. Für Fans von Green und seiner Band The Moldy Peaches mag es schwer zu glauben sein, dass es schon zwanzig Jahre her ist, dass in den frühen 2000er Jahren eine neue Generation von Künstlern, Interpreten und Songwritern die Indie-Rock-Welt in Flammen setzte. Innerhalb von gefühlt nur wenigen Monaten versorgten Bands wie The Strokes, The White Stripes, The Libertines und The Moldy Peaches das Indie-Publikum mit neuen Versionen und Interpretationen des Rock'n'Roll-Kanons, Mit Einflüssen, die sowohl Standards wie The Velvet Underground, Television, The Stones, The Doors, The Stooges, Leonard Cohen, The Modern Lovers und Bob Dylan als auch neuere Künstler wie Beck, Daniel Johnston, Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Will Oldham, Pavement und The Silver Jews umfassten. Die Ergebnisse variierten zwischen geradlinigem Rock'n'Roll und Punk mit einem vom Folk inspirierten Songwriting-Bewusstsein. Vorbei waren die zerrissenen Jeans und Flanellhemden von einst. Enge Hosen und Lederjacken regierten den Tag...und die Nacht. Nach erstem Solo-Album und dem Erfolg seiner Band The Moldy Peaches (die 2001 zusammen mit The Strokes bei Rough Trade Records unterschrieben und anschließend mit ihnen auf Tournee gingen) schrieb und nahm Adam Green Friends of Mine auf, das bahnbrechende Album, das eine neue Richtung in seiner Karriere einschlagen sollte. In Abkehr von den selbst aufgenommenen 8-Spur-Analogaufnahmen seiner früheren Alben wandte sich Green einem Sound zu, der zu dieser Zeit eindeutig als Hi-Fidelity-Sound bezeichnet werden konnte, komplett mit Band und einer Streichergruppe (mit Arrangements von Jane Scarpantoni). Friends of Mine orientierte sich an den Werken von Serge Gainsbourg, Scott Walker und Frank Sinatra, während der lyrische Inhalt wie von der symbolistischen Poesie und dem Surrealismus von Brecht und Dylan abgeleitet schien. Das Ergebnis war etwas völlig Neues, eine Platte, die sowohl rührend traurig als auch sardonisch, satirisch, lässig und sogar laut lachend komisch sein konnte. Songs wie "Jessica" oder das Titelstück wurden zu Hymnen für eine neue Generation junger Indie-Rock-Fans in Europa, in Deutschland wurde Adam Green besonders gefeiert, von Indiekids, der Musikkritik, im Feuilleton und auch fast sogar in der Klatschpresse. Capitane ist stolz darauf, Friends of Mine nun als Doppel-LP bzw. 2CD und limitiert erstmals als farbige Einzel-LP wieder zu veröffentlichen. Die Deluxe-Edition enthält auf einer zweiten Disc Outtakes, B-Seiten und Live-Versionen und Linernotes zu den Songs von Green, die neue Einblicke in seine oft kryptische lyrische Methodik sowie Anekdoten aus der Entstehungszeit der Songs bieten. Ebenfalls gibt es Auszüge aus einem Gespräch zwischen Green und Dan Myers (Produzent), Steven Mertens (Bassist), Matt Ramono (Schlagzeuger) und Larissa Brown (Zeit). Die fünf alten Freunde tauchen tief in die Produktion von Friends of Mine ein und tauschen Geschichten über die vergangene Zeit aus. Die 2023er-Ausgabe von Friends of Mine ist ein Fenster zu einem wesentlichen Teil unserer jüngsten Vergangenheit und ein Zeugnis für einen Künstler, der den Test der Zeit bestanden hat. Adam Green ist immer noch dabei - genau so sleazy, weird & funny wie vor 20 Jahren!



Doppel-LP, zweite Platte mit B-Seiten, Demos, Outtakes und Liveversionen, klassisch schwarzes Vinyl im Klappcover, bedruckte Innenhüllen mit neuen Linernotes plus 4-seitigem Insert mit Interview! Definitiv Deluxe!

Warmongers run the newspapers, the daily podcasts, the social media feeds. Capital creates and harvests our despair. Cultural heroes are as money-mad as bankers, standing on corpses, wearing diamonds. The songs of this age are hopeless. In this world of lies, Spider Bite celebrate truth: raw, ragged, and full of brave energy, bravely dreaming of possible futures in the immediate and active now, in this exact and ever active present: after the flood, in the ruins of love.

Spider Bite is the sound of Daniel Romano (The Outfit, Ancient Shapes, Attack In Black), Ian Romano (Daniel Romano’s Outfit, Career Suicide) and Steven Lambke (Constantines) returning to their roots in the thriving pit of DIY punk with a perspective, skill, and energy that can only be gained from long experience in music, art, and stubborn cultural creation. Spider Bite began in the depths of the first COVID-19 lockdown, a world poised between protests and rebellions, when a fearful silence held its breath, twitching the curtains, and strange imaginations ran unleashed through dark streets. Long-time collaborators Daniel Romano and Steven Lambke, who together established the artist run record label You’ve Changed Records in 2009, and monster drummer Ian Romano chose this moment to indulge their shared love of energetic street punk, releasing the self-titled debut as a Bandcamp-only release in May 2020. The album was enthusiastically embraced and even cracked the best of lists on some of the more adventurous independent music blogs.

But still. Time passes. More wars. More storms. More ruin caused by greed. Spider Bite reconvened in the spring of 2022, recording The Rainbow and The Dove, an album that assembles the wisdom teachings of punk elders into a passionate rejection of settler-colonialism, environmental racism, and the general exploitation of the world by monarchs and resource extraction companies. Every moment is historical. Spider Bite celebrate a continuity of protest and refusal, and the communal joy of loud energy. Animated by a surprising humor and immense instrumental power, Spider Bite create a vibrant portrait of living in violent times.

The Complex Inbetween is a mesmerising journey inspired by the spirit of krautrock early electronic music and experimental rock. JeGong return with their second full- length album which sees them continue their musical journey inspired by the spirit of krautrock, early electronic music and experimental rock. With The Complex Inbetween Dahm Majuri Cipolla (MONO, Watter) and Reto Ma"der (Sum Of R, Ural Umbo) put a dazzling spin on the timeless music of genre innovators like Can, Faust and Neu!, incorporating noisier and more abrasive elements to create a mental odyssey into the uncanny. Born from the collision of the most unreal moments of Ma"der's free-flowing musical associations with Cipolla's stick-wielding hands, these eight compositions form the duo's own mythical realm after the rhythm has been set. As the cradle of electronic music, krautrock is often viewed by outsiders in terms of the mechanical rather than the human, yet Ma"der and Cipolla manage to uncover a human side that has always been present in the music of their forebears. That driving beat which powers album opener «Come To The Center» was never meant to be called `Motorik', as explains its inventor Klaus Dinger of Neu! in one interview. "It is very much a human beat. I like to call it the endless straight. It's a feeling like a picture." With Cipolla behind the kit the machine becomes human, testifying to the power that rhythm can hold over us as a deeply communal obsession. Like their debut, The Complex Inbetween shows the profound knowledge these two musicians have of their source of inspiration as well as their tremendous skill in applying its principles. With the piece «Night Screaming Moves» JeGong expands their sound with atmospheric drone rock elements. A feedback laden guitar motif surrounds the oscillations of mellotron sounds, behind it pounds a slow motion drum beat that is reminiscent of dragging, shuffling footsteps in the dark of night. Evoking feelings of trench coat wearing film-noir or the cloying darkness of cult 70s horror flicks, «Night Screaming Moves» shows that not only are the duo of Ma"der and Cipolla experienced musicians, but cinephiles and soundtrack lovers with a strong sense for moods and emotions. RIYL Neu!, Cluster, Tangerine Dream, Swans, Mogwai, Sonic Youth, John Zorn Ltd Coloured Vinyl!

Various Artists - A Giant Has Nowhere To Go: Tongue Master Records Presents Selections From Comes With A Smile (2000-2006) LP + 7' + 4 page booklet insert describing the legacy of the magazine, 500 only pressed. A vinyl only release. "A Giant Has Nowhere To Go: Tongue Master Records Presents Selections From Comes With A Smile (2000-2006)" is a celebratory vinyl-only release drawn from the magazine's sixteen cover-mounted compilation CDs. Across some 300 tracks, the magazine presented previously unheard tracks from its eclectic array of interviewees drawn from the worlds of the Singer Songwriter, Americana, Post-Rock, Electronica, and all things Indie. Comes With A Smile's designer/editor Matt Dornan's association with Tongue Master Records began with the first TM 7" and has continued to the present day. In some ways the association has come full circle with this curated release. The selections on this album represent the place where the worlds of Tongue Master and CWAS converge. Most remain exclusive to the magazine, and all appear on vinyl for the first time. Side one features artists who appear in the Tongue Master discography - from established masters Mark Eitzel, Mark Mulcahy and Howe Gelb to the equally idiosyncratic stylings of New York's The Scene Is Now, Athens' Sigmatropic (featuring Edith Frost) and London's cinematic The Real Tuesday Weld. The latter revisits a CWAS favourite, featuring a newly recorded vocal by Sephine Llo, exclusive to this release. Other contributions include intimate demos from Eitzel and Gelb (better known in embellished form by American Music Club and Giant Sand respectively), to standalone gems like Mulcahy's "Elephantine" (which gives this collection its title) and the bruised avant-garde blues of The Scene Is Now's "The Word". The tracks on side two and the accompanying 7" are a diverse selection drawn from the 16 CDs CWAS issued between 2000 and 2006 that reflect and complement the oeuvre of Tongue Master Records. Here you will find the dense literature-infused art-folk of Lullaby For The Working Class, the sparse acoustic balladry of Nina Nastasia and the curious Matmos-enhanced stylings of veteran polymath and fellow New Yorker David Grubbs. In their wake comes an epic jazz-tinged duel between Douglas McCombs's Brokeback and sometime labelmates Chicago Underground Duo, and the raw gothic Americana of Blanche. The LP concludes with a haunting lo-fi lament by the sorely missed Jason Molina in his Songs: Ohia guise. The 7" presents two further gems: a concise edit of the lengthy title track from a 2005 12" tour EP from CWAS regulars The American Analog Set, and an acoustic rendition of a track from the album 'The Great Destroyer' by shapeshifting veterans Low from the same year. Together the 14 tracks hint at the breadth of the CWAS archive, a treasure trove from a not-too-distant musical past. With full lyrics, a special four page insert tracing the history of the magazine, and an Alex Wharton Abbey Road cut, this quality release is a testament to the legacy of CWAS. 'Probably the best independent music magazine in the world '- ESQUIRE // Tracks: SIDE ONE: 1 The Scene Is Now - 'Words' (3:10) 2 Howe Gelb - 'Wolf Pup' (4:42) 3 Mark Mulcahy - 'Elephantine' (4:12) 4 Sigmatropic featuring Edith Frost - 'Haiku 4 (Alt)' (2:31) 5 Mark Eitzel - 'Bought A Book' (3:36) 6 The Real Tuesday Weld featuring Sephine Lo - 'Dreaming of You' (3:47). SIDE TWO: 7 Lullaby For The Working Class - 'In Defense Of Abstractions' (3:18) 8 Nina Nastasia - 'I Will Never Marry' (3:29) 9 David Grubbs- 'Aging Young Lovers' (2:53) 10 Brokeback With Chicago Underground Duo- 'Chomsk, Live!' (7:08) 11 Blanche -'Never Again (Demo)' (3:26) 12 Songs: Ohia - 'Untitled' (3:01). 7" SIDE 3: The American Analog Set - 'Everything Ends In Spring (Edit)' (4:41). SIDE 4: Low - 'Walk Into The Sea (acoustic version)' (3:07) For indie stores only!

On Unknown Road, Pennywise steps up their songwriting, maintains all their fury and intensity, and
lays out their philosophy of independence and the importance of daring to live every moment to its
fullest. This album features a number of songs that played on tons of skate, surf and snowboarding
videos, making this, and other PW records to come, the soundtrack to the exploding extreme sports
board scene. Featuring such Pennywise classics as “Homesick,” “Unknown Road,” “It’s Up To Me,” and
“You Can Demand,” Unknown Road is arguably the quintessential So Cal hardcore record of the ‘90s.
Reissued on limited edition Sunset Boulevard vinyl to celebrate the album’s 30th anniversary!

On Unknown Road, Pennywise steps up their songwriting, maintains all their fury and intensity, and
lays out their philosophy of independence and the importance of daring to live every moment to its
fullest. This album features a number of songs that played on tons of skate, surf and snowboarding
videos, making this, and other PW records to come, the soundtrack to the exploding extreme sports
board scene. Featuring such Pennywise classics as “Homesick,” “Unknown Road,” “It’s Up To Me,” and
“You Can Demand,” Unknown Road is arguably the quintessential So Cal hardcore record of the ‘90s.
Reissued on limited edition Sunset Boulevard vinyl to celebrate the album’s 30th anniversary!

Berlin party series and label AWAY Music continues its limited vinyl series called "Reissued", dedicated to re-releasing iconic cuts from the vast collaborative catalog of Move D & Pete Namlook. The second installment "Reissued 2", which follows the series' inaugural EP from 2019, features again some exceptional pieces that were previously only available on CD.


Move D and Pete Namlook are electronic visionaries whose 26-album relationship explored and intertwined psychedelic synthscapes, deep house and techno, future jazz, and downtempo on Namlook's cult imprint Fax Records. Their innovative and influential works keep inspiring electronic music producers today, showcasing their willingness to collaborate and push the boundaries of electronic music.


"Silk Route Part 1", which comes from their 2008 album "Travelling The Silk Route", occupies the A-side with a 12-minute journey full of jazz-infused ambient soundscapes meeting oriental melodies with sophisticated percussion patterns. A truly immersive listening experience!

On the flip, "Sleeplearnin'" was described as psycho-active electronica when it first came out on the "Sons of Kraut" album 17 years ago. Translated, we're talking about minimal house that carries their warm trademark sound, enriched by pulsating echoes, space noises, and relapsing vocoder shreds. It conveys the pair's unique energy that embraces the improvisational moment to create a hypnotic flow that's nothing but timeless.


"Reissued 2" is a true testament to the innovative spirit and pioneering work of Move D and Pete Namlook. With these tracks now available on vinyl for the first time, AWAY's limited series is a must-have for old and new fans alike.

Lime green (yellowish?) vinyl LP Finnish noise rock duo NYOS deliver a clairvoyant Celebration of the present, written at a time when that present was shimmering just like the feathers of the cover art courtesy of animal photographer Zac Herr. Combining the danceable grooves of Battles with Sonic Youth - infused noise bursts and the yearning electric melodies of And So I Watch You From Afar, Celebration is a defiantly joyful, loud, and festive affair. A promising cure for the drudgery of the times we live in. Recorded by Brooke in his own Tonehaven Recording Studio, Celebration is the latest testament to the undeniable synergy these musicians have built over the past seven years. With the material largely written before the advent of corona, Celebration is a reflection of life before lockdown, filled to the brim with infectious grooves and glaring melodies. "We tried for something upbeat this time to contrast the times," explains Tom Brooke about the recording process, which in turn did take place during pandemic life. "We always love it when people can move to our music, so a big focus for the record was to embrace the dance vibe and go for it." This collection of eight colourful, jarring tracks is rife with small nods to dance music throughout the world. Take a song like "Light" with its complex syncopated drum pattern that recalls the Amen Break so typical for drum and bass music, but listen closely and the song reveals an off-beat skank that flips over into experimental reggae territory. Similarly, a track like "Tucano" recalls the experimental IDM of Bristol-based producer Vessel, while "Gold Vulcan" offsets a gnarly gyrating guitar riff with Latin- American and oriental melodies. The attention to detail on Celebration is phenomenal. The album contains some of the band's most layered compositions to date, but it is also the first NYOS record to feature improvised live recordings, the aptly named "First Take" as well as the celestial "Cloudberry". These musical sketches show two musicians at the apex of their connectedness. Every time that one of them appears to be taking a somewhat questionable turn, you'll find yourself carefully and respectfully readjusting your own interpretation of the song's intention - and what NYOS are all about.

The Dutch West Coast, home of the Hague, where Cliff Dalton resides, the home of a new producer for Specimen Records 2021. Probing as an interface between harsh reality and pure fiction. He reveals a surrealistic emphasis on sonic particles into the realms of electro.

* Rare cuts from the vaults of Nick Manasseh and Jeremy The Equalizer in the shape of `The Next Step’ and `Next Dub’, dating from 1998, backed with `The Ark’ and `Conspiracy Dub’, alongside The Equalizer on production duties, with two tracks dating from the early 90’s.
* All these tunes are tried and tested sound system classics and appear on vinyl for the first time.

Introducing the highly anticipated EP from the legendary Aston, of the Freestylers, Blapps Posse, and Rap & Aston. This time, he has teamed up with the talented DJ Quicklung to create four brand new tracks, each showcasing Aston's impeccable production skills and style.

The EP opens with "Raggamuffin Soldiers," a hard-hitting D&B track with classic influences that has already gained significant support across clubs and radio. Next up is "Moving On," a lively club roller that clearly showcases Aston's foundations and rave pedigree.

On the flip side, "Galactica" takes things in a darker direction with moody D&B vibes that pay homage to classic Suburban Base and Boogie Times, but with a fresh twist that's unmistakably 2023. Finally, "The Hangman" closes out the EP with a stunning breakbeat masterpiece that will leave listeners wanting more.

With its diverse range of sounds and styles, this EP is a testament to Aston's enduring talent and influence in the world of electronic music. Don't miss out on this incredible release!

After releasing their debut project “Voyage” in 2022, Tapioca, the Brussels-Kigali-based, Brazil-inspired duo return with LP “Samba em Kigali.” Building on their sound and influence, “Samba em Kigali” is a definitive step up and clear sonic growth for the twosome, whose debut, RA wrote, is "if Anderson Paak. & Marco Valle made a Brazilian pop-funk record.” Arriving via Berlin’s Jakarta Records May 19th.

Tapioca (32k Monthly Listeners on Spotify), the Belgian duo made of rapper / lyricist Alessandro “Le Tagarel” Vlerick and producer & composer Simon “SiKa” Carlier, tapped into a unique and infectious groove with their debut LP “Voyage,” released in 2022 via Jakarta Records’ “Dubplates” series. Positive reviews came flooding in, including coverage from, among others, BBC Radio 6, KCRW, Resident Advisor, JAZZIZ as well as performances and features on Worldwide FM and Bandcamp Daily. Their debut also landed on global editorial playlists such as Spotify’s “Global Groove,” (600k) “Tulum Vibes” (110k) and Deezer’s “Chilling Pool” (31k). “Voyage,” as the name indicates, was an ode to freedom, escape and the discovery of alternative cultural horizons that brought together various spoken-word testimonies from Portuguese friends around the world. Tapioca’s upcoming LP, “Samba em Kigali,” picks up the thread where “Voyage” left off, acting as an ode to traveling and, more broadly, of the inherent beauty of the African continent. Le Tagarel has worked as a teacher in Kigali, Ruanda, for the past years and his time there is reflected in the album’s buttery lyricism, putting forth the proposition that Africa and Brazil are in fact not so far apart - Africa is, and will always be, present in Brazilian culture. Featuring the Dillaesque sound infused with inspiration from rap, jazz, MPB and funk of the 70/80’s to the stunningly fleshed out lyricism - the LP sways like a ship on the smoothest of seas, a pure ray of aural sunshine to welcome the warm weather. Artwork was stunningly put together by Simone Cihlar (Anderson Paak. Tom Misch, Ivan Ave) and visualizers done by the stalwart crew at Die Ottos (Flofilz, K Le Maestro, Suff Daddy, S.Fidelity, Gianni Brezzo). Jakarta is ecstatic to share such a high-water mark of an album, out everywhere physically / digitally May 19th.

Kicking off “Samba em Kigali” is the impeccably smooth 1st single, “Lagoas de Ruanda” out March 22nd along with LP pre-order announcement. Instantly catchy, the crisp guitar, funky bass and buoyant underlying percussion are the perfect vitamin of joy that gives rise to Le Tagarel’s vocals. The track is a perfect sonic voyage that encapsulates the continued growth of Tapioca’s sound and gives a sonic peek into the LP. Infectious and groovy, the song skirts a line along samba, R&B and jazz with an almost hip-hop bounce.

2nd single, “Sabor Swahili,” out April 12th, is a nostalgic groovy splash that melds soft keys, bass and a percussive edge that slides you into an aural pocket. The song moves in a joyous melancholy that is almost impossible to move to, the under-water synth stabs keep your shoulders loose while the rhythm keeps you bouncing along. Even if you don’t know Portuguese, you’ll be singing along by the tracks end. The joyous 3rd single “Terra Preta” is out April 26th and will lift you up high to keep you in a serene mood anytime, anywhere. Focus track is the headnodding grooves of “Cara de Arabe.” Building from “Voyage,” Tapioca provides a fresh, rare vibe, adding a slight dose of disco to the R&B-driven progressions. “Samba em Kigali” is a unique album that is soaked and marinated in a sonic and visual aesthetic that brings with it feelings of joy, movement, and a global home, and sonic moods ranging from Bruno Berle and Marcos Valle inspired arrangements to bouncing progressions with a swingin’ percussive edge. Besides online promotion from the label and artist profiles, the album will further be promoted by external agencies within the US and UK.

Death/Thrash Metal classic reMastered! A strong Master album re-issued.
Since the dawn of human intellectualism, self-aware individuals have sought solitude. Paul Speckmann of Master finds his own solidarity in
expressing apathy towards society. Lets acknowledge the introspective impact of Master’s 1998 release “Faith is in Season.”
Crusty bass lines and tom-centric drumming push “Faith is in Season” forward with a reliable tempo, coupled with intermittent guitar leads and Speckmann’s defiant screeches define Master’s new production - consistent and comprehendible Death Metal. This is further polished with thoughtful song intros that highlight each individual member’s musicianship. This foundation supports the guitar melodies and lyrical concepts.

Compositionally, each instrument in Master is worth its own weight in gold while also not overshadowing each other. This is a self-evident
testament to Speckmann’s exemplary leadership because the band line-up on “Faith is in Season” was relatively brief.

Similar to 1990’s contemporaries like Vader or Obituary, Master solidified their craft with “Faith is in Season” and has since strayed minimally.

The 5th release from Drifted comes through featuring Anna Wall & Corbi who have collaborated for DR005 and it’s a banger.

The release opens with the title track, "Satellite", a thumping 4x4 style club cut that immediately sets the tone for the rest of the EP. This track has a relentless beat that will keep the club jumping. "XTC" follows on the A2, a composition that showcases true rave textures. On the flip side, "Mind Sweeper" is a real bad boy that is sure to melt the dance floor. Rounding off this latest output on the London based imprint is "Basement Damage", a beautiful atmospheric design with fierce break drums.

This EP is a true testament to the power of collaboration and creativity in the

Voice Magnetic by Hainbach is the enigmatic Berlin based artist’s sonic diary of 2022. On his sixth release on Seil Records, Stefan Goetsch collages the sounds he made and the ones that surrounded him over the course of twelve months into a powerfully intimate ambient experience.

In his studio or on travels — Hainbach always is working on new material and allows the locations he records his tracks in to find their way into the music. Consequently, on many tracks you can can hear the outside bleeding in — seagulls and waves on "Izmir", the voices of his children while record the piano or the sirens of Neukölln’s police cars in background.

The connecting threads between these pieces are magnetic tape and the human voice — hiss and breath. The result are 15 immersive ambient pieces that make up Voice Magnetic. Often short like the moments that spark them. Fading and intricate, honest and pure.

Based out of Berlin, Germany, electro-acoustic music composer and performer Hainbach creates shifting audio landscapes, using esoteric synthesizers, nuclear test equipment, magnetic tape and a collection of idiophones. Hainbach has become known for his immersive live shows and an unique sound that is both abstract yet very much a corporal experience. Otherworldly and intimate, raw and heartfelt. On his wildly popular YouTube channel, Hainbach shares his love for experimental music techniques and his passion for forgotten machines with a wide audience. Inspiring over one hundred thousand each week to explore synthesis, electronics - and to leave beaten paths.

The new album from hip-hop duo Atmosphere, So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously, opens with veteran rapper Slug and seasoned producer Ant taking a gentler approach. A departure from the brute intros of earlier works, the lead-off track “Okay” sounds focused on comforting and reassuring the listener, as if informed by fatherhood and implicit duty. With Slug rapping over one of the most twinkling productions Ant has released, the song lays the groundwork for an album-length exercise in fumbling consciousness without setting a precedent for how they intend to navigate it. Yet, as gently as the album begins, there’s an unmistakable sense of unease from the onset that continues to evolve throughout the project, as Slug and Ant weave the listener through indistinct themes of insomnia and woe.

From the subtle panic at the heart of songs like “Dotted Lines,” to the overt anxiety of songs like “In My Head,” the tension seems to cede and swell, but just as the tears begin to well, they seem to find resolve again through songs like “Still Life,” whose hopeful outlook undercuts the tensity of the album. Meanwhile, the rhythms on So Many Other Realities are some of the most inventive of Ant’s career. The playful percussion on “In My Head” acts as a nice counterweight to the roiling writing, while the drum patterns on “Holding My Breath” and “Bigger Pictures” allow Slug to play with his
flow to emphasize the anxiety driving the record.

Where previous records in this most recent act of Atmosphere’s career have been focused on emphasizing the parts of life that carry the most meaning—family, brotherhood, purpose—So Many Other Realities is an almost unnerving excavation of paranoia that can be grafted onto the general malaise of a pandemic weary society full of civil unrest. The tension of these songs is palpable, but the album’s mere presence is a testament to the hope that has to underpin even the most stressed out songs. Regardless of when the curtains might close, the music goes on.

DRAIN – the Santa Cruz, CA based hardcore band, whose energetic live shows have propelled them to peak underground popularity (during a global pandemic) and they are ready to break wide open in 2023.

Living Proof is the band’s Epitaph Records debut and follow up to their 2020 breakout release, California Cursed.
The new album is a testament to the hard work and heartfelt ethos that’s at the center of DRAIN’s good-time psyche. There are a couple surprises on the album. Rapper Shakewell appears on the track, “Intermission”.
There’s also a cover of “Good, Good Things,” a nearly four-decade old melodic punk carol by the Descendents: slam-pit forebearers to DRAIN if there ever were any. “It’s crazy because the song’s been out like forty years, but lyrically it’s a DRAIN song!” exclaims vocalist
Sam Ciaramitaro.
“It just hits on everything that I love, that I’m about.”
What Sammy’s about is plenty wholesome. “I hope with this record that when someone hears it, it gives them hope,” beams. “If we were able to get through the tough times, anyone can. I can’t wait to play these songs and hear a room full of people singing back to us. We’re what the title says, the Living Proof.”

Produced by longtime friend and multi-instrumentalist Taylor Young (God’s Hate, Suicide Silence), then mixed by John Markson (Drug Church, Koyo), this is hardcore for everybody.
“As the band gets bigger, I try and keep that feeling alive,” says the smiling singer. “Every night I set up the merch and run it until it’s time to play. I want to be the guy that everyone says hello to. I want to thank every single kid that comes out for being there.”

Wiederveröffentlichung des 2018er Albums!

Umse ist ein Kind des Ruhrpotts – und ewig Reisender. Ein Malocher-MC mit langem Atem, der sich endlich auszahlt. Der Top-20-Künstler chartete mit seinen letzten beiden Alben „Kunst für sich“ (#36) und „Haiwanischer Schnee“ (#16), die über die Indie-Institution Jakarta Records erschienen. Für sein neues Album nahm er sich zwei Jahre Zeit, musste Tiefschläge überwinden, um „Durch die Wolkendecke“ gehen zu können. Heute präsentiert er mit „Bescheid“ das erste Video zu seinem neuen Album, das am 28. September erscheint.

In zwei Jahren hat sich einiges angestaut: an Texten und Erfahrungen. So veröffentlichte Umse erst im Mai die 6-Track starke „Flammenwerfer“-EP und nun bereits Ende September ein neues Album. Der Ruhrpott-Rapper, der in einer Tugend-Tradition mit den lokalen Legenden RAGund Too Strong steht und doch nach State of the Art klingt, tourte jahrelang durchs Land und erspielte sich von Konstanz bis Kiel einen exzellenten Ruf als Live-MC.

Über die Jahre hat sich Umse eine loyale Fanbase aufgebaut, die ihn für seine Bodenständigkeit schätzt. Er verkörpert die Werte der alten Schule, vereint Technik und Tiefgang und befriedet mit seinem Neo-Boombap-Entwurf die Rap-Generationen. „Durch Die Wolkendecke“ setzt diesen Weg konsequent fort und zeigt dabei neue Impulse und Perspektiven auf. Der Titel deutet bereits an, dass es düsterer und nachdenklicher zugeht; er steht aber auch sinnbildlich für: „Sky is the limit“.

Dieses Limit ist für den Grown-Man-Rapper noch lange nicht erreicht: Er ist weder hängengebliebener Oldschooler noch gesichtstätowierter Mumble-Rapper, und doch fruchtet sein Scheuklappen-freier, samplelastiger Trademark-Sound im Hier und Jetzt. Mal erinnern die Sing-Sang-Hooks an den frühen 50 Cent, mal an die Crowd-Control-Choruse der Dilated Peoples.

Das Regionale und das Reisen sind zwei Konstanten und Extreme, die sich durch die Karriere von Umse zu ziehen scheinen. Nachdem er sich mit Hofproduzent Deckah für die Produktion von „Hawaianischer Schnee“ in einem Landhaus in der niederländischen Provinz einmietete, flogen sie für „Durch Die Wolkendecke“ bis nach Colorado und Teneriffa. Der Track „Wenn Die Ferne Ruft“ thematisiert dieses Fernweh, das für Umbeck so inspirierend wirkt, mit markanten Lines: „Man tut es wieder, wenn man merkt, das Reisen Wunder bewirkt.“

Der Opener „Bescheid“ ist nur vordergründig ein Representer und offenbart bei genauerem Hinhören reife Reflexionen eines Mittdreißigers. Auf „Mach Das Kleine Groß“ zeigt Umse dialektisches Talent, schließt von dem Großen auf das Kleine, vom Lokalen aufs Globale, von sich als Individuum auf die Gesellschaft und Szene. Das rührende Outro „Jederzeit“ klingt wie eine Art Testament, mit der sich Umse endgültig in den Real-Rap-Analen als eine der wichtigsten Stimmen seiner Generation verewigt.

Umse sagte einmal sinngemäß über die Langlebigkeit von Alben: „Es interessiert keine Sau, wie lange du daran gearbeitet hast, es zählt, wie lange sie rotiert.“ Und eine lange Haltwertszeit hat dieses zeitlose, detailverliebte Werk ganz sicherlich.

Fresh off his explosive Boiler Room performance in Liverpool, the dust is yet to settle from the electronic eruptions caused by GTOWN head-honcho and energy inducer, KETTAMA. Namely, the damage caused by his latest armoured artillery; ‘GTOWN004’, a radioactive EP with devastatingly euphoric consequences.

‘Samba Soccer 2001’ is the track that opens the door to ‘GTOWN004’, as we’re welcomed by an anonymous voice that insults the listener; a perfect introduction to a project that is wildly unapologetic in its character, and utterly ruthless in its delivery. Released as the first single from the ‘GTOWN004’ EP, ‘Samba Soccer 2001’ has already been greatly received by the GTOWN faithful, and sets the tone for what is arguably KETTAMA’s most complete, and anticipated project yet.

The EP starts as it means to go on, as KETTAMA drops another bombshell with ‘Blitz Zuruck.’ With a euphoric soundscape which the producer partners with a punishing bassline, this track is deeply nostalgic, embodying a time-capsule in the thick of a modern rave-renaissance. Further elements of revamped rave-nostalgia are seen in ‘Slaap Lekker’, before we’re taken deep into the belly of the Galway beast with the atomic ‘GTOWN IN EFFEKT’, and finally killed off with the ‘Rock Da Cliffe Mix’ of ‘Blitz Zuruck.’

‘GTOWN004’ features an ungodly blend of sounds, and in the process, creates an atmosphere that is both ecstatic enough for heaven, and sinister enough for hell. Purpose built for dance-floor destruction, KETTAMA’s infusion of stomach-churning bass, hypnagogic synthesisers, soulful vocals and contagious drum patterns result in an utterly pure, addictive sound.

From Galway to Vienna, Liverpool to New York, the track will be road tested amongst an armoured artillery of records, with dance-floor devastation an inevitable outcome. With his name boldly imprinted on the lineups for the likes of AVA Festival in Belfast, CRSSD in Miami, 121 Festival in New Zealand and Terminal V Festival in Edinburgh, KETTAMA’s worldwide domination of sound-systems continues.

Ebalunga!!! is thrilled to announce the first official reissue of the self-released, self-produced, and self-titled 1985 LP Scott Seskind. The album is a lo-fi singer-songwriter jewel. Don’t miss it.
“Authentic and personal, at times it reminds this writer of luminaries such as Jackson C. Frank, PF Sloan, Skip Spence, and Phil Orchs while never feeling derivative.

The songs are melodic and haunting, fueled by existential woes, political angst, and good ol’ fashioned love. Scott’s rich voice has an unpretentious gravitas, his simple-yet-effective guitar playing ranging from delicate fingerpicking to angry bashing.
Created at home on a Tascam 4-Track Portastudio, the recording features few frills and is all the better for it. Unlike most mid-80s records it sounds like it could have come from any time since the late ’60s onwards. As a testament to its greatness, and despite the late recording date, it even gets a nod on Patrick Lundborg’s “Acid Archives” compilation website, Lysergiawhere it’s described thus: “Late phase downer-loner folk and singer-songwriter trip, mostly acoustic, some tracks with a small band.” – Andrew Ure for Ugly
Things.Read a long story about the album in the upcoming Shindig! issue: Story about Scott Seskind in Shiding Mag.
The reissue is available on vinyl with a lyric insert.
Mastering (as always) by Jessica Thompson.

Feedbacks and reviews:
“Almost totally inheralded singer-songwriter Scott Seskind gets the reissue treatment, and I couldn’t be happier. About a year ago I pulled Seskind’s sole vinyl release out of the used bin of a Boulder record store, and with its almost Wallace Berman-esque cover art, could immediately suspect it was something special. The first listen didn’t dispel that notion one bit; here was an impressively captivating and moving collection of four-tracked bedroom folk of the highest order, with an out-of-time vibe that didn’t really snyc with its 1984 recording date. Definitely on the loner-ish end of the folk spectrum, with some aspects of the album harkening back to Skip Spence’s iconic Oar, while other moments revealed the urgency of the ’80s lo-fi revolution. But most importantly, the songs were just really, really great and managed to remain haunting long past their leaving.

Here, I thought, is an album that needs to be heard by more people, NOW. I asked around amongst some record collecting friends and discovered it was pretty highly rated by a small circle of people in the know, and that it had even managed to garner a mention in the Acid Archives despite its late recording date, and most excitingly that there was talk that the digital reissue label Yoga had managed to track Seskind down and secure the rights to his LP. (…) So here we have it, the best songs from Seskind’s eponymous LP. (…) I really hope this release continues to garner the listeners that it deserves.” – Michael Klausman

“The one that struck us the most this year was the almost totally unheralded work of singer-songwriter Scott Seskind, who recorded an impressively captivating and moving collection of four-tracked bedroom folk of the highest order, with an out-of-time vibe that doesn’t really sync with its original 1984 release date. Definitely on the loner-ish end of the folk spectrum, with songs that are really, really great and which manage to remain haunting long past their leaving. Truly an album that deserves to be heard by more people immediately. ” – Other Music

POWER is—and has been the real deal for quite some time. This single serves not only as a testament to that fact, but showcases two of Power's best creations yet. Like thunder rips across the sky, the pounding drums on ‘The Fool’ signal the oncoming storm of slashing rock and roll. The single sees Power explore a side of band which has always been simmering beneath the surface—and it seems the time was right for them to unleash these raw new tunes without holding back. Pure electric guitar damage from this most formidable three-piece. With the ‘The Fool’ cutting a figure which could’ve been found backstage at a show headlined by Venom and The Stooges, the flip, 'Give It All To Me’ displays a range of heavier melodies intoned by 80’s cult groups such as Wicked Lady and Iron Claw. Power have stayed true to themselves and continued to ride towards to the storm.

lack Marble Vinyl! High Vis were formed in 2016 from the ashes of some of the UK's best hardcore bands. Gild-toothed frontman Graham Sayle's anguished lyrics about life in working class Britain were familiar to fans of Tremors' full-throttle thrash, but alongside his former bandmate Edward `Ski' Harper and veterans of Dirty Money, DiE and The Smear, High Vis sought to transform that energy and intensity into something entirely new.Like scene-mates Chubby and the Gang did by pulling in unlikely source material from classic doo-wop or Micromoon have by combining everything from psychedelia and metal into their high potency mix, High Vis' 2019 debut album, No Sense No Feeling showed the band were never going to be constrained by any sense of genre rules or regulations. Its claustrophobic rattle bore traces of Joy Division, Bauhaus, Crisis, The Cure and Gang Of Four lurking in the shadows. 2020's synth-driven EP, Society Exists, was further evidence of the band's restless creative MO.High Vis' second album Blending sees them open their viewfinder wider than ever before.

Alongside longstanding favourites such as Fugazi and Echo and The Bunnymen; Ride and even Flock Of Seagulls were shared reference points as the band worked on the album together.From the anthemic sweep of opener "Talk For Hours", through the title track's psychedelic swirl and "Fever Dream"'s baggy groove, it sees High Vis' sound blossoming into something with an unlimited richness. The hazy drift of "Shame" or the melodic jangle of "Trauma Bonds" may take them until uncharted waters, but they still have all the power and bite that made No Sense No Feeling so remarkable.Lyrically, the album represents another leap forward too. Talking frankly about poverty, class politics, and the challenges of everyday life, Sayle's lyrics have always addressed the downtrodden and discarded communities across Britain slipping below the waterline. This time around, Sayle's lost not of that social consciousness, but he's looked at himself and his own emotional landscape, and in the process created something that feels more universal, that reaches a hand-out to people and ultimately gives a message of hope."To me, the lyrics are less selfish," reflects Sayle. "In the past, I couldn't see past whatever was going on with me.

It's about accepting things and being open to conversations and learning to talk to people rather than just thinking that we're all doomed."The song "Talk for Hours" is a prime example of that. Born out of an afternoon meeting up with an old group of mates "repeating the same thing and not actually learning anything about each other" it offers to actually break the cycle and to listen and speak frankly about shared feelings and experiences. "Trauma Bonds", meanwhile, traces the broken lines of those living in lost communities, but ultimately realises that despite our shared scars, there's still hope to move on to a better future."The message of the album is you're not who you're told you are," Sayle summarises. "You're not your class background. Whatever it is, you're not that. Don't resign yourself to thinking you can't be this and you can't be that."It's a vitally important message right now, and one that could be the motto for not only Blending, but for High Vis themselves.

Bjarki launches creative hub Differance Engine with new four-track EP, ‘Look At Yourself Pt.1’

The project sees the founder combine with creative Thomas Harrington-Rawle, building on the pair's recent AV show ‘Look At Yourself’ with a wealth of new projects and releases slated for 2023.

DJ, producer, live artist and label owner Bjarki, full name Bjarki Rúnar Sigurðarson, launches his latest creative project Differance Engine and label Differance with a brand new EP in February. Welcoming a new home for the Icelandic favourite to release and showcase audio-visual projects, the creation of Differance Engine sees him reunite with London-based creative and partner-in-crime Thomas Harrington-Rawle - the creator of Care More, featured on Nowness, ARTE and more.

Set to become the central focus for all things creative, Difference Engine will serve as a diverse ‘mother hub’ for a myriad of new projects from the pair, including GUM Magazine - an experimental print publication set to challenge existing publications and zines with a focus real conversations and forward-thinking audiovisual work - while also absorbing Bjarki’s longstanding imprint bbbbbb recors next year. The launch arrives on the heels of the duo's recent conceptual audiovisual show ‘Look At Yourself’ exploring and experimenting with ‘AI’ technology during ADE at Amsterdam’s renowned Nxt Museum, with forthcoming appearances in Foligno, Italy on 29th December and in London in the New Year.

Opening 2023, the label boss unveils the first EP in a three-part series, ‘Look At Yourself Part 1’. Comprised of four expansive originals, the release welcomes a first look at the new audiovisual direction crafted and shaped by Sigurðarson and Harrington-Rawle, featuring his recently released single ‘Do You Like Yourself’, and new single ‘I Wish I Was A Mode’ - out 9th December..

“Differance Engine is mine and Thomas’ new platform where we will be testing out all kinds of material. It will also operate as a label and an engine which will run both bbbbbb records and GUM Magazine. There are a lot of magazines dying out and having a hard time surviving. Thomas and I want to show some depth into the hearts and minds of individuals through music, visuals and with words. 2023 will be the year of vulnerability and real talks.” - Bjarki.

Wandering the line between perceived and actual reality, the four productions balance playful AI-generated voices with darker sonics, deconstructing societal issues and exploring human-to-human interaction within cyberspace. Accompanied by a warping video, B2 ‘I Wish I Was a Model’ is a trippy dive into Harrington-Rawle’s ever-evolving world as he warps and twists human subjects amongst their surroundings.

The Bass Junkie sound spans the old school beats and vibes of the Electro genre’s origins, to the borderline industrial. Phil is a battle hardened Bass Bot from the future armed with his trusty MPC.

The obsession with all things sci-fi continues with this 'Cruising The Bass Nebula' EP. Out this February on my Asking for Trouble label, this is testament to his non-stop love of the genre and keeps on evolving with this funky 10".

Phil Klein aka Bass Junkie has been part of the Bass furniture for decades. I first came across him at my local roller disco somewhere in the 80s where he would flex his early DJ skills. Phil was cutting and scratching on the decks way before anyone I knew.

His history is quite something. In the early 90s he contacted Dave Noller from Dynamix II in Florida and after sending demos (pre-Internet of course). He ended up going there to make some tunes under the name of Cybernet Systems.

Phil has had many monikers and worked with lots of people over the years. Model Citizens with Matt Whitehead, IBM, Gods of Technology and Kronos Device with Si Brown (Dexorcist) and myself both as The Brink and part of The Resonance Committee to name a few. 2021 saw the release of the album Sub Sonic Survivor on Bass Agenda. He's had releases on lots of labels over the years including Control Tower, Firewire, SMB, Ed DMX's Breakin records, Andrea Parker's Touchin Bass label, Billy Nasty's Electrix and his own Battle Trax label.

Throbullating throughout the galaxy since 1986!

If Es’ debut album for Upset the Rhythm explored the “tension between intent and interpretation”, the London group’s 2023 EP, ‘Fantasy’, constructs a coda for resistance against the distorted gaze. A four-track contact-high anxiety amid fact and facsimile, the new release attempts to define a sound that still resonates in an increasingly confused public theatre, where cerebral dreams manifest in corrupt fascination.
Echoing the legendary Pylon or the later, disco-inspired releases from PIL, tracks like ‘Emergency’ and ‘Unreal’ blend the band’s established disjunctive style of gothic restlessness with brighter, poppy, and danceable tones. These stylistically unwind in transition with the increasingly claustrophobic pieces like ‘Too Late’ and ‘Swallowed Whole’, syncopating a parallel design of the frantic and the fashionable.
Paired with a lyrical intricacy which emits a desire to break the fetish of false representation, ‘Fantasy’ reminds us that worthy punk records, like any manifesto of neurotic suspicion, balance testimonial, speculative-fiction, and social critique. Indebted to the past but pointed sharply to the future, Es deconstruct our modern wreckage of personhood and self-deceit, granting a sense of solidarity inside alienation. Inside ‘Fantasy’ we visualize our own estrangement, and it is only when this mirror fades that we find the tools to fight back.

Indie exclusive red vinyl, ltd ed /100. First new studio album in 20 years, produced by J. Robbins & Liars Academy. Indie Exclusive opaque red vinyl. Limited edition of 100. After two decades on pause, Liars Academy return with Ghosts their most massive album to date. Unofficially a followup to 2004's Demons, Ghosts is an evolutionary step forward for the band and testimony to the timelessness of rock music. The swirling energy of 70's guitar rock and the anthemic swagger of 90's radio rock inform the 11 song trip packed with massive riffs, razor-sharp hooks, and scream-along chest beaters--a spectacular come-back album by a band at its peak. Steadfast Records is proud to present the brand new album from Liars Academy. Ghosts is a relentless cache of rock hits from the post-Demon's powerhouse quartet of Ryan Shelkett, Chris Camden, Fred Fritz, and Eric Fauver. Produced by J. Robbins and Liars Academy, mastered by Adam Boose, and vinyl masters cut by Bob Weston.

Indie exclusive red vinyl, ltd ed /100. First new studio album in 20 years, produced by J. Robbins & Liars Academy. Indie Exclusive opaque red vinyl. Limited edition of 100. After two decades on pause, Liars Academy return with Ghosts their most massive album to date. Unofficially a followup to 2004's Demons, Ghosts is an evolutionary step forward for the band and testimony to the timelessness of rock music. The swirling energy of 70's guitar rock and the anthemic swagger of 90's radio rock inform the 11 song trip packed with massive riffs, razor-sharp hooks, and scream-along chest beaters--a spectacular come-back album by a band at its peak. Steadfast Records is proud to present the brand new album from Liars Academy. Ghosts is a relentless cache of rock hits from the post-Demon's powerhouse quartet of Ryan Shelkett, Chris Camden, Fred Fritz, and Eric Fauver. Produced by J. Robbins and Liars Academy, mastered by Adam Boose, and vinyl masters cut by Bob Weston.

Over the past 20 years, The New Pornographers have proven themselves one of the most excellent bands in indie rock. The group’s ninth album and first for Merge establishes them alongside modern luminaries like Yo La Tengo and Superchunk when it comes to their ability to evolve while still retaining what made them so special in the first place. A dazzling and intriguing collection of songs, Continue as a Guest finds bandleader A.C. Newman and his compatriots Neko Case, Kathryn Calder, John Collins, Todd Fancey, and Joe Seiders exploring fresh territory and shattering the barriers of their collective comfort zone. Newman began work on Continue as a Guest after the band had finished touring behind 2019’s In the Morse Code of Brake Lights. Themes of isolation and collapse bleed into this album, as Newman tackles the ambivalence of day-to-day life during the COVID-19 pandemic. But Newman says that Continue as a Guest’s title track also addresses the concerns that come with being in a band for so long. “The idea of continuing as a guest felt apropos to the times,” he explains. “Feeling out of place in culture, in society, being in a band that has been around for so long—not feeling like a part of any zeitgeist, but happy to be separate and living your simple life, your long fade-out.

Living in a secluded place in an isolated time, it felt like a positive form of acceptance: find your own little nowhere, find some space to fall apart, continue as a guest.” Newman discovered new vocal approaches within his own talent. There are new and rich tones to Newman’s voice throughout Continue as a Guest, from his dusky lower register over “Angelcover” to his slippery slide over the glimmering synths of “Firework in the Falling Snow,” to bold tones he embraces on the soaring “Bottle Episodes.”

Another sonic change comes courtesy of saxophonist Zach Djanikian, whose tenor and bass luxuriate all over Continue as a Guest’s alluring chassis, especially on the menacing build of “Pontius Pilate’s Home Movies.” Along with Newman’s usual collaborators, several songwriters contribute. The bursting opener and first single “Really Really Light” is a co-write with Dan Bejar (Destroyer, the New Pornographers). Then there’s “Firework in the Falling Snow,” a collaboration with Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz and Sad13. “I was feeling like I wanted some help, so I sent it to Sadie and she sent me back this complete song that had these great lyrics,” Newman says. “She included the line ‘A firework in the falling snow,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s great.’ Sometimes you need that one thing to center the song, and even though I only used a few lines of hers in the end, I couldn’t have finished it without her.”

Even as Newman embraces a collaborative spirit more than ever, Continue as a Guest is a testament to his ability to discover new artistic sides of himself. “I started out as a songwriter more than as a singer, but at some point, you have to sing your own songs,” he says with a chuckle. “For a long time, I felt like the idea of changing a song because I couldn’t hit a note wasn’t okay—I could just get someone else to sing it. But I’m learning now that my songs can actually be a lot more malleable than I thought.” And it’s in that spirit that Continue as a Guest sounds like a thrilling path forward for The New Pornographers, with songs that generate a contagious feeling of excitement for the future as well.