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Crafted from solo recordings of 42 top-notch improviser musicians mostly drawn from Berlin’s multi-layered experimental scene, the monumental Phantom Orchestra project by Raed Yassin is finally getting released on Morphine Records. More than 1000 minutes of source material, recorded at the Morphine Raum during the fall of 2021, is distilled into a cogent work marked by a dazzling display of editing and blending, and packed into a double LP containing 7 “movements” of the Phantom Orchestra composition.

Crafted from solo recordings of 42 top-notch improviser musicians mostly drawn from Berlin’s multi-layered experimental scene, the monumental Phantom Orchestra project by Raed Yassin is finally getting released on Morphine Records. More than 1000 minutes of source material, recorded at the Morphine Raum during the fall of 2021, is distilled into a cogent work marked by a dazzling display of editing and blending, and packed into a double LP containing 7 “movements” of the Phantom Orchestra composition.

The Lebanese composer, musician and visual artist Raed Yassin has built a career straddling artistic mediums and communities, his devotion to improvisation, his connection to experimental electronic music, and his interest in the archive distinguishing a progressive impulse rooted in historic exploration. In 2020 Morphine Records released his wildly ambitious Live in Sharjah, made by a kaleidoscopic expansion of Praed, his duo with clarinetist Paed Conca. He resumes his interest in large-scale projects with Phantom Orchestra, conceived during the pandemic when most European improvisers were forced to redirect their energies into solo work,

Each set of the Phantom Orchestra’s solos was cut on a Dubplate, ready to be performed on 12 turntables routed to a six-channel setup, to create a unified and breathtaking composition from the spontaneous material. The resulting material was then edited and prepared to be cut on a Double LP format, marshalling a staggering variety of improvised footage into an air-tight collage that locates abstract consonance, stunning sonic rhymes, and unusual harmonies without shutting out the sort of exhilarating collisions and fraught tensions inherent in collaborative improvisations. With this final stage of the composition, Yassin offers a vibrant testimony to the diversity of Berlin’s community of improvisers, to say nothing of his own refined artistic sensibility in achieving such a remarkable feat of blending so many contrasting voices into a truly unified piece of music. “For me it's about how to learn to be a community again,” he says. “And how to live in a world together again, which is a very difficult question for me.”

“This Album was published with the support of the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture – AFAC”

When the late Jazz impresario and trailblazer Meghan Stabile first launched the Revivalist platform and Revive Da Live concert series in NYC, the goal was to bridge the gap between younger Hip-Hop audiences and traditional Jazz purists. Born from this vision in 2010 was the Revive Big Band, an inventive 20+ piece ensemble led by artistic director, trumpeter, and composer Igmar Thomas. Merging tradition with groundbreaking creativity since its inception, the multi-generational band’s world-class cadre of musicians unites for Like A Tree It Grows. As the Revive Big Band’s official full-length debut, this album represents not only a 14-year timeline of the Revive collective’s journey, but also a deeper tribute to the Black American Music lineage. It’s a celebration of community that uses the timeless power of music to tell a story of cultural legacy, innovation, and artistic collaboration. From original compositions like “R&P” and “The Coming”, to reinterpretations of classic records paying homage to musical legends (e.g. Wayne Shorter, Dizzy Gillespie, etc.) Like A Tree It Grows showcases Thomas’ intricate arrangements that blend Jazz, Hip-Hop, Soul, and a range of genres from the lineage of Black American music. With guest features from Talib Kweli, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Terrace Martin, Jean Baylor, Bilal, and more, the album provides a bridge between past and future, inviting listeners to explore the roots of Black music while reimagining its possibilities.

Samuel Locke Ward and Jad Fair are two of the most prolific musicians working today. Fair is a founding member of the band Half Japanese, and has released over 200 albums, including albums with Yo La Tengo, Daniel Johnston, Moe Tucker, Kramer, Teenage Fanclub, The Pastels, R. Stevie Moore, DQE, Tenniscoats, The Tinklers, Naomi Ishimaru, Jason Willett, Mosquito, and Strobe Talbot. Samuel Locke Ward has released over sixty solo albums as well as a myriad of collaborations with Bob Bucko Jr, Miracles Of God, SLW cc Watt (with Mike Watt) and the cult new age noise group Boundless Relaxation (with Joe Jack Talcum and The Bassturd). He is a cartoonist for Little Village magazine and like Jad Fair, his style musically and visually is wholly his own Pure Candy is the pair’s third album together following 2023’s Happy Hearts and Destroy All Monsters, both issued by Kill Rock Stars. Pure Candy is an album of love songs and is the feel good album of the Summer, Winter, Spring and Fall. The music was composed and performed by Ward who’s love of pop music and avant stylings offer seventeen unexpected turns over the course of a three minute song. The vocals and lyrics are by Fair, lyrics overflowing with words of love, joy, happiness, tenderness, hope and inspiration. Uplifting words for a time dearly in need of some upliftings. As with the previous two albums by Fair and Ward, this album was mixed and mastered by Jonathan Hansen and is being co-released on LP by Shrimper Records (who last worked with Fair on his collaborative three cassette box set Wonderful World) and Chicago’s Stationary (Hearts) Recordings.

Tobacco City is a Chicago-based band that blends cosmic country with a mix of psychedelic rock and honky-tonk soul. Their sound captures the essence of small-town nostalgia while embracing modern-day themes, exploring heartache, longing, and the bittersweet nature of life. With their uplifting energy and authentic songwriting, Tobacco City continues to carve out a unique space in the countrytinged Americana scene. On Horses, the highly anticipated follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut, Tobacco City, USA, the band takes listeners on a nostalgic journey through the haze of youth, where time feels suspended and plans are nonexistent. The album’s lyrics conjure vivid images of small-town life—smoking schwag behind the grocery store, drinking cream from a gas station with your first love—capturing that carefree, uncertain time when the future felt distant. The music channels the spirit of ’70s country with influences from legends like Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, bringing a timeless, uplifting energy to each track. At the same time, the lyrics intersect with modern-day themes, blending the beauty and innocence of youth with the harsh realities of life. Horses feels like a contemporary take on classic country, merging a nostalgic past with the complex world of today, all while remaining undeniably authentic and heartfelt. This follow-up to Tobacco City, USA—which received high praise from NPR and Rolling Stone— cements the band’s place at the forefront of a new wave of countrytinged Americana. “...Like the Chicago band’s namesake, a slow smoke hangs in the air, heavy with heartbreak and feather-blue eyeshadow, but puts a brave face on. Lexi Goddard sings with a far-away look over a pedal-steel cry, a melody that sways to country songs on jukeboxes of yore...” —NPR “Chicago’s Tobacco City do more with less... spacious grooves as pedal steel wafts through like a gentle breeze. Vocalist Lexi Goddard and Chris Coleslaw sounds simultaneously wistful and playful throughout...” —Rolling Stone

Profile 1
KONISHI yasuharu
Band leader, songwriter, arranger and producer of the now disbanded Pizzicato Five (1985- 2001). Although having 2 successful world tours and 5 international albums under his belt, with fans ranging from London’s Karminsky Experience to Karl Lagerfeld, many of his fans know him as a DJ, spinning in Tokyo’s hotspots such as Shibuya’s ‘Organ Bar’. He tours regularly throughout Japan and abroad. In the Jackson 5 Remix Album, his remix ‘I want you back (readymade 524 mix)’ received an extraordinary amount of national radio play.
The remix album itself has scored healthy rankings in major record stores. In 1998, his own project ‘Punch the Monkey!’ (in which he remixes the theme tune of a popular Japanese cartoon series ‘Lupin the Third’) sold over 700,000 records, and this, some say, began Japan’s remix rush. His achievements truly invaded the mainstream when in 2000, he produced the No.1 single ‘Oha-Rock’ which became a social phenomenon in itself. Most
recently, he set up his own record label, ‘readymade international inc.’ from he which he plans to release new exciting solo works.
His talents also embrace film and photography and he is well known as a director in promotional videos, shows and advertisements. T-shirts and original goods which Konishi personally designed are sold in select shops such as BEAMS of Shibuya.
He is also a writer having regular columns in various magazines, and has also written several books. A collection of his essays have been published under the title ‘Kore wa koi de wa nai’ (’This is not love’
)
Profile 2
IKEDA masanori (Mansfield)
Began his DJ career in London, 1991, while working in Soho’s Soul Jazz Records. After becoming resident DJ at ‘Blow-Up’ in London’s Wag Club, he has toured the country and the rest of Europe. With his friends Karminsky Experience and Gentle People, he has also organised numerous club events, compiled CDs and produced radio programs. Returning to Japan in 1997, as the DJ with the rarest records in the East, he immediately made his name Djing at many popular events up and down the country. He is recognised for rocking dancefloors on a global scale having completed a very well-received European tour in 2000.
Apart from his DJ work, he has contributed remixes for Konishi Yasuharu’s ‘Punch the Monkey!’. His solo releases include his mix CD series ‘Spin Out’ , ‘Spin Out 2’ (V2 Records Japan). His albums ‘6 Complexions of Mansfield’ and ‘It’s a mans’s man’s field’ (readymade records) released under his alias Mansfield have established his name as a sound creator. He is expecting to release a new album from readymade international early 2002. This
is the DJ/composer that everyone’s talking about.

Twenty years after its original release, Kool Keith’s very own mixtape "The Personal Album" is finally making its debut on vinyl. Originally only available on CD, this one-of-a-kind mixtape is a deep dive into the eccentric mind of one of hip-hop’s most enigmatic figures. Known for his outlandish alter egos and boundary-pushing lyrics, Kool Keith delivers his trademark extravaganza of sexual and erotic innuendos, surreal storytelling, and unfiltered rawness that makes this album an essential piece of his discography.

The long-awaited vinyl release features brand-new, exclusive artwork by Dutch artist Rob Worst, capturing the essence of Kool Keith’s provocative and unpredictable style. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer to Kool Keith’s world, this first-ever vinyl edition of “The Personal Album” is a must-have for collectors and lovers of unconventional hip-hop. Dive into the bizarre, unapologetic genius that only Kool Keith can deliver—now, finally, on wax.

Britny Fox is the eponymous debut album by American glam metal band Britny Fox, originally released in 1988. It was met with critical acclaim and near Platinum sales. Their lead single "Long Way To Love" made heavy rotation on MTV and the band won Metal Edge magazine's Best New Band award in 1988. Britny Fox was formed in 1985 in Philadelphia, fronted by lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist "Dizzy" Dean Davidson. Other band members included Billy Childs on bass, and two former members of the band Cinderella; Michael Kelly Smith on lead guitar and Tony Destra on drums. Their debut album remains their most popular work to date. Britny Fox is available as a limited edition of 750 copies on white coloured vinyl and includes an insert.

Tuning the Wind was created in 2022 as an installation piece. Since then, it has been adapted into multichannel, 4DSOUND, and stereo installations, as well as performed live on numerous occasions around the world. The piece has a duration of 36 minutes and 15 seconds. For the vinyl pressing, it has been divided into two parts.

Composer Aimée Portioli, known professionally as Grand River, recorded various types of wind and then reworked them through layering and pitch adjustment to create a musical piece where the wind itself becomes a prepared instrument. At times, the sound of the wind is tuned to the 440 Hz reference, while at other times, the instruments are tuned to the sound of the wind. In Tuning the Wind, nature and music merge seamlessly. Synthesizers and wind recordings become indistinguishable, blending natural sounds with human-made instruments. The boundary between a gust of wind and an instrument-generated sound fades away. Human artistry and nature’s symphony merge to become one.

Wind is air in motion. It makes no sound until it encounters an object. The sounds it produces depend on the strength of the wind and the shape and material of the object it touches. When the wind blows, trees sway, buildings rattle, materials move, and sound waves are generated. Some believe that temperature changes create layers of air, and that the friction between them forms a unique sound—perhaps the true voice of the wind, which birds may be the only creatures capable of recognising. Sometimes the wind howls; at other times, it sings or whistles, shifting from a gentle murmur to an angry roar. The wind’s range of frequencies, tones, and timbres is vast and varied. Tuning the Wind is a piece about the wind, made with the wind—an abstract expression of our ongoing conversation with nature.

Concept, composition and production by Aimée Portioli. Wind recordings by Aimée Portioli and Pablo Diserens.
Mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri. Front cover photo by Bárbara Cameán and Aimée Portioli. Back cover photo by Maria Louceiro. Design by Daniel Castrejón.

19 Songs in 31 Minuten, das sind im Schnitt 1,631578947368421 Minuten pro Song. Klingt erstmal viel, aber wenn man abrundet sind es nur noch 1,6 Minuten pro Song. Es geht wie immer erratisch zur Sache: Gleich zu Beginn und ganz am Ende verneigen sich Chefdenker vor den Beach Boys ohne diesen willkürlich gesteckten Rahmen mit Surf-Content zu füllen. Der Song "Schweine im Weltall" handelt überraschenderweise nicht von Elon Musk, sondern beantwortet mit waschechtem FUN-Punk die Frage ob Kunst heutzutage um jeden Preis politisch sein muss. "Schnubbi" ist ein schönes, aber auch trauriges Lied, andere Leute haben auch Probleme in "Die schwere Kindheit der künstlichen Intelligenz", "Impfen und Würstchen" läutet endlich eine angemessene Aufarbeitung der Corona Jahre ein. "Was soll bloss aus dir werden" ist ein Erziehungsratgebersong ohne Faktencheck, "Lass die Sau raus" beleuchtet die lächerliche Kulturkampftechnik des absichtlichen Missverstehens. Musikalisch gibt es zwischendurch immer wieder Wellness Passagen, ein bisschen Bossanova oder hier und da Stadionrock. Sepp Herberger würde sagen: Die LP ist rund und die Spielzeit dauert 31 Minuten.

19 Songs in 31 Minuten, das sind im Schnitt 1,631578947368421 Minuten pro Song. Klingt erstmal viel, aber wenn man abrundet sind es nur noch 1,6 Minuten pro Song. Es geht wie immer erratisch zur Sache: Gleich zu Beginn und ganz am Ende verneigen sich Chefdenker vor den Beach Boys ohne diesen willkürlich gesteckten Rahmen mit Surf-Content zu füllen. Der Song "Schweine im Weltall" handelt überraschenderweise nicht von Elon Musk, sondern beantwortet mit waschechtem FUN-Punk die Frage ob Kunst heutzutage um jeden Preis politisch sein muss. "Schnubbi" ist ein schönes, aber auch trauriges Lied, andere Leute haben auch Probleme in "Die schwere Kindheit der künstlichen Intelligenz", "Impfen und Würstchen" läutet endlich eine angemessene Aufarbeitung der Corona Jahre ein. "Was soll bloss aus dir werden" ist ein Erziehungsratgebersong ohne Faktencheck, "Lass die Sau raus" beleuchtet die lächerliche Kulturkampftechnik des absichtlichen Missverstehens. Musikalisch gibt es zwischendurch immer wieder Wellness Passagen, ein bisschen Bossanova oder hier und da Stadionrock. Sepp Herberger würde sagen: Die LP ist rund und die Spielzeit dauert 31 Minuten.

Tauchen Sie ein in die goldenen 60er Jahre mit der neuen Vinyl-Compilation „Chart Hits der 60er Jahre Vol. 1“! Diese exklusive Zusammenstellung bringt Ihnen die unvergesslichen Hits und Interpreten, die eine ganze Generation geprägt haben – in originaler Aufnahmequalität und mit zeitlosem Charme.

Erleben Sie die größten Erfolge der damaligen Zeit mit legendären Künstlern wie Nana Mouskouri, Connie Francis, Peter Alexander und Peter Kraus. Jede Seite der Schallplatte erzählt die musikalische Geschichte eines Jahrzehnts, das voller Emotionen, Melodien und Lebensfreude steckte. Freuen Sie sich auf eine sorgfältig kuratierte Auswahl von Originaltiteln, die die Hitparaden der 60er Jahre stürmten und bis heute Kultstatus genießen Ein Muss für Nostalgiker und Vinyl-Liebhaber gleichermaßen! „Chart Hits der 60er Jahre Vol. 1“ ist die perfekte Gelegenheit, die Magie der 60er Jahre neu zu entdecken – authentisch, emotional und unvergesslich.

Das Trio aus Mike Alvord, dem Gitarristen und Mitbegründer der legendären Holy Terror, dem italienischen Schlagzeuger Roby Vitari und Bassist Rick Zaccaro, spielt eine Mischung aus klassischem Thrash mit etlichen Killer-Riffs und inhaltlichem Tiefgang. MindWarsn wurde 2013 gegründet, wobei sich ihr Name natürlich auf das zweite Holy-Terror-Album "Mind Wars" (1988) bezieht, doch das Projekt stellt für den Gitarristen ein neues Kapitel dar. "Ich wollte nicht, dass jemand denkt, dies sei eine Fortsetzung von Holy Terror", stellt er klar. "Ich habe es immer als Anhängsel oder Erweiterung betrachtet, und es ist nur natürlich, dass es in unserer Musik Anklänge an Holy Terror gibt." MindWars haben schon einiges an Aufmerksamkeit mit ihren Shows erregt, darunter Auftritte im Vorprogramm von Raven und Mordred sowie Gigs bei Festivals wie Long Live the Loud (USA), Storm Crusher (Deutschland) oder True Thrash (Japan). Mit "V" blickt die Gruppe zuversichtlich nach vorne. "Ich habe Phasen, in denen mir Riffs und Songs in den Sinn kommen, und arbeite schon an neuen Songs", kündigt Mike an. "Aber jetzt freuen wir uns zunächst einmal, eine neue Label-Partnerschaft eingegangen zu sein, und gehen mit etwas Glück in naher Zukunft auf Tour beziehungsweise spielen auf dem einen oder anderen Festival."

Maltuka aus dem norwegischen Bergen sind eine aufstrebende Thrash-Metal-Macht, die mit ihrer Vier-Track-Debüt-EP „Black Rite“ für Furore sorgen wird. Gitarrist/Sänger Viljar Brunvoll und Schlagzeuger Mats lernten sich 2016/17 bei Psykopath kennen, mit denen sie zwei EPs aufnahmen und mehrere Konzerte gaben. Als sich diese Band auflöste, arbeiteten die beiden weiter gemeinsam an Demos, die schließlich zur Gründung von Maltuka führten. Mit Einflüssen, die von Metallica und Slayer über Nuclear Assault bis zu den Teutonic-Thrash-Legenden Sodom und Maltukas schwarzmetallischen Landsleuten Immortal reichen, verleihen die Musiker der bewährten Thrash-Formel eine individuelle Note. Die Songs von „Black Rite“ drehen sich um spirituelle und okkulte Themen, die der Musik Tiefe und Atmosphäre verleihen. Das Cover der EP, das auf einem Gemälde von Kim Diaz Holm (Sólstafir, Vreid) basiert, spiegelt die dunklen Themen der Songs wider. Und während sie als Einführung in Maltukas Sound dienen, hat die Gruppe ehrgeizige Pläne für die Zukunft. „Diese EP zeigt unseren härteren, direkteren Songwriting-Stil“, bemerkt Viljar. „Unser erstes Album wird dynamischer sein und eine breitere Palette an Einflüssen und Sounds bieten.“ Mit „Black Rite“ setzen Maltuka ein mutiges Zeichen, indem sie Thrash Metal eigenständig interpretieren, aber auch seine Wurzeln hochhalten. Die internationale Metal-Szene wird bald von dieser Band sprechen, und das hier ist erst der Anfang.

HotWax are a band set on experiencing life at its most intense. In the past two years, the Hastings-via-Brighton trio – comprising Tallulah Sim-Savage (vocals/guitar), Lola Sam (bass) and Alfie Sayers (drums) – have toured the world over, clocking up over 150 dates, including shows with Royal Blood and Frank Carter, and major festival appearances at Reading & Leeds and All Points East. Out of all this comes debut album Hot Shock (due March 7 via Marathon Artists), a record of adrenaline-jolted anthems about abandoning fear and leaping boldly towards the future.

HotWax worked with an all-female production team at the prestigious RAK studios, Catherine Marks (Boygenius, Wolf Alice) and Steph Marziano (Hayley Williams, Let’s Eat Grandma), as well as additional recording with Stella Mozgawa of Warpaint in Joshua Tree, California.

These songs were made to be played to a crowd, loud and with abandon. But there’s also a beating pulse of vulnerability underscoring the album. It’s an honest, moving sentiment sure to propel HotWax towards becoming the UK’s next big crossover rock act – and beyond.

"Britain’s most thrilling and fiercely confident new rockers” - NME “they’re a total inspiration – wicked songwriting, stunning stage presence, and a sheer, raw, couldn’t-give-a-flying attitude that punches you to the gut.” - Clash

Arny Margret, Iceland’s remarkable and poetic upcoming singer-songwriter, is due to release her second album ‘I Miss You, I Do’ on March 7th via One Little Independent Records. The follow-up to 2022’s celebrated, minimalist folk debut ‘they only talk about the weather’ sees her working with new producers in America to develop and hone a sound that’s more textured, expansive, and mature.

‘I Miss You, I Do’ incorporates sessions from Arny Margret’s trips to New York City, North Carolina, and Colorado, as well as those recorded in Iceland. During extensive international touring, she wrote prolifically and spent time getting to know producers and musicians who each brought their own unique and individual talents to the project. Arny’s atmospheric and introspective material has been layered with country-inflected full band ensembles, keys, banjo, harmonium, slide guitar and more, adding an ambience that only enhances her natural ability to convey crystal-clear imagery within thematically rich writing.

In pursuit of her creative vision, Arny enlisted producers Josh Kaufman, Andrew Berlin, Brad Cook, and Guðm. “Kiddi” Kristinn Jónsson. Josh Kaufman is best known for his work with Grateful Dead founder Bob Weir, The National, This Is The Kit, Hiss Golden Messenger, Josh Ritter, and The War on Drugs. Andrew Berlin, GRAMMY nominated for his work on Gregory Alan Isakov’s record ‘Evening Machines’, also mixes national punk rock staples such as A Wilhelm Scream, Rise Against, and Teenage Bottlerocket. Brad Cook served as a producer for Bon Iver, Big Red Machine, Waxahatchee, Hand Habits, Kevin Morby, and Whitney amongst others. Arny also returned to Iceland to record with her long-time collaborator and friend Kiddi Jónsson in Reykjavík, Iceland.

Waxwork Records is thrilled to release PHANTASM Original Motion Picture Score by Fred Myrow and Malcolm Seagrave. In celebration of the iconic Horror film's 45th Anniversary, this special triple LP features the complete score sourced from the original 1979 master tapes for the first time in any format, a full LP of never before released cues from the Phantasm score recordings sessions, and the newly re-mastered original 1979 score album.

Directed by Don Coscarelli, Phantasm has become a horror classic due to its surreal and unconventional storytelling. Filming on weekends over the span of a year, and working with a budget of only $300,000, Coscarelli and his crew created a bizarre, gorey, and entirely original horror film. Some of the most famous aspects of the film, like the floating silver orb, come directly from Coscarelli’s dreams, which give the film an even more ethereal feel. Composers Fred Myrow and Malcolm Seagrave were inspired by the horror scores of Goblin (Suspiria) and Mike Oldfield (The Exorcist) to create the haunting sounds of Phantasm. Myrow and Seagrave were working with synthesizers in the early days of the instrument. Says Coscarelli, “The synthesizers we used back then were so primitive that you couldn't repeat something; you would program the synthesizer, which means setting all of these dials to create a sound, and you went back and tried to get it again and forget it - it was impossible.

"I recently received notice that our long-term film storage vault in the basement of the historic Howard Hughes Headquarters building on the corner of Romaine and Sycamore in Hollywood was being permanently closed. During the process of moving out our negative materials, I came across the original three reels of Ampex 456 analog tape used in the Phantasm score recording sessions. Listening now to the score, including the outtake tracks, I am impressed with how inventive and adventurous Fred and Malcolm were in their approach to scoring Phantasm."

Waxwork Records is excited to release the definitive PHANTASM Original Motion Picture Score by Fred Myrow and Malcolm Seagrave as a deluxe 3xLP with features including the expanded and complete score sourced from the original 1979 master tapes, never before released score cues from the Phantasm recording sessions, and the newly re-mastered original 1979 score album. Each disc is pressed to "Silver Sphere" metallic silver colored vinyl and housed in a heavyweight triple gatefold jacket. Also included are exclusive liner notes by Phantasm writer, director, and producer Don Coscarelli, an 11""x11"" insert, and full album artwork by Graham Humphreys.

The follow-up to their eponymous 2022 debut album, ‘What Is Your Definition Of Happiness?’ finds Dubinski broadening their sonic palette with the help of Grammy award winning producers Mike Horner (Franz Ferdinand, Placebo, Hot Chip) and Robbie Nelson (Beck, Royal Blood, The Kooks). Across an album themed around the concept of happiness you’ll find tales of crushed dreams, doomed romance and the perils of trying to survive as a DIY live band, all set to a compelling suite of bulletproof melodies which fuse elements of Franz Ferdinand, Parquet Courts, The Clash, Maximo Park, and even Paul Simon.

“A lot of these songs have something bittersweet to them,” says vocalist Eugene. “It’s a record of love, happiness, pain, sorrow, grief, healing, growth and acceptance. We wanted to tell a story with this album, and it flows similar to the way the seasons change.”

I Was A King. For nearly 20 years they have been a warm beating heart in Norwegian music scene, reliable suppliers of perfect pop and sonic happiness. Led by Anne Lise Frøkedal and Frode Strømstad, they have come with infectious melodic strength and rich harmonies. The formula has been a classic four-piece approach to the music. Their music has been widely acclaimed by critics in Norway, as well as in the US and UK. While perpetuating the legacy of icons like The Byrds, Big Star, Teenage Fanclub and even My Bloody Valentine, they keep playing by their own rules on each release, combining music history with a modern perspective.

"Best Wishes - A Shortcut to I Was a King" collects highlights from their rich catalog, on wich they have collaborated with international figures such as Sufjan Stevens, Robyn Hitchcock and Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub) to name a few.

After a five-year absence following 2020’s creative elevator-punk explosion Roundelay, Ashley Eriksson, Eli Moore, and Andrew Dorsett of LAKE return with Bucolic Gone, a mature and polished album that is at once groovy, upbeat, meditative, and slow-rolled. As LAKE’s 10th official full-length release, Bucolic Gone is a cohesive work of sophisti-pop that embodies an adult, contemporary sound—intimate, serene, mournful, and hopeful in equal measure.

The multi-instrumental trio is joined by an impressive lineup of collaborators, including guest vocalists Nicholas Krgovich on “Glad Rags” and Daisy Jaberi of Suver with original lyrics on “Love Is Deeper.” Frequent contributors also make appearances: Karl Blau delivers standout shredding on “Ferrari,” Mark Buzard of The Format provides guitar textures across multiple tracks, and New York jazz musician Eric Vanderbuilt-Matthews contributes intricate woodwind arrangements. Steve Moore (Earth, Sunn O))),

First Aid Kit, Sufjan Stevens) adds trombone to “Love Is Deeper,” while legendary Canadian singer Jenn Grant lends her unique vocals to the outro of “Ferrari.” Recorded at The Anacortes Unknown Recording Studio by longtime collaborator Nicholas Wilbur and in the band’s own home studios, Bucolic Gone marks another step forward for Eli Moore in production and mixing. His meticulous attention to arrangement and balance—alongside an arsenal of distorted “whatchamacallits”—creates a rich, layered sound. Celebrating 20 years of ethereal, yearning pop songs, LAKE’s latest effort is their most produced but also most intimate album. Now signed to Don Giovanni Records, the band is ready to continue delivering jams. While the world has changed since LAKE’s last official release, Bucolic Gone shows that time has been on their side.

If the sanguine cedar scent of Cosmic Americana and the bright jingle jangle of Neo-Psych Rock has led you through the last couple of years, then chances are good you’ve had a brush with Silver Synthetic. The members of the New Orleans band ditched the dirtier riffs of their past projects (Jeff The Brotherhood, Bottomfeeders) for a West Coast curl that balanced country twang and honeyed harmonies with a rhythmic stomp that fishtailed through the speakers with glee.

An eponymous full length on Third Man fully distilled the scope of their sound, turning stage-battered ballads and barroom burners into one of 2021’s most promising debuts. They return for a second salvo, honed with a tour-tight symbiosis and some ace drop-ins from southern slingers Luke Schneider (pedal steel) and Rex Gregory (sax, flute). Rosalie finds Silver Synthetic refining their sound, softening their approach, and letting a breeze of ‘70s AOR weave among the country swagger. Between the tanned riffs, the band also balances societal burnout with sunshine, transforming scoffs and sneers into smoke-curled sighs draped in a windows-down aura.

They make their way to Curation Records for the new outing, a welcome home for the band’s sun-streaked Americana, turning ‘Preflyte’ Byrds, JJ grooves, beach-bound Neil, and ‘Water of Love’-era Dire Straits into an album that smooths the seams and steers the listener towards new horizons.

If the sanguine cedar scent of Cosmic Americana and the bright jingle jangle of Neo-Psych Rock has led you through the last couple of years, then chances are good you’ve had a brush with Silver Synthetic. The members of the New Orleans band ditched the dirtier riffs of their past projects (Jeff The Brotherhood, Bottomfeeders) for a West Coast curl that balanced country twang and honeyed harmonies with a rhythmic stomp that fishtailed through the speakers with glee.

An eponymous full length on Third Man fully distilled the scope of their sound, turning stage-battered ballads and barroom burners into one of 2021’s most promising debuts. They return for a second salvo, honed with a tour-tight symbiosis and some ace drop-ins from southern slingers Luke Schneider (pedal steel) and Rex Gregory (sax, flute). Rosalie finds Silver Synthetic refining their sound, softening their approach, and letting a breeze of ‘70s AOR weave among the country swagger. Between the tanned riffs, the band also balances societal burnout with sunshine, transforming scoffs and sneers into smoke-curled sighs draped in a windows-down aura.

They make their way to Curation Records for the new outing, a welcome home for the band’s sun-streaked Americana, turning ‘Preflyte’ Byrds, JJ grooves, beach-bound Neil, and ‘Water of Love’-era Dire Straits into an album that smooths the seams and steers the listener towards new horizons.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a 2000 wuxia film directed by Ang Lee. Taking place in 18th-century Qing dynasty China, the story revolves around a warrior who gives his sword, Green Destiny, to his lover to deliver to safe keeping, but it is stolen, and the chase is on to retrieve it. The film was praised for its story, direction, and cinematography, and for its martial arts sequences. It won the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The score was composed by Tan Dun, containing many solo passages for cello by Yo-Yo Ma. The track “A Love Before Time” features Coco Lee. This album is released as a limited edition of 750 copies on translucent red vinyl.

Nach Releases auf Too Pure, God Unknown und Big Scary Monsters erscheint das neue Album des Londoner Brüderpaares Cassels auf Human Worth. Produziert von Alex Petersen (aka Vincent Vocoder Voice) ersetzt das Duo scharfzüngige Charakterskizzen mit einem berauschenden Cocktail aus Philosophie und Körperhorror. Vorbei sind Flirts mit Indie-Rock und Elektro, stattdessen wird eine aufregende Vision dessen präsentiert, was harte Musik sein kann. "Tracked In Mud" ist der Soundtrack zum Leben in den letzten Tagen einer arroganten, technokratischen Höllenlandschaft. Die LP erscheint auf Ecomix-Vinyl in Topausstattung. 10% aller Einnahmen gehen an das gemeinschaftliche Lebensmittelzentrum/Vertriebsnetzwerk The Hornbeam Centre.

"A Blade Because A Blade Is Whole" is the latest album from London-based composer-poet-activist-improviser Alabaster DePlume, his first major work following 2022"s "Gold" and 2020"s "To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals Vol 1". The 11-song album covers all of DePlume"s musical touchstones: lush and gentle instrumentals informed by ghostly ancient folk melodies; groove-focused rhythm explorations as a bed for self-searching spoken declamations; sweeping and beautiful string arrangements (in this case by Macie Stewart) set against his trademark vibrato-infused tenor sax whispermoan.

"A Blade Because A Blade Is Whole" is the latest album from London-based composer-poet-activist-improviser Alabaster DePlume, his first major work following 2022"s "Gold" and 2020"s "To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals Vol 1". The 11-song album covers all of DePlume"s musical touchstones: lush and gentle instrumentals informed by ghostly ancient folk melodies; groove-focused rhythm explorations as a bed for self-searching spoken declamations; sweeping and beautiful string arrangements (in this case by Macie Stewart) set against his trademark vibrato-infused tenor sax whispermoan.

Western Skies Motel, das Instrumental-Musik Projekt des Dänen René Gonzalez Schelbeck veröffentlicht sein viertes Album 'Trails'. Seine Musik wird oft als „Ambient Americana“ beschrieben, widersetzt sich jedoch einem so simplen Etikett. Sie ist eindrucksvoll und atmosphärisch und hat zweifellos musikalische Gemeinsamkeiten mit Künstlern wie Arvo Pärt, Daniel Lanois, den Soundtracks von Nick Cave und Warren Ellis, Grouper, William Basinski und sogar mit dem düsteren Americana-Drone-Rock von Earth, wie René es prägnant ausdrückt: „Ich mag Einfachheit. Weniger Noten und längere Noten.“

Emanuela Hutter and Oliver Baroni front this Anglo-Italian masterly, modern rockabilly band, making worldwide waves from their home base of Zurich. Highlights of this 2011 relaunch album Buy Beg or Steal include a rockabilly cover of Enola Gay and their classic hit duet between Demented Are Go"s Sparky and Emanuela: My Love For Evermore. The song"s murder ballad viral video now has over 25,000,000 views. An international cult hit, it has also inspired myriad tattoos, multiple 7" pressings and well over fifty cover versions. The LP version features an exclusive extra track.

Polands Acid Techno maestro Ciuciek remixes 4 classic SUF tracks in to bouncy 303 monsters, these being Magnum Forces A Right Bunch Of Charlies, Rozzers Dogs Now Im Going To Repeat That For Those Of You On Drugs, Carbines SeeSaw, and Timestretch Armstrongs Silver Surfer.

Damian Lazarus and JOJO ABOT unleash mesmerising new single ‘Warrior Dance’ on Crosstown Rebels. The single builds on the release of the Crosstown founder’s fifth album ‘Magickal’, with remixes provided by Major League Djz and Raxon.

Following the initial shock-drop release of his latest album ‘Magikal’ and the 2025 edition of his revered Day Zero Festival in Tulum, Crosstown Rebels founder Damian Lazarus unveils his next sonic offering, ‘Warrior Dance’, featuring Ghanaian interdisciplinary artist and healer JOJO ABOT.

A dynamic and powerful composition, ‘Warrior Dance’ sees Lazarus and JOJO ABOT craft an entrancing fusion of pulsating beats, immersive textures, and commanding vocals, adding to the album’s diverse soundscapes and blending hypnotic rhythms with amapiano influences. Their synergy extends beyond this track, with the duo having already collaborated on ‘Force’, another standout moment from ‘Magikal’ that showcases JOJO ABOT’s evocative vocal prowess and the influence of her Ghanaian roots.

The release also features two expertly curated remixes as Lazarus once again showcases his renowned A&R talents. South African trailblazers Major League Djz serve up signature driving and captivating grooves, following their remix of Lazarus’ ‘Into The Sun’ feat. Jem Cooke as part of ‘Crosstown Rebels pres. CR20 The Album: Unreleased Gems and Remixes’. Meanwhile, Egyptian-born, Barcelona-based DJ/producer Raxon makes his Crosstown Rebels debut, delivering a tunnelling, driving and off-kilter rework that stays true to his trademark sound, as heard on labels like Kompakt, Ellum, and Diynamic.

Ajay Saggar is BHAJAN BHOY. "With BHAJAN BHOY, Saggar synthesizes all of the stylistic approaches he’s explored over the years, swirling them into an intoxicating musical blend, with an earthy spirituality. Even the project’s name reflects the dual aspects of Saggar’s upbringing coming together in harmony. In Hindi, a “bhajan” is a devotional song, sung in the mandir, or temple, while “bhoy” is a Scottish and Irish derivation for a young man. There’s a searching quality to Bhajan Bhoy, as if Saggar is still hunting for transcendence with each track, whether through an expansive drone, an orchestral facility on the piano, or an electronics-augmented raga that threatens to dip into noise” (Erick Bradshaw / writer and WFMU DJ). This album presents a rich and varied set of compositions that showcase Saggar’s skills as an incredibly talented and accomplished composer and musician. With each and every Bhajan Bhoy LP, you are are carried to a higher place. With ‘Bhoy On The Wire’, the 35 minutes laid out unfolds like a cosmic tapestry, an extraordinary exploration that shimmers and reverberates with newfound vibrancy. The songs were broadcast as part of a session on Steve Barker’s “On The Wire” radio show in April 2024. They were a gift to Steve and his team for 40 years of broadcasting. “On The Wire” is simply the greatest radio show in the world. As Ajay explains in his own words : “In September 1984, I started a degree course at the University of Lancaster. On a wet and soggy Sunday afternoon towards the end of September, I sat in my room staring out at the grey Lancashire landscape, and decided to alleviate the boredom by seeing if there was anything to listen to on the radio. Most of the stations I tuned into were as dull as the weather outside. However, as I neared the end of the FM dial (and was about to give up hope), I chanced upon a station where I was taken by the music being played. That show was “On The Wire”, introduced by Steve Barker. From there on in, every Sunday, between 2-5pm, I tuned into Radio Lancashire to listen. Steve’s shows had an incredible and wide reaching selection of music and genres, that thrilled your ears and left you wanting more. Tied to that, his deep knowledge of the material he played helped the listener dig into the sounds even more, and also left you in admiration of this trait. In 1985, I started putting on DIY shows in Lancaster (inviting the likes of Bog-Shed, bIG fLAME, The Membranes, The Wedding Present, etc etc) and Steve was kind enough to mention the shows on-air, which helped in getting people from different parts of the county to come to the shows. At the tail-end of 1985, he invited me to the studio to come and hang out. When in 1988, the group I was in, Dandelion Adventure, released our first (demo) cassette, it was Steve, who not only played tracks off it, but invited the group to the studio for an interview. Now if you’re a young band, that is a massive thrill! And in 1990, when Dandelion Adventure did a John Peel session, I actually used “On The Wire” jingles (that Steve had put on a cassette and given to me a few years before) on the track “All the World’s A Lounge”. Since then, the show has been a mainstay for me, and so many others around the world, to get turned onto incredible sounds from around the world. And over the course of 40 years, Steve has always supported my music. These six tracks are a 40th birthday gift to the “On The Wire” team (Steve, Michael “Fenny” Fenton (an absolutely critical part of the show), and Jim Ingham (engineer who keeps the technical side of things going)) for sharing so much amazing music, and making the world a better place. They were originally broadcast as an exclusive session in April 2024 on “On The Wire", and are here for your listening pleasure. Music like shower”. Artwork by Jake Blanchard

Repressed LP on Neon Orange Vinyl, includes download card. It feels like someone left the light on in the studio and it all just ran itself, there had been a funky human input earlier in the day but, by a Darwinian machine-led kind of osmosis, the tracks recorded spent the wee small hours self-reducing and simplifying themselves. Marinated in music. “I believe more in the scissors than I do in the pencil,” said Truman Capote. ”Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” opined Leonardo da Vinci much earlier in proceedings. Yes, it’s the space around the object, what you leave out that makes what you leave in so important. ESG know this. Sure they can play the game but it’s the swagger of the groove and the minimal topping – like an anti-cup cake – that makes this unique New York sisterhood so appealing on ‘Keep On Moving’. Sampled on TV ads, lauded by critics and swooned over on the dancefloor, ESG’s post-punk took out the grunge and polished the basics. Cut them open and “less is more” is written all the way through. ‘Keep On Moving’ was released over ten years ago to much praise (Q said it was “even better” than 2002’s much loved ‘Step Off’). ESG had been sparring partners for PiL and early hip hop and four years after the ‘Off’, they were onto something new – rhythm as core, reflective storylines about relationship management, sensuality and insanity gather around the bass fix but they’re much blurrier than the incessant beats. Inadvertently they unmask techno and glitch and leave out any kind of superfluous fluff. It’s hard and temple throbbing. Turn it up. And keep moving. “If there's one tune which sums up ESG's enduring lust for life, it's the beautifully-judged Black Flag/early techno crossover of the closing 'Gimme A Blast'.” The Guardian 5/5 // “This album's every percussive aspect has been honed to impart the maximum amount of pleasure.” The Observer // “Despite their influence on younger bands (you can hear LCD Soundsystem's knobbly grooves on ‘Insane’), ESG still sound like nothing else.” The Guardian

Repressed LP on Neon Orange Vinyl. “ESG's fusion of sweet soul and punk attitude with an intuitive understanding of dance music remains.” The Guardian “This is still funk with an alien otherworldliness the likes of which George Clinton never envisioned, stripped to its barest essentials for maximum impact.” All Music “ESG are as cool as ever.” The Guardian Pumping their way out of the South Bronx of New York in the early 80s, this rhythm and dance-punk outfit made unforgettable funk that was also unusually rooted in post-punk. This powerhouse of raw and cutting edge music ultimately made them ahead of their time. ESG enjoyed success sharing stages with PiL and Gang Of Four and have been heavily sampled as many musicians including TLC, Wu-Tang Clan, Beastie Boys and Liars.

Sopa Boba is a Belgian-Dutch electronic, modern classical project. The idea behind the form is a so-called Oratorio from the present age which unfolds a dramatc tale within a sociopolitcal framework. The compositons incorporate a neo-classical style string quartet, harsh modular sytnhs and spoken word vocals. It features Pavel Tchikov (Ogives) and G.W. Sok (The Ex, Oiseaux-Tempête).

That Moment is an adaptation of the eponymous text by Moldavian writer Nicola Esinencu. The starting point of That Moment takes place in a real fact, which happened in present-time Moldavia, where a father cut his son's finger with an axe, as a punishment for stealing a bit ofmoney from the father's wallet. From there the author combines the tale and its reality with a caustic irony, interrogating an unbridled capitalist society, where everything and everyone is for sale. The total playing-tme is 55 minutes, somewhere in between a hybrid electronic - modern classical oratorio and a concept album, with seven tracks that serve as seven chapters of an ironic and satiric story about the downward spiral of the capitalist society.

Balance and Composure machen 2013 da weiter, wo sie mit dem Debut Separation zwei jahre zuvor aufgehört hatten. Wieder einmal die Grenzen ihrer Musik auslotend, mit treibenden Riffs und intensivem, leidenschaftlichem Gesang auf dem damals zweiten Studioalbum "The Things We Think We're Missing". Es ist die Art von Album, die den Hörer zum Innehalten und Nachdenken anregt und Momente des Glücks und der Traurigkeit im Laufe von 13 Songs bereithält. Bei Erstveröffentlichung erreichte The Things We Think We're Missing #Platz 51 der Billboard 200 und wurde von mehreren Publikationen als "eines der besten Alben des Jahres" gelobt. Nach Alben auf No Sleep/Hopeless und Vagrant hat sich die Bnad nach einer Pause im Jahr 2023 wieder zusammengetan und veröffentlichte ihr viertes Studioalbum im Oktober 2024 auf Memory Music (Run For Cover). B & C können laut sein, leise und alles dazwischen. Eine ziemlich treffende Beschreibung, wenn auch etwas heruntergebrochen.Ein sound-ästhetischer Angriff, der Einflüsse wie Sunny Day Real Estate, Neutral Milk Hotel und Nirvana offen legt, seit 2011 sind Balance and Composure als einer der vielversprechendsten Underground-Rock-Newcomer im Segment Punk/HC präsent! Für Fans von Citizen, Turnover, Tigers Jaw, Touché Amoré, Sunny Day Real Estate.... - Neue 2025er-Pressung auf hell-rosa Vinyl!

BENMONT TENCHs neues Album The Melancholy Season ist sein zweites Soloalbum nach vier Jahrzehnten an den Keyboards bei Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The Melancholy Season erschien bei Dark
Horse Records und ist Tenchs wahrer Einstand als Singer-Songwriter, ohne Kompromisse oder Zweifel. Es
wurde von Jonathan Wilson produziert – einem gefeierten Singer-Songwriter und Tourgitarristen von Roger
Waters, der an karrierebestimmenden Alben für Dawes, Father John Misty und Margo Price gearbeitet hat.
Die Kern-Studioband des Albums bestand unter anderem aus Taylor Goldsmith von Dawes an der Gitarre,
Sebastian Steinberg von Soul Coughing am Bass und Wilson am Schlagzeug, mit Beiträgen von Jenny O.
und Sara Watkins. Tench „könnte nicht glücklicher sein“, ein Zuhause für The Melancholy Season bei
Dark Horse Records gefunden zu haben, und sagt, es sei „ein Label, das mich emotional berührt. Und sie
haben die Musik von George, Cat Stevens, Joe Strummer – das sind Autoren. In dieser Gesellschaft zu
sein, ist perfekt.“

Brahems musikalisches Verständnis mit Holland – erstmals auf dem Album Thimar von 1998 festgehalten
– ist inzwischen legendär. „Daves Spiel verleiht mir Flügel“, sagte Anouar – eine Beobachtung, die sich auf
dem Album wiederholt bestätigt. Django Bates’ Klavier, durchweg eine wichtige begleitende Kraft, steuert
wirbelnde Soli bei. Das Album markiert das erste Mal, dass Anouar ein Violoncello in eine Formation
einbaut. Anja Lechner, die eine stimmführende Rolle in der Aufnahme einnimmt, ist seit langem mit
Brahems Kompositionen vertraut und hat sie u.a. in ihr eigenes Konzertrepertoire aufgenommen. Ihr
Cello hat hier das erste und letzte Wort. After the Last Sky wurde im Mai 2024 im Auditorio Stelio Molo
RSI in Lugano aufgenommen und von Manfred Eicher produziert. Das Album erscheint pünktlich zur
Europatournee des Quartetts mit Konzerten in Frankreich, Deutschland, den Niederlanden, der Schweiz
und Belgien

This album, recorded in 1957, brings together a dream team of jazz musicians. The singer, with her rich tone and soulful inflections, is supported by top-tier players. Sonny Rollins on tenor saxophone delivers exquisitely refined solos, while Max Roach on drums provides subtle yet impactful rhythms. Paul Chambers on bass and Wynton Kel1ly on piano offer impeccable harmonic support. Between poignant ballads and more upbeat tracks, each piece is a gem.

Helena Casella is a Belgian-Brazilian vocalist with a multicultural background who vocalizes her thoughts in her own passionate, soulful, and tasteful manner. She grew up in an incredibly musical family with strong ties to the broader artistic world. This rich background is clearly audible in her musical approach, where she blends genres such as R&B, soul, hip-hop, and modern jazz without breaking the connection to the vibrant sounds of Brazil, where part of her roots lie. The depth of her soft, warm voice pulls you into her story, floating between the realms of the intimate and the ethereal.

With her debut album 'Pit Of Impressions,' Helena shows that she is an artist from whom we have yet to hear the best.

File under: neo soul, nu jazz, R&B

Sounds like: The Internet, Hiatus Kaiyote, Michi, Solange, Erykah Badu, Charlotte Dos Santos, ...