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After two collaborative releases on raum…musik — first with Federico Molinari and then Giuliano Lomonte — Alexis Cabrera steps into the spotlight for the 118th release of the label. "Dreaming Of A Silver Future" is a club-ready 3-track EP exploring various shades of Tech House, solidifying his talent for crafting fresh dancefloor groovers brimming with swag.

The title track, 'Dreaming Of A Silver Future' (A1), is the most colourful offer of the EP — a relentless groover immersed in organ chords, synth stabs, addicting vocal samples and a fully pumpin' bassline. 'Your Name On My Arm' (B1) puts its wicked bass and hypnotic vocal samples at the centre of the stage, creating an atmosphere of frantic, slightly wicked vibes drenched in hip-hop swagger. 'Do You Wanna Wonder' (B2) closes the EP in full swing, forefronting yet again its ominous-yet-hypnotic bassline between bouncy drums, shuffly rhythms and quirky vocal samples reminiscent of some sort of hypermodern pop.

"Dreaming Of A Silver Future" continues Cabrera's reputation for delivering groove-heavy music for the hottest dancefloors, showcasing his ability to navigate, with style, the infinite nuances of the Tech House spectrum, all while keeping things undeniably club-focused. And raum…musik, known for its refined curation of underground top-shelf dancefloor records, is the perfect home for this release.

The third edition of our 2xLP Suntrip Classix series is now available! We chose the name Gaia for this one. And as usual, it has a reason. The front picture is made on earth (or Gaia). And its not just earth, it is the beach of ZNA festival. On this soil we celebrated the music and our life so deeply. We are lucky beings to live on such a wonderful planet so the Gaia artwork is a tribute to our mother earth!

The photography was made by Simeon Van Der Hoeven and the people on the cover are all volunteer on the festival itself! :) And the music? Well, the name Suntrip Classix says exactly where this is all about. 8
of our most acclaimed, wanted and loved tracks, finally available on vinyl :)

Occasionally an album comes along that seems to capture the mood of the time. "The K&D Sessions" was one. In the late 1990s no afterparty, smoking session or languid Sunday afternoon was complete without Kruder & Dorfmeister blasting from the Bang & Olufsen. Now approaching it"s 25th anniversary the lore around this iconic release, steeped in a silvery cloud of smoke, retains a star quality which only shines brighter as time hurtles on. With the original having sold well over a million copies by this point in time, it"s hard to imagine a mix or remix compilation being able to inform a movement like "The K&D Sessions" has. To celebrate this monumental milestone, we"ve created a limited boxset in 6LP and 3CD of "The K&D Sessions", mastered and cut by LA luminary Bernie Grundman for a luxurious listening experience, with newly designed inner sleeves using unseen photos from the original photo shoot. Inserted in the box is a forty-page booklet containing multitudes more never before seen photos from the same shoot and notes which recount humorous tales surrounding the duo and the people who spent time with them in this epoch. Included on the 6th LP is their legendary 11 minute shimmering remix of Madonna"s "Nothing Really Matters". The 6th LP also contains Peter Kruder"s Powercut Mix of Roni Size"s "Heroes" and K&D"s remix of U.F.O, "L.O.V.E.". In addition there are two cerebral alternate remixes of Lewis Taylor, one being completely dubbed and the other the using the vocal line for this beautiful gem, "Lucky" and a special remix of "Speechless" by Count Basic. These have been staples in K&D"s sets and now take their rightful place collected in the canon of "The Sessions".

(incl 40p fanzine written by Matt Annis with photographs by Simon Pyke and Ian Brodie) Postpunk Theory is a meticulously curated compilation by the legendary Tony Thorpe, known for his work with The Moody Boys, 400 Blows, and The KLF. These classic tracks were played at parties by Thorpe at the time, making them his personal classics. The compilation features 16 rare and sought-after tracks from the post-punk era, including works by Mark Stewart and The Maffia, Basement 5, 23 Skidoo and more.



Defining post-punk is no easy task. While punk was defined by a raw, rebellious simplicity, post-punk (1978-1986) expanded into a diverse array of sounds and ideas. It maintained punk's independent spirit but embraced experimentation, incorporating influences from various musical and cultural traditions, resulting in a movement far more eclectic and fragmented than its predecessor.

At its core, post-punk broke away from traditional rock structures, blending genres like industrial, goth, and punk-funk with emerging dance music cultures. This era's spirit of innovation and defiance against musical norms continues to inspire, making post-punk a pivotal moment in music history that defies easy categorization.

Tony Thorpe presents Postpunk Theory - Alpha ? is a meticulously curated compilation by the legendary Tony Thorpe, known for his work with The Moody Boys, 400 Blows, and The KLF. These classic tracks were played at parties by Thorpe at the time, making them his personal classics. The compilation features 16 rare and sought-after tracks from the post-punk era, including works by Mark Stewart and The Maffia, Basement 5, 23 Skidoo, African Headcharge, and more.

Growing up in a vibrant musical environment in South London, Thorpe was deeply influenced by the eclectic sounds around him, from jazz-funk to Brit-Funk, and later, the post-punk records he discovered. As Thorpe recalls, "Post-punk was a mishmash of different cultures and ideas. Out of post-punk came dance music culture. That period was the most creative time because the culture was in its experimental phase." This compilation captures that innovative spirit, offering a glimpse into the era that shaped Thorpe's musical journey.

The album comes as a limited 2xLP set, accompanied by an extensive 40-page fanzine. The fanzine, written by Matt Annis (Join The Future), dives deep into the post-punk movement, offering insight and context enriched with striking photographs by Simon Pyke and Ian Brodie.

The REER collective breaks new ground with its debut 2x12" VA release featuring some of the best established and emerging names the industrial scene has to offer. The revolution starts here.

Die erste umfassende Compilation ihrer Art, "Even the Forest Hums: Ukrainian Sonic Archives 1971-1996" erforscht die blühende ukrainische Musikszene des späten 20. Jahrhunderts. Von subtil vom politischen Kurs abweichenden Singles aus der Sowjet-Ära bis hin zu DIY-Aufnahmen aus der pulsierenden Kiewer Underground-Szene zeichnet die Zusammenstellung die Entwicklung der reichen ukrainischen Musiklandschaft anhand seltener Folk-, Rock-, Jazz- und Elektronikaufnahmen nach. Sorgfältig kuratiert in Zusammenarbeit mit dem ukrainischen Label Shukai Records und mit voller Unterstützung der einzelnen Künstler. Vitalii "Bard" Bardetskyi, ein in Kiew lebender Filmemacher, DJ und Autor, führt die Hörer durch die physischen Ausgaben des Albums mit aufschlussreichen Linernotes und Track-by-Track-Details. Die 2xLP ist in einer wunderschönen Klappverpackung untergebracht, die die geliebten und ikonischen Folk-Gemälde der ukrainischen Künstlerin Maria Prymachenko präsentiert. Die Vinylausgabe enthält ein 20-seitiges Booklet mit Künstlerfotos und Linernotes in Englisch und Ukrainisch, gepresst auf Clear Blue Sky & Sunflower Yellow Wachs; die CD-Ausgabe enthält Bonusmaterial in einem 64-seitigen, gebundenen Deluxe-Buch. Ein Teil des Erlöses wird an Livyj Bereh gespendet, eine in Kiew ansässige Freiwilligengruppe, die sich für den Wiederaufbau in den vom anhaltenden Krieg in der Ukraine betroffenen Regionen einsetzt.

DJ support from Husky, Hector Romero, Javi Bora,Grace Bones, Judge Jules, Sebb Junior, Jay Vegas,Odyssey Inc, ATFC, Claptone, Black Legend, CevinFisher, Michael Gray, Kisch, Hoxton Whores, FullIntention, Booker T, Jamie Jones, Knights Of TheTurntable, Sam Divine, DJ Rae, CASSIMM, Alex Preston

We’ve got a very special vinyl release for you; a brand-new rework of the 1982 classic ‘Do It To The Music’ by New York Dance group, Raw Silk being refreshed for 2024 by legendary UK DJ and producer, Michael Gray. Perfectly in-keeping with the Fool’s Paradise brand and ethos we have built over the past year, West End Records was a label close to our hearts having been one of the most influential dance labels of the past forty years and went on to define the sound of New York City during the heyday of Disco and the ever-popular, Studio 54. With the original reaching #5 in the US Billboard Dance Chart and #18 in the UK SinglesChart, such a classic West End Records record could only be revisited by one of the very best, and who better than Michael Gray to refresh this dance floor gem! Michael’s reworks pays true homage to the original adding his signature flair and groovy, funk-leaden sound. Featuring an exclusive reprise mix which is only available on the vinyl package!

Radio support on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 6 Music,BBC Radio Cornwall, Hedkandi, Kiss FM, Mi-Soul,Gaydio, Radio 105 / Montecarlo (Italy), Mambo Radio,Rinse fm, Select Radio, Totally Wired Radio, PointBlank, RTE, Power fm (Ireland), Metro FM (SA), CoolFm, Radio Reverb, Radio FG (France), Release Radioand many more.

After an extensive catalog of digital deep, minimal and tech house releases, Mole Music makes its debut in the realm of vinyl with a fresh selection of dancefloor weapons from a fine array of artists, each offering their unique takes on deep house, tech, and minimal sounds. The A-side kicks off with JHNS "Nevermind", a minimalistic, low-end heavyweight groove driven by rubbery drums and a tight bassline. Steve End & Colau follow with a silky late-night hypnotic track, while El Funkador closes the A-side with an uplifting, drum-shuffling deep house cut, complete with funky synths and chord progressions. On the B-side, "Night Strobe", a collaboration between Alben, LAJE, and Erratic, brings a retro-futuristic feel with a fast-paced, garage-tinged vibe. This sets the stage for HOT DLVRY's "Friction", a thumping deep groove led by spacious chords and keys, all anchored by an analog bassline. To round off this well-balanced compilation, Craftsmanship delivers a warm, humid deep house sound featuring bold chords and punchy drums - one of the defining motifs of this standout EP.

2024 Repress

A compilation of highly collectable and rare Surinamese 45's and LP cuts. Compiled by Antal Heitlager & Thomas Gesthuizen this is the follow up to the Kindred Spirits released Surinam! compilation. This volume goes even deeper into the field of 70ties and 80ties funk music from the Surinamese dance floors...Recommended!

After more than ten years, four albums and countless shows, Swiss artist Joell Nicolas takes a turn and releases her last album as VRVN. Despite being an ending, Storia is also a place for beginnings. For the first time, VRVN brings together her semi-modular synth with an acoustic instrument, but not just any: a church organ. Filled with air like a dragon, it becomes both emancipating and dangerous, weaving its sounds with synthetic ones, together with voices and lyrics: in English and –also for the first time– in French.

Three years of musical research condensed in ten tracks, sometimes structured as songs, sometimes as sensitive soundscapes. Stemming from an exploration of textures over structure, Storia meanders through intimate topics, such as childhood, silence, risk, healing and transformation.

With the support of Ville de Lausanne and Canton de Vaud.

"Reprint of ""Machine Messiah"". The 40th Anniversary Edition will be available as 2LP - 180g Ruby Red Marble in gatefold. Sepultura are a Brazilian heavy metal band formed in Belo Horizonte in 1984 by brothers Max and Igor Cavalera.
"

The new vinyl release by Roma Khropko is a mesmerizing journey through the depths of techno. With pulsating beats and intricate soundscapes, Khropko masterfully blends hypnotic rhythms and dark melodies. Each track builds a haunting atmosphere, reflecting the raw energy of underground electronic music. This release captures the essence of techno's evolution, making it a must-have for any vinyl enthusiast.

Hiroshi Watanabe, a musician, photographer, and DJ from the Japanese electronic scene, based in Saitama near Tokyo, has been a prolific figure for twenty-five years. He has explored most major genres of electronic music through more than twenty albums. He proudly becomes the very first Japanese artist of InFiné.

After Ryuichi Sakamoto, he is one of the very few Japanese artists who have gained the favor of Western audiences, alongside notable names such as Cornelius, Towa Tei, DJ Krush, Ken Ishii, Susumu Yokota, and more recently Hiroshi Yoshimura. In Europe, he is best known for his project Kaito, which began in 2001 under the prestigious Kompakt label. The name Kaito, in addition to being the name of his son born the same year, carries a double meaning in Japanese, signifying both "universe" and "secret." These references hint at a spirituality visible in his photographic work and contribute to the elements that make Japanese artists masters of the ambient genre.

The collaboration between Kaito and the InFiné label began with his participation in the compilation "Music Activists 2020 (From Home)," which supported artists affected by the Covid crisis, followed by a remix for the single "Motion" by Rone and Vanessa Wagner in 2023. These initial contributions led to a new album featuring nine tracks of ambient music.

Kaito's new album ‘Collection’ comprises nine ambient and melodic tracks composed during the Covid-19 pandemic. These compositions present a majestic minimal and harmonious therapy in response to the world’s adversities, showcasing the producer’s return to the peak of his art. ‘Collection’ was remastered by another genre legend, the German Rashad Becker, and released on vinyl and CD by InFiné in 2024.

Matching breezy, Bossa nova-tinged sophistication with softly spiralling psychedelia, Testbild! arrive in the Quindi lounge as though they've always been there. On their 12th album, Bed Stilt, the Swedish collective cast their attention back to the earlier days of their 25-year trip through sweetly mysterious pop-not-pop rendered in warm tones and shot through with surrealism. It's tricky to get a precise fix on the story and structure of Testbild! The project was spearheaded by Petter Herbertsson in his hometown of Malmö in the late 90s, although the story on their website credits the inspiration and source material to a chance meeting and unpublished manuscript from a retiring scientist. The collective's evolution since then is a tangled web of facts and fiction spun by a revolving cast of collaborators including Siri af Burén, Katja Ekman, Rikard Heberling, Douglas Holmquist, Mattias Nihlén and Petter Samuelsson. Along the way, their music has touched on chamber pop, post-punk and modern jazz with the elaborate harmonies and catchy songwriting charm of the Canterbury scene. The tracks which make up Bed Stilt were in fact track recorded in Malmö back in the mid- 00s, lying in wait for the right opportunity to be brought to light with some delicate overdubs and finishing flourishes in the here and now. The core musicians working on the record were Herbertsson and Douglas Holmquist on a similarly expansive list of vocals, guitars, bass, synths and keys, Siri af Burén on lead vocals and Mattias Nihlén on synths and additional mixing. Meanwhile Tomas Bodén - better known as Civilistjavel - lent some additional synth work as well as mastering the record. Musically, Testbild! stay true to their idiosyncratic approach on Bed Stilt with six immaculately rendered sojourns through lilting harmonies and brushed rhythms, feeling nostalgic but beguiling in equal measure. Theirs is a luxurious sound, not least on the opening strains of 'The First New Years Eve,' which purrs to life draped in silky Rhodes and chiming vibes. Behind this comfortable veneer the enigmatic lyrical themes unfurl through Herbertsson, Holmquist and af Burén's vocal harmonies like fractalized puzzles waiting to be solved. The finger-picking delicacy and languid harmonica of 'Streams' strike a pastoral mood neatly countered by the elegant slide into dislocated ambience for the track's final stretch. By contrast, 'And Her Eyes Are Red' surges with a big beat urgency which plays beautifully with the mellow jazziness of the chord sequences, boldly toying with song structure to dart down curious tangents without losing the immediate impulse of a great pop record. Somewhere in this tension between clarity and chaos we can understand the addictive charm of Testbild! - a band steeped in the considerable craft of making accomplished and unconventional music so very easy to sink into. If that doesn't make for a perfect addition to the Quindi catalogue, we don't know what does.

A thinlace of acid mental tunes, bringing some space rhythms & structures with a certain Trance state of mind.

Horte is a 4 hands tune from C.Ysme and Dina Rocaille ! Precise like silk.

Tichodrome is a rare bird from Alps mountains that you can see on the visual by Anahata.

Glitch My Mind is a Live excerpt from 2023.

Constantinople brings a mental in-Spiral-ly sound.

A sweet project... We hope you gonna enjoy it !

Mastering : Jo IND
Cut : Simon Davey
Press: Records Industry
Bird Design : Anahara Conception
Visuals Exe : VSteeFDB
Prod & Distro : Toolbox Records

Layton Giordani continues his rich vein of outstanding form with ‘Freaks at Night’.

‘Freaks at Night’ continues his adventures in sound. Unmistakably a peak-time record, the track still manages to traverse a rich ethereal energy, highlighted by an otherworldly synth line and striking vocal that sets it apart from so many. Teased in sets by Giordani and Beyer going back to last summer, this one’s hugely anticipated.


Four years on from Layton Giordani’s critically acclaimed ‘New Generation’ album, Space 92 – one of techno’s most impressive new artists – steps up for a fitting remix. A masterclass of techno futurism, the 2020 album was a defining release of that year and was an impressive marker of Giordani’s ever-evolving talents in the studio. The title track was a memorable highlight, mixing ambient textures with head scrambling synth effects make it an enduring dancefloor classic. One of techno’s future stars Space 92 has added his touch to ‘New Generation’. With very special results. The Frenchman has super-charged the original, adding in plenty of laser-kissed energy as a barrage of powerful chords and silky pads take the cut into steamrolling territory.

First Word Records is proud to bring you 'The Making of Silk', the brand new album from Allysha Joy.

Allysha Joy is a deeply-expressive singer, songwriter, producer & keys player hailing from Naarm (Melbourne), known for both her solo work and as front woman for 30/70. A uniquely-talented artist, her husky soulful voice, formidable Fender Rhodes prowess and raw poeticism has garnered legions of attentive fans the world over.

As an integral performer in the modern day jazz-soul scene, previous support has included selectors Gilles Peterson & Jamz Supernova (BBC 6 Music), Jamie Cullum (BBC Radio 2), China Moses (Jazz FM) & Laurent Garnier (PBB France), along with stations such as NTS, Lot Radio, KEXP & KCRW, and publications including OkayPlayer, Dazed and The Vinyl Factory.

Along with a recent foray into the USA market with a string of successful shows, Allysha Joy has performed alongside acts such as Snarky Puppy, PJ Morton, The Teskey Brothers, Kokoroko and Children of Zeus, to name a few.

Joy has previously released two full-length solo albums 'Acadie : Raw' in 2018, 'Torn : Tonic' in 2022 and an EP, 'Light It Again' in 2020, along with countless collaborations and features over the past few years.

Entirely self-produced and affectionately poured over, 'The Making of Silk' is about a new understanding of the meaning of love.

Joy says, "it's the kind of love that bell hooks writes about, that lives in the poetry of Mary Oliver, Hafiz and the passionate dreaming of a Koryusai painting. It's about a love that is compassionate, that lives in open conversation, deep listening, the front lines of social movement and would never seek to stifle the light in you. It's about accepting our aloneness, the impermanence of all things and still forever wanting to prove it wrong, to say that I understand that all things change, all things end, hurt exists, but I will love regardless."

Riding on the waves of rich string arrangements, layers of vocal harmony and the raw poeticism she is known for, Allysha Joy's next album is embodying love.

'The Making of Silk' is due to be released on vinyl & digital worldwide, September 13th 2024.

For the third instalment of Liechtenstein‘s Silum Records, CCO presents another quality 12“ featuring his signature Detroit-infused sound. The tracks boast classic drum machine beats combined with jazzy chords and tasty leads leaving no feet standing still.

**Big Tip. Wild (fully licensed comp of truly all sorts - put together with love**

Over the course of the last few decades many wonderfully talented musicians have made some amazing, unique, and sometimes lost music. Here is some!
Spanning Gospel, House, Zouk, Experimental, Techno, Disco, Folk & Electro 'Second Chapter' in the 'Compassion Cuts' Compilation Series

EN:
I am thrilled to present my new musical work, "Oscillations" – an album that explores the harmonious connection between the natural world and electronic sound art. The title "Oscillations" symbolizes the vibrations and rhythms that are omnipresent in both
nature and music.

Nature is an inexhaustible source of inspiration. From the gentle waves of the ocean to the subtle oscillations of leaves in the wind – everywhere, there are rhythms and patterns that are music in their own right. These natural movements and sounds inspired me to incorporate them into my compositions and weave them with
electronic elements.

"Oscillations" attempts to bridge the organic world and the synthetic soundscape.

Electronic sounds meet acoustic instruments and merge into a new, fascinating unity.

It's about uniting the natural beauty and the technical possibilities of music to create something unique.

With a piano, a double bass, a harmonium and a Moog synthesizer, I would like to invite my listeners on a journey into my sound universe.

DE:
Mit großer Freude präsentiere ich mein drittes musikalisches Werk "Oscillations" – ein Album, das die harmonische Verbindung zwischen der natürlichen Welt und elektronischer Klangkunst erforscht. Der Titel "Oscillations" steht symbolisch für die Schwingungen und Rhythmen, die sowohl in der Natur als auch in der Musik
allgegenwärtig sind.

Die Natur ist eine unerschöpfliche Quelle der Inspiration. Von den sanften Wellenbewegungen des Ozeans bis hin zu den subtilen Schwingungen der Blätter im Wind – überall findet man Rhythmen und Muster, die auf ihre eigene Weise Musik sind. Diese natürlichen Bewegungen und Geräusche haben mich dazu inspiriert, sie in
meine Kompositionen einzubinden und sie mit elektronischen Elementen zu verweben.

"Oscillations" versucht, eine Brücke zwischen der organischen Welt und der synthetischen Klanglandschaft zu schlagen. Elektronische Klänge treffen auf akustische Instrumente und verschmelzen zu einer neuen, faszinierenden Einheit. Es geht darum, die natürliche Schönheit und die technischen Möglichkeiten der Musik zu
vereinen und daraus etwas Einzigartiges zu schaffen.
Mit einem Piano, einem Kontrabass, einem Harmonium und einem Moog Synthesizer möchte ich meine Hörer auf eine Reise in mein Klanguniversum einladen.

Quintessential compilation of early collaborations by Silverlining (aka Asad Rizvi) with other artists between the golden years of 1996 and 2001. The album reinvigorates several timeless tracks—some known, others rare or unreleased—across a beautifully packaged 3LP with extensive sleeve notes and exceptional analogue mastering. The album includes sought-after and rare works by Two Right Wrongans, Impossible Beings, Appleheadz, Southern Comforters, and Bluegoose vs. Silverlining. The compilation includes one previously unreleased Impossible Beings track rescued from DAT archives. Moving from blissed-out listening into up-tempo underground grooves and then back, the anthology serves both headphone and heads-down-on-the-dancefloor listeners alike.

Die Musik ist tief in der DNA der Buddha-Bar verwurzelt und hat schon immer eine Schlüsselrolle in unserem Universum gespielt. Unsere musikalische Handschrift, die 1996 in Paris entstand, spiegelt die traumhafte Atmosphäre unserer Restaurants perfekt wider. Subtile und hypnotisierende Mixe, eine perfekte Mischung aus mystischen House- und elektronischen Rhythmen mit afrikanischen, asiatischen, indischen, lateinamerikanischen oder orientalischen Klängen... Buddha-Bar Music verbreitet seit 1996 seine guten Vibes in der ganzen Welt. Dieses dreifache Best Of zeichnet unsere Geschichte von 2014 bis 2024 nach und versammelt von Ravin sorgfältig ausgewählte Titel und Künstler, darunter Buscemi, Sahalé, Desert Dwellers, Kenneth Bager, Ali Kuru, Santi & Tugçe, El Bùho, Troels Hammer, ...

Sameheads & Mutant Radio are going a teenie weenie bit further and unifying their ongoing collab in plastic. The kind you play, not the stuff you throw away.
Released in Spring, at a party we’re throwing together in Tbilisi, this little beaut is a double sided 7”.
The MUTANTHEADS split 7” features some solid sound rep from both projects….
For Sameheads, Andrea & Alexander release their first material together, acting as a kind of trailer to an upcoming album released later this year on R-I-O. The track “Olias” finally gets its press after once being performed live at the fabled Sameheads festival “City of a Thousand Suns”… those were the days eh…..
On the Mutant Radio side, fresh talent TINA delivers her debut release, and for that matter, the first ever track Mutant have put onto a piece of vinyl….. The track “Vacation” is the squelchy black sheep counter balance to the silky synth vibe of the other side. Just how they like it.
The release will be up for pre-order from next week, and the digital stuff too…. Just the 300 copies available…… So,,, fix up look sharp……

This album takes you back to Colombia of the 50s and 60s. In those days, the tropical music of the Caribbean and Pacific coasts took over the country's mainland music scene by storm. One of the key figures during this period was Edmundo Arias. Together with Lucho Bermúdez and Pacho Galán, Arias is seen as one of the ‘big three’ composers of Colombian tropical music.

He was a rather introverted person who avoided being in the spotlight at all cost, leading to his work being less known than his contemporaries. With this album we hope to highlight the amazing legacy Edmundo Arias has left us. Think of big bands with sharp dressed musicians playing the finest cumbias, porros and other tropical sounds in fancy ballrooms on a hot evening in Medellin or Bogota.

Liner notes:

Edmundo Dante Arias Valencia was born in Tuluá, Valle del Cauca, on the 5th of November 1925. He came from a family of musicians. His father, Joaquín Arias Cardoza was a band leader and composer who taught his children to play music. Arias learned to play many instruments such as the guitar, bass, bandola (pear shaped string instrument related to the mandolin), tiple (12 string guitar), clarinet and saxophone. He proved to be a very talented musician and together with his father and his older brother Ricaurte he formed the ‘Trio Arias’. The family lived in different cities across Colombia depending on where they found work. When his father died unexpectedly in 1948, Edmundo and Ricaurte had to support their family working as musicians. In 1951, Arias decided to move to Medellín, in those days the heart of the Colombian music industry and the city where the most important record companies and the best musicians were based. It didn’t take long before Arias made a name for himself as a musician, composer, arranger and band leader for Colombia’s leading labels at the time; Zeida, Ondina, Silver and Sonolux. For the latter, he would eventually become the artistic director. Over the years, he wrote hundreds of songs, recorded many albums with his own orchestras or with the Orquesta Sonolux and collaborated with a countless number of musicians, often uncredited.

Together with Lucho Bermúdez and Pacho Galán, Edmundo Arias is seen as one of the ‘big three’ composers of the tropical music of Colombia. But despite the fact that Arias was renowned, very little is known about his personal life. He was a humble man who preferred to work in the background and avoided being in the spotlight at all cost. He declined interviews and kept away from public life. On some live performances of the orchestra that carried his name, Arias asked one of his musicians to pretend to be him, so that he wouldn’t have to come on stage. You might think that Arias was shy or anti-social, but this was not the case. Most people he worked with described him as a very jovial, good humoured person and enjoyed working with him.

His invisibility in public life belied how present he was behind the scenes. If he wasn’t working on his own productions, he was regularly collaborating with other musicians. Arias had his hand in the work of many of his colleagues and was a mentor for young artists. Some even say that in those days all the musicians in Medellín had worked with Arias in one way or the other. He had a strict working regime: composing, arranging and recording at night while sleeping during the day. He was also very productive. The story goes that on one occasion, he wrote arrangements for a 16 piece band in just a few minutes while the band was recording another song. His hard work and productiveness resulted in hundreds of compositions and many records that carry his name.

Edmundo Arias’ career ran over 6 decades until his death on the 29th of January 1993. Over the years, he left us a huge legacy. The songs on this record are a selection of his work during the 50s and 60s. Many see this period as the absolute highlight of his career. We picked out the songs we consider to be the most outstanding recordings from this period. The title of this compilation Guepa Je! is Colombian slang often used in cumbia to express joy or to celebrate. A free translation would result into something like ‘yeah’, ’let’s go’ or ‘groovy’. I guess this title says enough. Enjoy the music. Guepa Je!

Highly original material on a very limited EP... be quick!

POLYPHONIC WAVES OF SOULFUL MADRIGALS

The power of duality is an inscrutable thing: we’re endlessly fascinated by the interplay between light and darkness, East and West, voice and silence, our senses tingling from the compelling synergies that thrive in perceived opposites. Drawing from an urbane Antwerpian upbringing and a Moroccan family lineage, the Brussels-based multidisciplinary artist Younes Zarhoni, embraces these very dualities in all of his projects, exploring those murky areas of contrast and bringing all their ambiguous energy to crystal clear focus.

A longtime staple of the local electronic music scene with his hypnotic techno outings as YZ, Zarhoni’s latest focus is on the compositional power of pure harmony and silence: namely, his polyphonic renditions of medieval mystical poetry, sung in multiple voices and left to solemnly radiate beyond their given spatial grounds. Stripped of all instrumental accompaniments, what you get is Gregorian chant meets Boyz 2 Men, articulated by the lyrical ineffability of Arabic tongues and finding their rhythm in the silences that act as the juncture between observation and anticipation.

These sparse stanzas tread under an elusive referential threshold, conjuring visions of architecture and archaism, madrigals and MTV, the sacred and the profane ~ ostensibly disparate elements that seamlessly fold themselves into the radicality of the compositions. In these 20 minutes of verse, Zarhoni oversteps the margins of categorization to deliver an immersive story of song, flowing freely and sustaining the arc of the narrative long after it has ebbed into silence.

Calm's superb Before album is the gift that keeps on giving as Hell Yeah serves up a collection of the best remixes from it. Willie Graff, Gallo and Aura Safari all step up on a fresh 12" that lands this summer.

Before arrived on double vinyl in 2022 after a CD-only release in Japan in 2021. Since then it has become a Balearic mainstay and go-to record for lovers of lavish downtempo sounds. Now, remixes of three tracks from it all appear on this one record with Ibirican-American Willie Graff going first. He is a deep house don who has held several key residencies around the world while dropping his sublime sounds on the likes of Leng, Music For Dreams and many more. His remix of 'I Love You' is a gloriously horizontal one with blissful piano keys rippling over the bubbly drums and bass. Yearning reed melodies add an emotional romantic edge to make this a standout in any setting. Then comes Gallo, the Balearic Gabba Sound System member and resident at Berlin Balearic nightspot Buena Onda. His 'Tropical Hinterhof' remix of 'I Love You' is expertly exotic and soothing as mellifluous keys rain down over a groove as smooth as silk. It's a heart-achingly beautiful sound that will make for truly special moments on the dance floor.

Italian collective Aura Safari then offers two different remixes. They are master musicians who have served up a superb double album Islands Dreams here in late 2023 where they showcased their escapist blend of dub, jazz, Afro-cosmic, Balearica and boogie. First up, 'Feel It' (Aura Safari Desert mix) is six minutes of oriental melody over loose drums. There's a playful feel to the dancing piano keys and richness in the percussion that makes this one a sophisticated sound for both early evening warm-ups or moments of late-night reflection. 'Kunpoo' (Aura Safari Daydream mix) has a nineties feel with its gentle breaks, hypnotic string loops, and sustained chords. They break over you in gentle rays of earth and euphoria to ensure utterly blissed-out results.

These four versions all bring sophisticated dance floor energy to the timeless originals.

Brixton based polymath Simon Jefferis has been setting mouths ajar with his expertly crafted, atmosphere-heavy beats over the past few years. With his reputation as both a talented instrumentalist, and adaptive producer steadily circulating through the city’s hip-hop undercurrents, 2020 sees Jefferis return to rising label DeepMatter with his debut LP Vibrations.

From the golden era energies of ‘Back 2 Ours’ featuring Austin’s Abhi The Nomad, through to the silky-smooth melodies of ‘White Rabbit’ (featuring the incredible Rosie Lowe on vocals) and shoulder swaying rhythms of ‘Something In The Water’, ‘Vibrations’ is an expertly crafted production masterclass from start to finish. With ease, Jefferis demonstrates the breadth of his musical capabilities, turning his hand to guitar, keys, drums and bass (with a little help from his friends along the way) with incredible results. Head nod inducing beats, jazz infused keys and interweaving make this a standout record amongst the already sonically rich London jazz scene.

A veteran producer (Who prefers to separate this incarnation from past works) working within many disciplines in sound, Silent Cubes demonstrates a particular skill in atmospherics and mood in their productions, creating three tracks of original UKG driven sound that speak in a dialect as familiar to the progeny and brethren of Clubroot, Sorrow, and Congi as that of Chez Damier, Mr Fingers, and Ron Trent. An exercise in deepness, Draped in the framework and immediacy of Garage.

Showing how evocatively these elements can be transformed is MOY, himself straddling a line between classic IDM, Old Skool, and Acid, and with releases on Analogical Force, Vinyl Fanatiks (AmenTec), and a slew of others. MOY comes forward with a hybridized remix of “The Stream”, which really is in a class of its own and closes outside B.

“Sound And Motion”. Presented as a 4-track vinyl EP, in a numbered/limited edition, and bundled with access to 2 exclusive Poly Cut/Digital tracks, only ever available via the access provided through ownership of this record.

It's difficult to ''label'' the songs of this authoritative and necessary official reissue (after the shameful fake of 10 years ago). ''Zombi'' and ''In the Land of the Zombi'' are two electro disco-funks from 1979, therefore from three years before was born the ''Italo-Disco'' style, certainly more powerful, aggressive and more electronic than the ''Made in Italy'' disco style of the 2nd half of the 70s (Fratelli La Bionda, Pino Presti, Claudio Simonetti, Celso Valli and others.). The creation of the original 7" by Salvatore Ida, great musician and bandleader - to whom this excellent reissue is dedicated - was a sort of game for the authors of the two pieces: Federico Ida and Massimo Ida, were protagonists 4 years before of the Italian progressive rock scene with the sister Silvana Ida, Marcello Surace and Franco Vinci thanks to the immeasurable and acclaimed album ''Apoteosi''. So The Zombies were destined to pair with another easy '79 joke by the Ida brothers: ''Let's Go'' and ''Mustang'' by Sandwich, also reissued on 12inch by Best Record Italy. The Zombies comes out with the original artwork of the time, but in a full embossed picture sleeve and released in the classic black vinyl and on red vinyl with black shades (limited edition with red copies numbered manually (1/250: 2/250 and so on...) What else to add except that: the two long versions of ''Zombi'' and ''In the Land of the Zombi'' were re-edited by Massimo Berardi, always diligent and active, as well as tidy and aware of where he was putting his hands, are fundamental in order to complete this 12" fully remastered by Dom Scuteri.