Buscar:sun

An F-bomb saturated hip-hop call & response club cut...from Sun Ra?!

While the most renown track in this omniversal opus is the atomic expletive-filled repartee “Nuclear War,” there is so much more to this dark mysterious journey through the mind of Sun Ra. The sprawling, suite-like 20-minute title track sustains a lyrical edge in spite of an open framework and textures, which encourage sonorities to surface and emerge from the band as if there was no human intention behind them. In opposition to “Nuclear War,” Ra's organ playing here was built less on bombast and sonic terror than it is on whispers, stutters, shivers, and swells. Fireside Chat offers a wide stylistic array, as was the artist’s intent, reflecting his eclectic, seemingly irreconcilable approach to compositional extremes. With Sun Ra you get everything... except predictability. Pressed on lime green vinyl!

Das dritte Album von Mission to the Sun, Seven Years, markiert eine bemerkenswerte Entwicklung für das Projekt. Während sie ihrer Mischung aus atmosphärischem Sounddesign und gespenstischen Gesangsséancen treu bleiben, dringt das Duo weiter in melodisches Territorium, wobei es die Zugänglichkeit mit seiner Grundlage von elektronischem Lärm und grüblerischen Texturen beibehält. Christopher Samuels' akribische Musikproduktion erschafft eine Welt aus hypnotischen Rhythmen, gebrochenen Melodien und dichten Klanglandschaften, während Kirill Slavin's Gesang rohe Emotionen kanalisiert und den Hörer durch Themen wie Sucht, Besessenheit, Macht, urbane Isolation, nächtliche Verletzlichkeit und die unausweichlichen physischen Zwänge der Realität führt. Von den Basslines und gefundenen Samples von ,Dead Friends", bis hin zu ,Black Hole Soul", dem dem einzigen Stück des Albums mit erkennbarem Beat, wo Samuels üppiger Orgelsynthesizer und IDM-infizierter Rhythmus eine geisterhafte Grundlage für Slavins Meditation über Selbstzerstörung bietet, ist Seven Years unerbittlich in seiner Tiefe. Der Schlusstrack ,Infection" schwillt mit schwermütiger Intensität an, während Samuels Streicherarrangements und Klavier ineinander greifen. Mit "Seven Years" verfeinern und erweitern Mission to the Sun ihr klangliches Universum und dringen mit ihrem Sound in neue emotionale und melodische Gefilde vor und erschaffen dabei die raue, eindringliche Atmosphäre, die ihre Arbeit definiert. Ein Album der Transformation und Abrechnung und die bisher eindrucksvollste und vollständigste Veröffentlichung von Mission To The Sun.

Doom, Heavy Metal und Psychedelic-Rock verschmelzen zu einem okkulten Klangtrip, der tief in den 70ern verwurzelt ist.
Mit acht mächtigen Tracks entfacht das italienische Quartett ein düsteres Ritual aus donnernden Riffs, hypnotischen Melodien und gespenstischen Vocals. Von der unheilvollen Opener-Hymne "Sacrifice" bis zum explosiven Finale "Eloise" - dieses Album zieht dich in seinen Bann!

Für Fans von: Black Sabbath, Mercyful Fate, Witchfinder General

Steve Queralt, bass player of pioneering shoegazers RIDE, and the writer and film-maker MIchael Smith have joined forces for a stunning four-track EP, released on Bytes in October. Over Steve’s exceptional electronic soundscapes, Michael provides spoken-word vocals in his lulling Hartlepool tones, distilling excerpts from his new book to fit with the music.

The duo were introduced by Joe Clay from Bytes during lockdown, when Steve revealed that he was looking for vocalists to work with on some music he was putting together. Joe had met Michael when he collaborated with the late, great Andrew Weatherall, who composed a soundtrack to accompany Michael reading melancholic musings from his 2013 novel, Unreal City. Joe felt that Michael could be the perfect foil for Steve and after an experiment on Vespertina, a track that had previously featured sample dialogue from Penélope Cruz, they realised they had something special and decided to work on a full release together - four tracks in the classic RIDE EP format.

“Michael’s voice has so much depth and character and I love his eye-rolling, withering view of the world,” Steve reveals. “The subject matter seemed to glue itself effortlessly to the music as if we’d been together writing in a studio working towards some grand concept.”

Wonderwheel is happy to present the very first pressing of Nickodemus' longtime classic "Sun People", pressed on translucent yellow vinyl. Originally released in 2009 by Thievery Corporation's Eighteenth Street Lounge label, "Sun People" was built with songs made for people who love the sun, sunshine and brighter days to come. Appropriate, of course, as Nickodemus has made his mark soundtracking NYC summers with his massively popular Turntables On The Hudson live events as well as with 20 consecutive years touring the World. The songs were inspired by various people Nickodemus met and places he's been, along with his collective feelings of optimism. It's these positive sonic vibes from all over the globe that Nickodemus matches with collaborators hailing from destinations including Guinea, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Romania, India, Turkey, United Kingdom and New York City. These are the Sun People.As songs like "N'dini" "Sun Children" & "The Love Feeling" continue to kept parties dancing until today, "Calle Sol" & "Gira Do Sol" are being discovered by new fans & playlists today. As Jason Bentley, former Music Director at KCRW once said, "Sun People reflects a rich musicality, while infectious rhythms keep the party live. Nickodemus truly knows
no borders on this global dancefloor."Wonderwheel recordings is happy to keep the fire burning with this special limited color vinyl reissue out on June 21st, 2024.

a 01: Sun People (Intro) feat. Ismael Kouyaté
b 02: Sun Children (Original Mix) [feat. The Real Live Show]

Recorded in the summer of 1978 in Manhattan's C. I. Recording Studio this rare encounter of jazz's supreme instrumentalists and individualists Walt Dickerson (1928 - 2008) and Sun Ra (1914 - 1993) became an instant cult album among the followers of Avant Garde jazz of the '70s.

The author of the newly added liner notes Neil Tesser remarks, "Nearly a half-century after the fact, Visions now stands as a milestone of free improvisation". Almost half a century ago Trevor Tolley of Canadian jazz publication Coda enthused, "This is a tremendous record...outstanding collaborations throughout this beautiful record, as well as some gloriously sustained solo passages...it is the work of two masters in the full certainty of their powers."

Sun Ra: piano
Walt Dickerson: vibraphone
Recorded July 11, 1978

A cosmic fusion of deep funk, interstellar jazz, and avant-garde soundscapes, On Jupiter stands as one of Sun Ra"s most iconic releases. Recorded in 1979 during a prolific period at Variety Arts Studios in New York, this album captures the Arkestra at the height of their creative powers, blending futuristic improvisation with infectious rhythms and otherworldly textures.

Exklusive Wiederauflage des Debütalbums der schwedischen Melodic Hardrocker Talisman mit Ausnahmesänger und Songwriter Jeff Scott Soto! Jetzt erhältlich als Ltd. Marble LP!.

Simon Hafner AKA Sun People is an adventurous maverick in quick rhythms. His productions are well known for being fascinatingly hybridised. Footwork meets jungle meets techno meets electro meets dub! After his smashing debut LP on dBridge's Exit Records he is releasing his new EP on Candy Mountain. 'Emotional Distortions' is a unique EP centered around his deft beat programming and takes us on a contemporary dance floor journey of uncompromised fearless groove. This is next level production! Not to be missed for the serious d&b, dubstep, broken beat and electro freaks out there!!!

Black Vinyl 2025 Repress

Mit 'Under a Familiar Sun' veröffentlicht The Vernon Spring alias Sam Beste ein faszinierendes Album zwischen Jazz, Ambient, experimentellem Pop und elektronischem Songwriting. Beste, einst Pianist in Amy Winehouse’ Band und Kollaborateur von u. a. MF DOOM, Joy Crookes und Beth Orton, entfaltet hier ein vielschichtiges Werk voller emotionaler Tiefe und klanglicher Finesse.

Entstanden in seinem Heimstudio in Brighton, verarbeitet das Album persönliche Themen wie Vaterschaft, Verantwortung und Selbstverortung in einer instabilen Welt - getragen von Beste’s charakteristischem, improvisationsnahem Klavierspiel und feinfühliger Produktion. Mitwirkende wie Autor Max Porter (Grief is the Thing with Feathers), Cellistin Kate Ellis und die in Brooklyn lebende Künstlerin aden verleihen dem Album zusätzliche Tiefe.

Ein durchkomponiertes, atmosphärisches Werk mit klarer Handschrift - für Fans von Bon Iver, James Blake, Nils Frahm oder Moses Sumney.

This novelty album, released in 1966 during the height of the Batman & Robin craze, was initially credited to the "The Sensational Guitars of Dan and Dale" and featured an album full of tracks based on the popular TV show like "The Batman Theme Song", "The Penguin Chase", and "The Batcave". The album is entirely instrumental, except for someone singing "Batmaaaan!" in the theme song. But the interesting thing about this album, and what makes it an absolute cult gem, are the musicians who are behind it all: basically a joint collaboration between Sun Ra's Arkestra and Danny Kalb's Blues Project (one of the first psychedelic rock bands as well as one of the world's first jam bands). "Dan and Dale" were actually blues guitarist Danny Kalb and Steve Katz (later of Blood, Sweat & Tears) on dueling guitars, while Sun Ra and Al Kooper take over organ duties (a Hammond B-3) and members of Ra's Arkestra play sax.

Kurz nachdem True North ihr Debut Album “Out Loud” veröffentlichten, haben sich die Bandmitglieder schon wieder im Studio zusammengefunden und in den folgenden Monaten an gleich mehreren Songs gearbeitet. Mit ihrem ersten veröffentlichten Album, ihrem ersten Record Deal in der Tasche und ihrer ersten Tour im Rücken, war die junge Band voller Energie, Inspiration und neuer Erfahrungen, die True North’s Sound auf ein moderneres, perfektioniertes Level brachten.

Gitarrist Joel Ferber hat auch bei diesem Album die Produktion übernommen, und mit der Zeit hat sich eine Sammlung ihrer besten Arbeiten ganz natürlich zu ihrem zweiten Studioalbum gefügt. Der Titel “Either Way, The Sun’s Exploding” spiegelt eine gewisse, erzwungene Apathie der Bandmitglieder wider, so wie sie in ihren neuen Songs tiefer in ernstere Themen, musikalisch wie

textlich, eintauchen. Diese umfassen Herzschmerz, Angst, Demut, Selbstreflektion und die immer präsente Jagd nach Wachstum.

True North verbinden Elemente des Alt-Rock, Emo und Pop-Punk und kreieren einen einzigartigen Sound, der modern klingt und gleichzeitig nostalgisch werden lässt. Voll von eingängigen Melodien und emotionsgeladenen Texten.

6LP Box Set, 24-page booklet & Original programme housed in a hardboard box. Across two nights in August 1970, these were the first concerts Ra and the Arkestra had performed outside North America and formed part of a stellar festival line-up alongside Albert Ayler, Cecil Taylor, LaMonte Young and Marian Zazeela.

"Kindred spirits and loyal soldiers on the frontlines of the dub war Detroit's 2Lanes and Los Angeles' Cromie link up to present to the world, Destiny Cloud. With a project name inspired by a mystical vacant storefront in Cromie's neighborhood of Altadena (still standing after the fires, bless), the guys formed like a storm after being intro'd by a notorious LA promoter and hotboy producer matchmaker. Funnily enough, the first session was foiled by a missing cable, so it wasn't until the sexy summer of 2023 that the cloud seeds that went on to become Sun Phase/Moon Phase were planted. From the jump, their vision was lucid and their objective collective: lock in at the stu(s) to make the most jiggy, psychedelic, tripped out club shit they could muster. Fast forward to today, Destiny Cloud is proud to bring you the latest missive on 2Lanes' Auto Shop imprint.

On the A side, Sun Phase sets it off with searing stabs from the hands of session killer Ji Hoon on a heavenly Jupiter-8 (sorry not sorry, the real thing does sound better) before a bassline straight off the Adriatic's Argonaughty comes in to funk up the flow over a bed swung hi-hats and drum circle conga lines the Wickedest west coast house heads can appreciate (no hippy shit, but we ARE on Hipp-E's dick). A keep-it-simple-stupid *muah' organ line plays nice with a gang of embellishments to take this one through its duration (Joey pressed record and said "ooh-wah" into the vocoder; no lie, I was there). With his Toxic Love remix, NYC upstart DJ John Brooklyn injects the tune with the highest grade octane to up the revs. The aforementioned organ becomes a timeless trance lead, and new pipes are inserted reminding us all that house music is forever.

Day turns to night on the B Side with Moon Phase, where booming kicks let you know off the rip that this is some real deal late night trunk funk. We're talking dualities here y'all; Cromie's deep-as-the-Pacific bassline meets Joey's frozen-lake-cold Detroit stabs as the drums speak in tongues with those on the other side of the slab. Reverb ghosts and rhythmic acid have this one veering more psychedelic without losing the jiggy factor, while diving proggy synths will have the Global Underground saying, "yea this is our shit, for real." With a run time that allows for maximum fun time, the ambient outro gives you a kiss on the forehead to put that ass to sleep. The iconic DJ Miss Parker takes the wheel on the remix, taking this one straight down the Tunnel with new-school/true-school Tenaglia-isms that wouldn't sound out of place in 2000, 2005 or 2025.

Like all the work we do, this one's a team effort. Salar Ansari put's his deft touch on the mixdowns and Jack Anderson blesses the center of both sides of the disc. Out mid-May, just in time for when things start heating up

Away From The Sun is 3 Doors Down’s legendary sophomore album. The Billboard Top 10 platinum selling album was originally released in 2012 and features two Top 10 singles, “When I’m Gone” and “Here Without You.”

Rotes Vinyl. Vier Jahre nach "Golden Staples" erscheint das dritte Album der Franzosen, diesmal als Kooperation von Kicking Records (F), Kidnap Music und Rookie Records. "Staring at the Sun" ist eine Ode an die Melodien des New Wave, eine Hommage an The Cure und Killing Joke, der Eckpfeiler einer Band, die mit halsbrecherischer Geschwindigkeit auf dem Highway der Unberechenbarkeit fährt. "Like Gods We Feast" oder "Secrets" fassen den fantastischen Wechsel der Gangwechsel: Hinzufügen von Loops und Synthesizern, Beharrlichkeit einer unverwüstlichen Bass/Schlagzeug-Kombination, eine Fülle kristalliner und kraftvoller Gitarren, eine Menge eindringlicher Vocals. Diese Jungs wissen, wie man gute Songs schreibt, das ist eine Tatsache. Und sie wissen auch, wie man sie zu spielen hat. Aber vor allem wissen sie, wie man ihnen eine Seele gibt, indem sie die Kraft der Klänge mit der Unmittelbarkeit von raffinierten Texten versehen. Die Texte mit klaren und kraftvollen Bildern, die sich mit radikalen Themen wie Scheitern, Einsamkeit, Isolation oder Geisteskrankheit befassen. Ein Alltag, der alles andere als einfach ist, mit einer Botschaft der Hoffnung. Wenn man Ed Scientist fragt, ob dieses Album die perfekte Mischung aus den ersten beiden Alben sein könnte, teilt der Gitarrist/Sänger diesen Standpunkt nicht: "Das würde ich nicht sagen. Ich betrachte Staring at the Sun als eine echte Weiterentwicklung unseres Stils. Mit der Hilfe von (Produzent) Santi, der eine echte Meisterleistung vollbracht hat, haben wir Dinge gewagt, die wir nie zuvor ausprobiert haben".

New York house music hero Joe Claussell reinvigorates the Far Out Monster Disco Orchestra’s legacy of timeless, no-holds-barred disco anthems, with an exclusive Record Store Day 12” release, reimagining the title track from the disco supergroups’ Black Sun album.

With his unique ability to harness the deep, spiritual power of dance music, Claussell transforms Black Sun into an emotionally charged, ecstatic odyssey, with the soaring vocals of Heidi Vogel guaranteed to further elevate dance floors into a state of pure, unbridled frenzy.

Since the orchestra’s acclaimed debut in 2014, The Far Out Monster Disco Orchestra—which hosts esteemed members including original members of Azymuth Jose Roberto Bertrami and Alex Malheiros—has enlisted an illustrious roster of remixers over the years, including John Morales, Theo Parrish, Al Kent and DJ Spinna. Claussell’s remixes continue this tradition, with a one-off, limited edition 12” release for Record Store Day 2025.

"Chicago-based composer, improviser, multi-media artist and underground legend, Rob Mazurek, joins forces with modular-synth maestro and light magician, Alberto Novello for a blacklight invocation that hurls us out into new and uncharted sound-dimensions.

Born of a chance encounter, Alberto Novello and Rob Mazurek's improvised collaboration, Sun Eaters, was recorded in a single afternoon at Dobialab, an experimental artist run space in Northern Italy. Alberto provided a loose rythmic and timbral bedrock over which Rob Mazurek sketched and weaved delicate harmonies with trumpets, adding atmosphere with bells and sampler.

Sun Eaters is a dizzying and disorientating space ritual, a totally out excercise in telepathic collaboration and psychedelic sound."

Modular Synth by Alberto Novello.
Trumpets, sampler, bells by Rob Mazurek.
Produced by Alberto Novello.
Recorded at Dobialab, Italy on 6th February 2024 by Michele Pegan.
Mixed by Alberto Novello at Ni Dieu Ni Maitre Studios Italy & Air Residency Austria.
Mastered by Hrvoje Nikšić, Croatia.
Artwork by Giulia Spanghero.

Dedicated to the memory of Filippo Novello.

‘SUN SHONE’ is a multidisciplinary music and art project of Istanbul-born, Amsterdam-based Deniz Omeroglu AKA Loradeniz,. ‘SUN SHONE’ marks the arrival of her debut full-length album: eight tracks of ambient electronic music painted masterfully with a palette of synthesizers, effects, percussion and ethereal voice.

‘SUN SHONE’ was conceived in two parts: the first tracks coming spontaneously to life in the aftermath of heartbreak, with Omeroglu trusting the creative flow and using it as a method of self- healing. What was initially planned as an EP release grew into a full-length album as she spent one month consciously working on the perfect B-side to complement the music.

Omeroglu wrote, performed and produced everything on the album, drawing on her deep knowledge of music theory and production; in addition to studying classical piano in the Conservatory from an early age, she holds both a Bachelor’s degree in Composition Studies and a Masters degree in Sound Design.

Many of the compositions on ‘SUN SHONE’ centre around interplaying synth arpeggios, oscillators expertly tuned for an equal degree of menace and sweetness that balances on a knife-edge. This ambiguity is echoed lyrically across the record, with its recurring themes of love lost and memories revisited. From the spoken word of opener ‘Saint Odds’ and ‘Swimmer’ to the layered choral swells of ‘No Moon’ and the melodic hooks of ‘Brick House’, Omeroglu’s voice is central to ‘SUN SHONE’, employed with impressive versatility. At times, it feels simultaneously fragile and powerful, perhaps nowhere more so than in the yearning swells of “Cloud Sofa’, a healing lullaby for lost love that offers up one of the most delicate moments on the album. 


Whilst this may loosely be referred to as an ‘ambient’ album, Loradeniz’s knowledge of modern day production techniques and experience as both a sound designer and seasoned DJ (both in clubs and on radio) makes its presence felt throughout; echoes of Artificial Intelligence-era IDM appear in the dancing arpeggios and rhythmic pulses of ‘Sea Serpent’ and ‘Waterbear’, while the album closer ‘Aftersun’ could easily be imagined working as the euphoric last tune of a club set at sunrise. 


With her debut album, Loradeniz weaves together an impressive breadth of styles and sounds, all held seamlessly together by a feeling; a cathartic desire to bring out all the melancholia from within. The album opens with the words ‘The search of love continues in the face of great odds’ a suitable mantra for a record that manages to combine melancholy with intense rushes of positivity and hopes for the future.

SUN SERIES | AE/SS-01 | VA is the first release in a new series conceived and produced by Adepta Editions in collaboration with guest curator Oliver Adhesive, embarking on a mythical journey through the lands of Spanish underground electronic music.

Seit mehr als einem Vierteljahrhundert lärmt sich Sänger und Gitarrist Harry Armstrong in verschiedenen Bands durch die britische Musikszene: ORANGE GOBLIN, DECOMPOSED, HANGNAIL, END OF LEVEL BOSS, THE WINCHESTER CLUB, EARLS OF MARS, BLIND RIVER_um nur einige zu nennen. Am 21. März 2025 folgt nun endlich das langersehnte zweite Album von NOISEPICKER auf Exile On Mainstream. Nach dem 2018 veröffentlichten Erstling war es zwar nicht wirklich ruhig geworden um die Zweimann-Band mit Kieran Murphy (u.a. COLD COMFORTS, PAIGE KENNEDY), verschiedene Verpflichtungen wie z.B. der extensive Tour-Schedule von Orange Goblin, ließen wenig Zeit für Studioaufnahmen. Doch nun ist es soweit. Nachdem NOISEPICKER auf dem EOM25-Festival im Mai 2024 bereits erste neue Songs vorstellten, ging es kurz danach ins Studio. The Earth Will Swallow The Sun ist das Ergebnis und überrascht mit einem Sound, den Peace Off 2018 bereits vorwegnahm, der aber nun zu voller Blüte gereift ist. Auf der Basis von Blues und Noise erschaffen Noisepicker etwas völlig eigenständiges, mit deutlichen akustischen Verweisen an Tom Waits ebenso wie an The Jesus Lizard. Inhaltlich ist das Album eine Abrechnung mit politischen und gesellschaftlichen Themen, die uns aktuell beschäftigen und die Ohnmacht, unterdrückte Wut ebenso illustrieren wie die Möglichkeit eines Ausbrechens, ohne in blinden Aktionismus zu verfallen. Hier ist nichts poliert, perfekt oder konstruiert. Stattdessen sind NOISEPICKER laut, authentisch und ständig im Wandel, beeinflusst von allem, was Doom, Punk und Blues ist. Und diese Herangehensweise kanalisieren sie in Songs, die emotional, catchy und einzigartig sind.

Original 2019 note: Little is known about the ensemble that is Sun Atlas. It's not certain whether you'd find them in Los Angeles, New York, Addis Ababa, Marrakesh or northern Germany. Maybe non, maybe all of the above. Their only proof of existance is banned on this 45. Their razor-sharp mixture of afrobeat, ethiojazz, surf, cinematic soul, crime jazz & funk/hiphop breaks speaks for itself. Only on vinyl.

Sun Ra was a master of misdirection. Tape boxes wrongly labeled—whether by accident or design—are legendary among Ra archivists. One can speculate about the artist's intent or carelessness, but source misinformation abounds on Ra tape cases, album jackets, cassettes, ephemera—as well as in interviews. It's as if Ra, in furtherance of his own mythmaking, wanted to keep historians guessing.

This project began as a misidentified tape discovered by Michael D. Anderson of the Sun Ra Music Archive. The 7-inch reel, which contained a live Ra solo piano performance of 11 works—some recognizable, others not—was of stellar quality, and was marked as a 1979 Carnegie Hall date. But the program on the tape did not align with known facts (e.g., titles played, concert duration) which were chronicled in a Newsday review of Ra's appearance at Carnegie in September of that year. With a prod from writer/historian Ted Gioia and further research by myself, the tape was eventually identified as a mostly unreleased July 1977 performance by Ra at a downtown NYC "jazz café" called The Axis-in-Soho.

Fourth Page: Meaning of a Nest is the highly anticipated fourth studio album, and second with Edition Records, by renowned South Korean/ Amsterdam based drummer and visionary composer Sun-Mi Hong solidifying Hong’s position as one of the most inventive and creative drummers and musicians of her generation. Meaning of a Nest, embodies the album’s exploration of home and community, reflecting Hong’s decade-long journey from South Korea to Amsterdam and her efforts to build new networks and establish roots in a vibrant new environment.

Musically, Fourth Page: Meaning of a Nest offers an inventive and spacious soundscape, seamlessly blending meticulously crafted compositions with elements of improvisation. This fusion ensures each track resonates with authenticity and emotional depth. Hong’s unique approach grants her band members creative freedom within her structured frameworks, resulting in adynamic and genuine listening experience. Fourth Page: Meaning of a Nest stands as a testament to Sun-Mi Hong’s artistic evolution and unwavering commitment to artistic integrity, positioning her as a formidable presence in the European music scene and beyond.

Leon Thomas is of course famed as one of the most important voices to have emerged from the 1960s jazz scene. He worked alongside Pharoah Sanders and Lonnie Liston Smith, co- composing ‘The Creator Has A Master Plan’.

At Flying Dutchman some of his records took lessons from contemporary soul resulting in wonderful fusions. Here we present two of his very best on 7-inch for the first time.

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

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

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

There is no one universe for Ben LaMar Gay, he just sonic booms from one sound to another." - NPR Music
Ben LaMar Gay’s de facto debut album, Downtown Castles Can Never Block The Sun, was our attempt to introduce the legendary Chicago composer / improvisor / renaissance man to the rest of the world with a compilation of tracks from “7 albums he made over 7 years but never made the effort to actually release. ” The material showcases Gay’s penchant for genre-hopping—from Reich-ian soundscape voyages to Don Cherry-esque polyrhythm treks to Jorge Ben-style vocal-and-string earworms—while keeping his singular musical voice in focus.
In the years since its release, this long OOP collection has become a touchstone, foreshadowing the breadth and scope of Ben LaMar Gay’s output since. The songs-between-the-songs warped Soul Americana madness and beauty of Open Arms To Open Us, the unhinged long form freedom of Certain Reveries—each fresh mode would defy expectation if without the context established by Downtown Castles. To quote the OG press release, “to call it ‘eclectic’ would only scratch the surface. This music is everything.

Amongst the hundreds of recordings issued by Sun Ra and his Arkestra, under their various guises, the majority were recorded in concert or in makeshift studios such as their early 1960s set-up at NYC's Choreographer's Workshop. Beyond those, roughly 22 albums were recorded at Variety Recording Studio in New York's Times Square. However, on August 25, 1986, Sun Ra and cohorts entered Mission Control, a state-of-the-art 24-track studio north of Boston, which was teeming with electronic keyboards and otherworldly sound generators. Nestled within that arsenal was a brand-new digital ultra keyboard — the Prophet VS ("Vector Synthesizer").
Of all the keyboards Ra played throughout his half-century career, the Prophet was one of the most sophisticated. There's no evidence that he had played either of the instrument's earlier incarnations, the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 and Prophet-10. Created using microprocessors, a then-new technological advance, under the auspices of engineer Dave Smith in 1978, the Prophet-5 revolutionized electronic music as the first polyphonic and, most importantly, programmable synthesizer.
Ra was intrigued by the Prophet (surely by the instrument as well as by the name). Recorded during a single day, it's about time that these once lost performances have now been found.
It was a joy and a thrill to be sitting at the console hearing this music for the first time, especially with my fingers on the faders and knobs of the mixing desk. We watched the oxide fly off the 2" tapes during playback, making this our one chance to digitize before they metamorphosed into dust. Welcome to the new Sun Ra album....35+ years after it was recorded. The Omniverse has expanded once again.