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Original members of Sheffield’s Human League, Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh left after the first two albums
and formed Heaven 17 in 1980. Named after a fictional band in Anthony Burgess’s “A Clockwork Orange”, they
recruited Glenn Gregory on vocals (who had been the original choice for lead singer of the Human League).
Signed to Virgin Records, debut single “(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang” attracted a lot of attention in
March 1981, and a BBC Radio 1 ban. Recorded in Sheffield and London, debut album “Penthouse And Pavement”
was released in September 1981 and was certified Gold the following year, and also contained the singles “Play To
Win”, “Penthouse And Pavement”, and “The Height Of The Fighting”.
This new edition has been expertly mastered by Barry Grint at AIR Mastering from the original stereo tapes using
precision half-speed mastering. Half-speed mastering is a vinyl cutting technique that improves groove accuracy
and transient information creating an incredibly detailed stereo image with a natural high frequency response.
Presented in its original sleeve, pressed on 180-gram heavyweight black vinyl, featuring an obi strip and housed
in a poly-lined inner sleeve, with all the lyrics and credits plus photos on the 4-page insert.

In Craig Charles' eigenen Worten enthält "The Craig Charles Trunk Of Funk Volume 3" "19 der feinsten Stücke von super-slinky Soul, boot shaking Blues und Boogie, schillernde Discosongs und feine funky rump shakers!"

Als Dichter, Schauspieler, Radio- und Fernsehstar (u. a. in der Science-Fiction-Comedy "Red Dwarf" und der Seifenoper "Coronation Street") ist er seit seiner Jugend berühmt, und seit über 22 Jahren predigt er in seinen weltberühmten BBC 6 Music-Wochenend- und Tagesshows für den guten Groove, legt in Clubs und auf Festivals rund um den Globus auf - sein Ruf als einer der profiliertesten Botschafter für alles, was Soul und Funky ist, ist unbestritten.

Craigs neueste Kollektion mischt Up-Tempo-Club-Klassiker mit frischer Musik von der Creme de la Creme der zeitgenössischen Soul- und Funk-Szene mit einer Prise Oldschool-Klassikern. Das Ergebnis ist so, als ob Craig persönlich als DJ auflegen würde - eine Mischung aus modernem und klassischem Soul, Disco, Deep Funk und beatlastigem Rhythm and Blues.

forgive too slow, Avant Garde artist julia-sophie’s deeply personal debut album is testament to her ability to transform adversity into raw beauty, combining her traditional songwriting roots with her own take on experimental electronica. It features her intimate voice backed by warm and precise electronic sounds whose free spirited explorations give body to the carefully written personal songs julia-sophie comes off the drama of her 2010s rock band, Little Fish, which was signed to a major label. The surreal experiences (like being flown to Las Vegas in helicopters with a bag of slot machine money or given limousines for the day to go shopping), along with having to work in environments where she felt unsafe, drove her decision to leave the fame game. She turned down the offer to emigrate to America and engage with the machinations of the system as it did not feel “true or congruent with who I was”. Instead, she focused her attention on her hometown (Oxford, UK). She started recording lo-fi pop in her garage, using an old laptop, wonky microphones and hitting whatever was around for beats. Candy Says grew to be more of a collective than a band, and eventually co-wrote a film score for indie film Burn Burn Burn and recorded a cover of Running Up That Hill for the Netflix film Close (starring Noomi Rapace). Julia-Sophie soon started recording songs with her friend B, who had a studio stacked from wall-to-wall with analogue recording gear, vintage synths and drum machines. She decided to self-release and the music reached audiences beyond her expectations, including support from BBC Radio 6 and a feature in The Quietus. forgive too slow is Julia-Sophie’s debut solo album, and concerns relationships and the struggles we go through when we “forgive too slow” and can’t break out of patterns from the past. The songs narrate her story of self-destruction (“numb”), love (“falling”), and loss (“telephone”). By the end, embers are still burning and there is no telling if Julia-Sophie has found peace, but we do get a sense that she has gotten closer to the core of her being and is finally living authentically.

Self Esteem & Jake Shears with the 2023 London Cast of Cabaret
- Cabaret: The Maida Vale Session



The company and orchestra of Cabaret, including Self Esteem and Jake Shears, perform a very special live performance at the BBC’s Maida Vale studios.

An incredible, uplifting joint from New Zealand soul artist Arjuna Oakes. His second release on the Albert’s Favourites imprint overflows with the clear enjoyment of the band featuring legendary Nathan Haines. We’d say there’s a reasonable nod to D'Angelo’s essential Spanish Joint within these grooves.

The b-side delivers a vinyl exclusive – a downtempo, moody little number with an emotional drive that is deeply compelling – one to get lost inside.

DJ Feedback:

Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio 6 Music) - 'Watch out for a great singer from New Zealand called Arjuna Oakes' Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio 6 Music)

After a world-conquering 2023, UK electronic duo Gorgon City continue their next chapter by announcing their fifth studio album ‘Reverie’, out 19th July, alongside the new single ‘All That You Need’ featuring Caroline Byrne, out 4th April


Following the release of lead single ‘Biggest Regret (with Bbyafricka)’ at the beginning of the year and the club-ready ‘You Know It’ last month, the anthemic ‘All That You Need’ is another sign of things to come from Gorgon City’s upcoming summer LP, with a filthy bassline, bouncing synth toplines and distorted vocal melodies that instantly ingrain themselves into your memory

Big thanks to a certain Mr. Gilles Peterson who first alerted Paul Murphy, Head of Jazz Room Records to this Spiritual Jazz meets Bebop gem when he played the track "I've Known Rivers" on his show on BBC6 MUSIC. Paul immediately took steps to contact Mr. Noviello with a view to release this previously unknown (to him anyway) hidden delight. It's Frank Noviello's debut album and a mixed bag of Jazz Standards and highly original covers and originals. Randy Westons's "High Fly" has a really grooving arrangement, Vocal Bebop in the original "Tribal Dance" and the highlight in the Gary Bartz/Langston Hughes Spiritual Jazz outing "I've Known Rivers". If you're known to glide in and around to that Mark Murphy bag then this is hip to the trip for you!...

2024 Repress

Great classic and timeless tune of the 80s and French Boogie scene, « Histoire d’1 Soir (Bye bye les galères) » is an ode to party, liberty, youth and freedom, interpreted by Bibi Flash aka Brigitte Gasté, an atypical singer from the French Boogie.

With its light lyrics and mythical chorus, its euphoria and irresistible disco-rap vibe, this track produced by Philippe Renaux (Holly Guns, Clever, Pianola…) released in 1983 is a sincere photography of its time, during which these children of the « summer of love » and May 68 criss-crossed Paris in search of endless nights, pleasure and freedom.

A prized and rare record which is nowadays repressed by Barbecue imprint in 2021, in its 12’’ version, with the original, the Disco Mix, instrumental and the A Cappella, and is accompanied by a new modern and festive edit by French house producer Blutch.

As a bonus, an insert with exclusive texts and photos by Bibi Flash and Philippe Renaux, in a fun and flash universe full of bright colors, revealing the spirit of these good old times.

Come Play With Me and Breed Media are excited to present Come Play With Breed, Vol. 2. Featuring D5, Graft, Hannah Rowe and Mica Sefia, the 10” compilation spotlights the Northern Hip Hop and Soul scenes respectively. On the A-side, D5’s upbeat UK Rap opener, “What’s That”, is followed by Graft’s reflective Jazz-influenced Hip Hop track “Vows To The Art.” Hannah Rowe opens the B-side with an addictive fusion ballad for old souls. Finally, Mica Sefia closes the release with a powerful narration on her experiences as a black woman.

Artist Bios:

D5

Hailing from Leeds, West Yorkshire, D5 draws influence from the likes of Drake, Skepta and Brent Faiyaz and his sound flits between moody R&B and upbeat Rap that oozes a calm confidence. Elements of genres such as Garage, UK Rap and US Hip-Hop intertwine neatly to create his signature style. A style that crystalised on his 2020 EP Channel 5. Consisting of 8 songs, all helmed by producer and close friend CSHARP, the project is D5 at his most personal and led to the video for lead single ‘Silence’ premiering on Link Up TV and garnering him his highest streams to date. However, before ‘Channel 5’ D5 had created the EP If Only We Could Go Outside during the height of the pandemic. The track ‘Movies’ received airplay from the esteemed BBC Radio 1 Presenter Melvoin Odoom. With backing from the likes of GRM Daily and DJ Target spinning 2022 single ‘What’s Up’ on BBC Introducing, D5’s star is surely set to rise as he continues to develop his artistry. In addition to this, he has opened up for the likes of Novelist and fellow hometown hero Graft, proving with every successive performance and release that he is worthy of being a headline act.

Graft

Graft, winner of MOBO Unsung and BBC Three's The Rap Game UK, has propelled himself to national recognition for his unwavering sense of self and musical talent. Hailing from the vibrant city of Leeds, Graft’s topical and poetic approach to songwriting takes inspiration from genres such as Hip Hop, Neo-Soul, Jazz and Alternative Rap. This fusion of inspiration has seen him grace the stage at the acclaimed Reading and Leeds Festival, and has collaborated with esteemed brands such as Adidas, Virgin Media, Boohoo and Leeds United. Now with this national acclaim, Graft prepares for the release of his highly anticipated EP, Golden Child.

Hannah Rowe

Hannah Rowe’s emotional range transcends generations; the young singer writes about experiences and shifts in life, offering all listeners a sense of reflection within her rich, authentic, jazz-infused sound. Hannah is backed by a group of highly accomplished musicians who happen to be her adored closest friends. After finding one another at university, Sam Hughes on guitar, Luke Harrison on bass, Owen Moriarty on keys and Charlie Tanner on drums intertwined their varied influences to paint their own alluring and soulful sound - one difficult to define, but has been said to resemble the likes of Raye, Lianne La Havas, Moonchild and Yebba.

Mica Sefia

Liverpool born, Leeds-based future-soul Queen Mica Sefia endorses the interpretive nature of music as an art to be studied and related to by the public. Mica’s own exploration of self-expression solidified her passion in the production of a timeless and authentic style of music. Preferring to keep her lyricisms and narrative open to interpretation, Mica relates to a balanced approach to songwriting, in which her music remains subjective, but retains its emotive sensitivity. Mica’s music leans into the genres of Alt Soul, Rock and Jazz intertwining them to create atmospheric sounds and textured layers.

Repress!

Vocal powerhouse Izo FitzRoy exploded on to the scene in 2017 with her debut LP 'Skyline', the album incorporating a stunning fusion of styles spanning gospel, funk and soul as Izo's raw bluesy tone and direct lyricism took centre stage.

Her new album 'How The Mighty Fall' builds further on the soul foundations of her debut. Recorded between Paris, London and Sheffield, it sees her collaborating with three stellar producers and a host of talented musicians.

Disco royalty – Dimitri From Paris (Glitterbox, BBE) directs fellow Parisians Cotonete on her smash single 'I Want Magic'. Studio wizard Shawn Lee (BBE, Ubiquity) brings the funky AOR vibes on 'Slim Pickings' and the Mercury Prize nominated - Colin Elliott (Richard Hawley, Jarvis Cocker, Paul Weller) who produced the bulk of the album, completes the trio. Guesting on the record are the UK's most in demand brass section – The Haggis Horns and Izo's long-time collaborators - Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir.

Conceived during the aftermath of the breakdown of her long-term relationship, Izo looked to this personal experience for inspiration for the album as well as casting further afield at the wider themes of mental, societal and communication breakdowns.

Despite the strong material, at one point it seemed the record might never materialise. Just as the world was getting on board with her debut LP and international touring was taking off, Izo lost the use of her voice and required surgery on her vocal chords in the second part of 2018. A long schedule of vocal rehabilitation was necessary to get back to a position where she could first talk, then sing regularly enough to get back to work.

Thankfully after this difficult personal period for her, the silver lining from the experience was that post-recovery she gained a whole new octave at the top of her vocal range! This in turn has influenced her song writing on the album & allowed her to enhance her compositions with more vocal light and shade from this unexpected gift.

Welcome to the " Triangle d'Or " by Nathan Melja. The first opus of a series to come out on his label Parodia, this record is an ode to those Parisian nights where the prestige and extravagance are prior.

Showing a strong willing to integrate elements from the mainstream world in his creative process, the EP opens with the contemplative and emotive 'Stargazing'. You're walking down Champs Elysées, looking at the sky. In a fraction of a second, everything starts to move in slow motion. You're passing out, your eyes stuck on moving stars. It was all a dream, they say.

As you wake up, you're sitting next to a glossy club. 'UnDcided' is blasting out of that neon door. You get lost in its colorful and trippy intro before your head starts to feel the vibrations of its wobbly baseline.

You need a cocktail to get your night started. You enter the restaurant next door. 'Welcome!' is playing in the background. That's Patrick Holland on the guitars you just tried to Shazam! Like the missing piece is not missing anymore.

One too many drinks - you got lost in the groove of the night. It's time to go home. As you leave the club, the sounds of 'Bblluurrryy' are floating in the air, every noise you hear melts into the music. Everything looks hazy. Nothing feels the same anymore.

Now We Are Six is the sixth studio album from seminal British folk band Steeleye Span. Following on from a run of albums which solidified them as the premier UK folk outfit, Six bolstered the band's increasing rock sound further. Nigel Pegrum was added as full-time drummer, and Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson brought in to assist with production, on a record which also features a guest spot from one David Bowie, playing saxophone on the last number. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Now We Are Six, the album has been newly remastered from the original tape transfers and includes rare BBC sessions from the band's performances on Sounds Of The Seventies and Radio One in 1974 - not heard since original airing. The package also features new words from Maddy Prior, Peter Knight, Rick Kemp, Nigel Pegrum and Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson. Remastered from the original master tape transfers by Phil Kinrade at AIR Mastering. 1CD in Digi-sleeve with four rare BBC Radio Session tracks. Booklet with new words from Maddy Prior, Peter Knight, Rick Kemp, Nigel Pegrum and Ian Anderson.

You know it's a guarantee when we welcome back the legendary Breakbeat Junkie to represent the 14th installment of the Toxic Funk series that things will be all about the Party rocking Breaks!

The Breakbeat Junkie has been around since the early nu funk days as a solo producer and as part of the dynamic duo Second Hand Audio, who has dropped various classic releases on both BBP and the Ghetto Funk label.

Toxic Funk Vol. 14 features 2 golden funky cuts from the beat master, which will be sure to get the party rocking anywhere its dropped.

Lately The Breakbeat Junkie has been stable with his bootleg jams on Craig Charles Funk and Soul show on BBCand we know these cuts will go down perfect with the big jams played on this show.

Another timeless 7- inch donut that will be going quick so get it while you can and look out for more Toxic Funk coming very soon…

Repress.

Welcome to “Through Lines”, a collection of hand picked tracks by genre nomad and bass innovator Martyn, made between 2005 and 2015, carefully recovered and remastered for vinyl and digital release on 3024. Previously only available on 12” across a scattering of different labels, this set includes essential ‘Martyn Music’ (as the producer likes to classify it); tracks like “Vancouver” (A 140 staple to this day), “Mega Drive Generation” and his classic remix of TRG’s “Broken Heart”, as well as deeper cuts like the rare “Friedrichstrasse” and house gem “For Lost Relatives”.

This is not just a compilation of remastered music, it’s a document of an era of UK inspired dance music where ideas, genres, tempos and scenes seemed to rapidly merge and splinter off. An exciting time where producers constantly tried to one-up each other with new ideas and influences, in a vibrant international scene of small club nights from FWD>> and DMZ in London to Red Zone (co-run by Martyn) in the periphery, the earliest online forums like Dubstepforum and radio shows like Dj Flight’s BBC 1xtra show and Mary Anne Hobbs’ Breezeblock. Innovation in music never happens in a vacuum and is always a product of community, producers, writers, and other makers continuously inspiring and pushing each other to come up with the next thing. This ethos is present in all of Martyn’s music throughout the years, but also in his work with Jeroen Erosie as 3024 and within the 3024 Mentoring Program he runs today.

Im Januar wurde bekannt, dass Thom Yorke den Soundtrack für Daniele Luchettis Film "Confidenza“ komponiert hat, eine Adaption des italienischen Dramas, das auf dem gleichnamigen Roman von Domenico Starnone basiert. Der Film feierte seine Premiere auf dem Internationalen Filmfestival in Rotterdam und wird am 24. April in die italienischen Kinos kommen. Produziert wurde der Film von Indiana Production und Vision Distribution, der Vertrieb erfolgt durch Vision Distribution. Erscheinen wird der Soundtrack am 26. April zuerst digital. Am 12. Juli folgt die Veröffentlichung auf Vinyl und CD. Schon heute erscheint das Musikvideo zur Single "Knife Edge" mit Elio Germano und Federica Rosellini in den Hauptrollen, das eine neu geschnittene Sequenz aus dem Film sowie einen B-Seiten-Track mit dem Titel "Prize Giving" enthält. Der Intro-Track "The Big City" wurde von Yorke im Februar in seiner Playlist für BBC 6 angeteasert.

"Confidenza“ folgt auf Yorkes vorherigen Score zum "Suspiria“-Remake. Dafür erhielt Yorke eine GRAMMY-Nominierung für den besten Song für visuelle Medien erhielt. Produziert von Sam Petts-Davies (Suspiria, The Smile Wall Of Eyes), arbeiten Petts-Davies und Yorke bei "Confidenza“ erneut mit dem London Contemporary Orchestra und einem Jazz-Ensemble zusammen, zu dem auch Robert Stillman und sein Bandkollege von The Smile, Tom Skinner, gehören. 2019 steuerte Yorke Musik zu Edward Nortons "Motherless Brooklyn“ bei und 2022 schrieb er zwei Songs für das Serienfinale von "Peaky Blinders“.

Zuletzt war Yorke mit The Smile (Tom Skinner, Jonny Greenwood, Thom Yorke) auf Tour, die im Januar ihr zweites Studioalbum "Wall Of Eyes“ veröffentlichten,
das auf das 2022 erschienene Debütalbum "A Light For Attracting Attention“ folgt.

Wah Wah 45s präsentiert die Debüt-LP des ghanaischen Sängers und Djembe-Trommlers Afla Sackey. Mit seiner Band Afrik Bawantu hat er sich den Traum erfüllt, traditionelle ghanaische Musik mit knisternden Afrobeat-Grooves zu verbinden und das Ganze mit einem unwiderstehlich funky Twist abzurunden. Die einzigartige Mischung aus vitalen, afrikanischen Rhythmen mit flotten, lebhaften Bläsersektionen und heavy Basslinien bringt eine frische Perspektive in das Afrobeat-Genre.

Afrik Bawantu veröffentlichten 2013 ihre vielgelobte Debüt-EP "Noko Hewon" und 2014 die Debüt-LP "Life On The Street". Afla selbst arbeitete mit legendären Künstlern wie Sun Ra Arkestra, Ginger Baker und Tony Allen zusammen und ist bei zahlreichen zeitgenössischen Projekten mit Ibibio Sound Machine, Sons Of Kemet, Dele Sosimi, The Estuary 21, Eparapo sowie seiner jüngsten afroelektronischen Kollabo mit Produzent Raz Olsher, Raz & Afla, dabei.

- "Vibrant, uplifting Afrobeat and highlife from the master of percussion!" - Cerys Matthews, BBC 6 Music

- "Excellent track. Will playlist on PBB Radio." - Laurent Garnier, PBB France

- "If you need a weekend livener then look no further than this Ghana vs Nigeria soundclash from Afla Sakey & his fellow funkateers, it’s a proper trip down Afro funk memory lane. The vibes are unrepentantly throwback, but when the 70s were this good & their essence captured so well I’m all in." - The Slow Music Movement

The new Macadam Mambo release by Poperttelli is a great piece of music ! In the Ambient vibe of the originators Future Sound Of London or The Orb, this album concept around dreams travelling, brings us into tribal futuristic landscapes, dark atmospheres on heavy beats and trippy floatings. Poperttelli is not a new artist in the electronic scene, he has already put out few releases on labels like Lost Dogs, Brokntoys, Maturre or Pinkman more recently, and is definetely a name to follow if you didn’t alredy do…

Louis Armstrong ist nicht nur einer der Schöpfer des Jazz, sondern mit Trompete und unverwechselbarer
Stimme eine auch heute noch enorm beliebte Pop-Legende. Diese bislang unveröffentlichte Live-Aufnahme
ist ein neues Juwel im Katalog des Künstlers, der seine größten Hits hier in swingenden, mitreißenden
Versionen präsentiert.
Im Sommer 1968 reiste Louis nach London, nur wenige Wochen nachdem er mit seinem Überraschungshit
”What A Wonderful World” Platz 1 der britischen Charts erobert hatte, und nahm in den BBC-Studios
einen Auftritt voll ansteckender Vitalität auf. Er selbst hielt diese Aufnahme für eine der besten seiner
gesamten Karriere.
Fünf Jahrzehnte nach seinem Tod veröffentlicht Verve den Mitschnitt jetzt erstmals komplett und frisch remastert auf Vinyl, CD und in digitaler Form, begleitet von ausführlichen Linernotes von Armstrong-Biograph
Ricky Riccardi. Hier erlebt man „Satchmo“ in all seinen Facetten, mit Jazzklassikern wie “Indiana” und
“When It’s Sleepy Time Down South”, seinem Chart-Hit ”What A Wonderful World” und Versionen von
Evergreens wie ”Mack The Knife” oder ”The Bare Necessities” aus Disneys „Dschungelbuch“.

repressed !

Classic Music Company are proud to present Black Girl Magic, the highly anticipated sophomore album from the inimitable Honey Dijon. An artist in every sense of the word, across 15 tracks of attitude, energy, heart and community, Honey demonstrates a broad range of disciplines and influences, enlisting A-List collaborators such as Channel Tres, Eve, Pablo Vittar, Josh Caffe, Mike Dunn and more for an unmissable, boundary-pushing LP.

Redefining what it is to be a DJ in 2022, this year Honey’s production capabilities have been enlisted by the upper echelon of musicians. Producing two records for Beyonce’s chart-topping album Renaissance and remixing lead single ‘Break My Soul’, as well as working in the studio with Madonna on new material. Now unapologetically expressing her own sound on Black Girl Magic, she unveils the next chapter of her development as a producer and songwriter.

Since the first teaser of the album, the BBC Radio 1 playlisted collaboration with Atlanta singer-songwriter Hadiya George ‘Not About You’, to the most recent single ‘Show Me Some Love’ featuring Compton royalty Channel Tres, the Black Girl Magic project has consistently illustrated Honey’s dedication to profiling diverse vocal talent. Shining a spotlight on a new generation of queer people and people of colour, Honey’s intentions to “keep this culture in the conversation,” are demonstrated with the featured artists on the LP.

Behind the scenes Honey has worked closely with Classic Music Company founder and close friend Luke Solomon, as well as regular collaborator Chris Penny on the production of the album. Her most adventurous and explorative output yet with a diverse range of influences, Honey’s Chicago musical upbringing is a driving force behind the LP, with her sights set on demonstrating how she first experienced the music of her hometown felt deeply across the record.

Working with British sculptor Jam Sutton, an artist who explores the relationship between technology and antiquity, 3D sculptural digital renderings of Honey have formed the artwork for all preceding singles leading into Black Girl Magic. Exploring identity, form, technology and classical portraiture, the artwork for the album comes as the final piece in the series of bespoke displays of Honey.

From her stratospheric DJ career, to her fashion line with COMME des GARÇONS: Honey Fucking Dijon, to soundtracking some of the most iconic fashion shows of the 21st century, Honey’s influence is felt far and wide across the worlds of music, fashion and art, with Black Girl Magic a powerful physical statement of her interdisciplinary artistic impact.

Im Januar wurde bekannt, dass Thom Yorke den Soundtrack für Daniele Luchettis Film "Confidenza“ komponiert hat, eine Adaption des italienischen Dramas, das auf dem gleichnamigen Roman von Domenico Starnone basiert. Der Film feierte seine Premiere auf dem Internationalen Filmfestival in Rotterdam und wird am 24. April in die italienischen Kinos kommen. Produziert wurde der Film von Indiana Production und Vision Distribution, der Vertrieb erfolgt durch Vision Distribution. Erscheinen wird der Soundtrack am 26. April zuerst digital. Am 12. Juli folgt die Veröffentlichung auf Vinyl und CD. Schon heute erscheint das Musikvideo zur Single "Knife Edge" mit Elio Germano und Federica Rosellini in den Hauptrollen, das eine neu geschnittene Sequenz aus dem Film sowie einen B-Seiten-Track mit dem Titel "Prize Giving" enthält. Der Intro-Track "The Big City" wurde von Yorke im Februar in seiner Playlist für BBC 6 angeteasert.

"Confidenza“ folgt auf Yorkes vorherigen Score zum "Suspiria“-Remake. Dafür erhielt Yorke eine GRAMMY-Nominierung für den besten Song für visuelle Medien erhielt. Produziert von Sam Petts-Davies (Suspiria, The Smile Wall Of Eyes), arbeiten Petts-Davies und Yorke bei "Confidenza“ erneut mit dem London Contemporary Orchestra und einem Jazz-Ensemble zusammen, zu dem auch Robert Stillman und sein Bandkollege von The Smile, Tom Skinner, gehören. 2019 steuerte Yorke Musik zu Edward Nortons "Motherless Brooklyn“ bei und 2022 schrieb er zwei Songs für das Serienfinale von "Peaky Blinders“.

Zuletzt war Yorke mit The Smile (Tom Skinner, Jonny Greenwood, Thom Yorke) auf Tour, die im Januar ihr zweites Studioalbum "Wall Of Eyes“ veröffentlichten,
das auf das 2022 erschienene Debütalbum "A Light For Attracting Attention“ folgt.

Formed in Manchester over a decade ago, Hurts are an electronic pop band featuring vocalist Theo Hutchcraft and multi instrumentalist and producer Adam Anderson. Known for their striking and stylish videos, Hurts make epic, dramatic pop music that takes inspiration from a finely curated mix of influences including '70s Krautrock, '80s new wave, and '90s R&B. In August of 2010, Hurts' debut full-length album, Happiness, debuted in the Top 5 on the U.K. albums chart making it the fastest-selling debut album by a band in the U.K. that year. Featuring the singles "Better Than Love," "Wonderful Life," and "Stay," among others. The album was a huge success across Europe and Hurts' profile rose exponentially with the album reaching Platinum status 13 times over and 4 times Gold around the world including over 500,000 album sales in Germany alone. Several accolades followed in 2010, including topping the BBC's Sound of 2010 poll, winning a German BAMBI award, and garnering numerous nominations including an MTV Europe Music Award. The band have since gone on to win numerous awards including Best Band and Best Video at the NME Awards and Best International Newcomer at Germanys ECHO Awards. Hurts followed up in 2013 by releasing their sophomore album, Exile, which again hit the U.K. albums chart Top 10. The album again featured production from Hutchcraft and Anderson, along with Quant and Dan Grech-Marguerat, also featuring Elton John as guest Pianist on album closer “Help". Exile showcased a nuanced, somewhat more contemporary sound that incorporated more orchestral and rock instrumentation, yet retained all of Hurts’ core influences. In 2015, Hurts delivered their third studio album, Surrender, which featured production from Quant as well as Stuart Price (Madonna, the Killers) and Ariel Rechtshaid (HAIM, Vampire Weekend). The album spawned several singles, including "Some Kind of Heaven," "Lights," and “Slow. The epic video for “Lights", directed by Dawn Shadforth gaining the numerous nominations for Video of the Year. Two years later, they returned with the full-length Desire, featuring the singles "Beautiful Ones" and "Ready to Go.” Having sold hundreds of thousands of live show tickets around the world over the past decade, and often a fixture of the global festival circuit headlining stages around the world, the band have built an enviable touring fanbase including becoming one of the most successful British bands in Russia of the past decade.

Freerange regular Simbad is back with a new 4 track EP following on from his 2021 Peaceful Revolution EP which got big support from Ron Trent, Gilles Peterson, Osunlade and Horse Meat Disco to name a few. Having based himself in Cape Town the last 5 or so years, the French born producer and DJ is one of the most prolific artists in the scene having notched up countless EP’s, remixes and production work for labels like Apron, G.A.M.M. Faces, Hyperdub, Atjazz, BBE & Brownswood. His association with Gilles Peterson and Worldwide runs deep, hosting regular shows on WWFM as well as traversing the globe delivering his unique and eclectic sets from Africa to Asia and beyond.

Lead track Nuphoria kicks things off in typical Simbad genre-bending style, sitting in a sweet spot between the Baltimore house of Karizma, the epic, uplifting techno of Laurent Garnier and the UK-centric rave sounds of Bicep and Kieren Hebden. Not an easy track to pigeon-hole but one that can’t fail to grab the dancers attention if dropped at the right time on a discerning dance floor.

Up next we have Dream featuring SA native Sanele who delivers a beautiful, raw and intimate vocal performance which fits perfectly with Simbads’ roughed-up drums and chiming Rhodes chords.

Flipping over Simbad delivers an alternate Pretoria Mix of Nuphoria which slows the pace of the original, adds a more rhythmic bassline and spoken word sample. A deeper alternative to the original which retains the euphoric quality thanks to its epic synth line and chords.

Closing out the release we have Wake Up featuring Frederick of Fifty Fathoms Deep who contributes to a bright and breezy house track with soulful chords and bouncing square wave bass line.

Multitrack Reworks Volume 7 - This series sees The Temptations ‘Papa Was A Rolling Stone’ under Smoove's editing knife with extra crisp drums, deep vocal harmonies and glories orchestra breakdowns.

On the flip side is Rufus Thomas ‘Do the Funky Penguin’ with exposed drums and extended guitar riffs galore!As an extra bonus Smoove also drops his extended version of The Magic Disco Machine ‘Scratchin’ peeling back the layers to reveal a seriously funky bass line and pounding drums! Craig Charles has been fully supporting this release with regular plays on @BBC6 Music hailing it as “Smoove’s best Multitrack Rework yet!”

DJ Support: Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio 6 Music), Tom Ravenscroft/Deb Grant – New Music Fix (BBC Radio 6 Music), Huey Morgan (BBC Radio 6 Music)

Cut from material recorded in April 2021 at Fish Factory studios in London, the album’s title Abbreviations nods to the editing and post-production processes that trimmed the original recordings into seven succinct and intricate tracks. Making space for collaborators Ernesto Marichales (percussion), Miryam Solomon (vocals) and Valeria Pozzo (Violin, viola), it builds on the critically-acclaimed success of Sound & Reason (supported by Gilles Peterson and Mary Anne Hobbs) to bring out different shades of the group’s shape-shifting sound.

‘Elevator Company’ condenses twenty-minutes of jamming around Tal Janes’ hypnotic guitar line into a low-lit lounge groove that subverts the tropes of elevator music associated with some forms of easy listening jazz. Featuring Solomon’s wordless vocals, the piece blurs the lines between ambient and improvised music, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere reminiscent of classic RnB recordings.

On a different tip, ‘The Spin’ is a trance-like freak-out drawing on the final reserves of energy at the tail end of two days of solid recording. Reflecting guitarist Janes’ idea that "music really starts happening after a while, once you feel like you have nothing left to offer," the hypnotic rhythm section sets the tone for an fraught and frazzled guitar solo that seems to dissolve the very edges of time and space in the process.

An album that speaks to Qwalia’s endless capacity for self-renewal and uninhibited expression, Abbreviations takes its cue from the group’s name to communicate something ineffable about the nature of music, rhythm and sound that must be experienced to be truly understood.

PUSH are back with this 7” release of their highly acclaimed classic ‘CUT ME LOOSE’. Originally released in 1994, this JBs inspired groove monster is still a rare groove defining piece of funk art. The flipside SUPERSTAR is their first new recording in 10 years! It is an upbeat Roy Ayers-Pleasure-esque anthem that will become a staple in DJ’s selections worldwide. Boogie Back is back for good!!!

Bugger Off! picked up where its predecessor left off, and rampaged on from there. Covers of Zappa’s “Willy the Pimp” and the Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” might have seemed a little obvious, but both are battered down with such a glorious lack of finesse that it’s impossible to object — anybody familiar with, respectively, Juicy Lucy and the
Hammersmith Gorillas’ versions of the same songs will come in with at least a vague idea of what to expect, but that’s about it.

“Hoochie Coochie Man” is even more disheveled, and when John Peel’s liner notes reminisce on the group’s insistence on recording live, you can tell he’s not necessarily looking back with any fondness.
On one occasion, he suggested they do a little overdubbing.

The band’s response to his words would become the album’s title. Including “Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut” as bonus track taken from the 1972 John Peel Session.

Nick Garrie was an unknown backpacker until his music was discovered in the late ’60s while busking in the South of France. Recognising his talent, work on a collection of recordings followed which would culminate in his legendary debut album The Nightmare of J.B. Stanislas. Set to be released in 1969 on the influential French label Disc’Az, however due to the suicide of the label’s founder, Lucien Morisse, shortly before the album’s release date, only about 100 copies of this psych pop/soft rock masterpiece came into circulation. It became a cult album in the truest sense and was finally reissued almost 40 years later. With the death of Morisse, Nick took some time away from recording only to return under an alias, writing with Oscar and Golden Globe winning composer Francis Lai. His directory of credits only grew as he worked with Paul Samwell-Smith (The Yardbirds), Alun Davies (Cat Stevens’ Band), drummer Gerry Conway and Leonard Cohen. Nick Garrie grew his audience in Europe, penning an album that would top the charts in Spain. In 2005 the album The Nightmare of J.B Stanislas was reissued, achieving critical acclaim from The Independent, BBC & Record Collector. Nick’s resurgence combined with fascination of his back story led to a new generation of music fans and musicians appreciating Garrie’s work. In this tim he was collaborated with the likes of Duglas T. Stewart (BMX Bandits) Norman Blake and Francis McDonald (Teenage Fanclub) and Gary Olson (The Ladybug Transistor). Now, for the first time ever, the classic title track is to be released as a 7” single. It is also the first ever vinyl release of Nick’s work on a UK label. The B side is a song close to Nick’s heart Around the World. This track was also written in the ’60s but had never been recorded before. It was recorded at Nick’s home in late 2023 with the help of fellow 9X9 recording artist Jamie Whelligan and musician/producer Nick Frater.

Repress!

With a rare combination of powerful vocals, honest song writing and dynamic live performances, Izo FitzRoy's music is a unique and captivating blend of soul, gospel and blues.

Album Promo feedback:

RADIO: 6Music Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show, KCRW (Garth Trinidad), NPR Radio, Robert Elms BBC Radio London live show and interview, Radio 1 (Holland), Jazz FM, Radio One Italy

Radio 1 Prague, Solar Radio, Radio Nova - Porto / Portugal, Kiss FM Ukraine, WCLK Atlanta 91.9 FM, KaneFm, Açik Radyo, WUTK-FM 90.3, WPRK 91.5 FM, Republic 100,3/Thessaloniki, eastside radio, THE MELTDOWN SHOW, Radio Z 95.8 Nuernberg, WBAI 99.5fm, WHCR 90.3 FM, Radio Kraków, Black Country Radio, Ibiza Sonica 95.2FM, Rado Tomek, Pioneer DJ Radio, Scanner FM, Juice FM

PRINT PRESS: Blues & Soul, Echoes, R2 Magazine, Music Republic, Blues In Britain, Uncut, Vents Magazine

ONLINE PRESS: Clash Magazine, DJBooth, Indie Shuffle, Eton Messy, La Belle Musique, Sound Control, Bear Toons, Monkeyboxing, elitemuzik, soulandjazz, Ok-Tho, Withguitars, The Listening Post, Rockstone Sessions, Backseat Mafia

10-piece UK afro-fusion outfit TC & The Groove Family are proud to share their new EP ‘We Have Each Other’. Releasing on Friday 7th June via Bridge The Gap, the project sees the band refine the sound debuted on their 2022 album ‘First Home’. Returning to work once again with producer Tom Excell (Nubiyan Twist, ONIPA), the project explores a darker sonic palette, channelling a deep appreciation of UK bass and electronic music alongside afro-jazz sounds and hip-hop sensibilities.

The record documents a time of change within the group - a new lineup, plus members living in different cities and pursuing various paths - whilst also reflecting the turbulent socio-political climate, and the major shifts and changes on the horizon for humanity. However, despite the heavy subject material, the band strike an optimistic, uplifting tone, with MC Franz Von channeling the music into a message encouraging listeners to look around and embrace
community, whatever that may look like. Bandleader Tim Cook shares:

“Our collective purpose is to craft music that empowers and energises individuals to embrace their true selves with pride, celebrating the unity and strength we radiate as one community. No one needs to be alone when they are striving for common humanity. No one should be lonely when we celebrate each other, drawn together by a sound that says it’s good to be me, it’s better to be us. As our MC, Franz Von says, music brings peace, love & energy”.

Opener and lead single ‘Stand Strong’ is a love letter to afrobeat, creating a contemporary twist with its Khruangbin-esque guitar lines and weaving horns, whilst ‘Here, Now’ takes the tempo down to an atmospheric haze of dubbed-out ambient effects, pierced by uplifting horn melodies. ‘Blessed’ sees the group welcome Nubiyan Twist’s Aziza Jaye for a dancehall-meets-North African-flavoured feature, subtly reimagining what Elephunk era Black Eyed Peas would
sound like today.

At the EP’s centre-point and emotional peak, title track ‘We Have Each Other’ showcases the band’s jazz fusion, Latin and dark electronic influences. The tracks growling, subbed-out bass tones return as a theme for ‘Wile Out’ - a UK hip-hop & jungle tinged collaboration with SANITY complete with virtuosic, tight-knit grooves, furious horn lines and a whirlwind of immersive turntablism.

Originally formed in Leeds, TC & The Groove Family’s sound reflects the diverse musical and cultural backgrounds at the core of the project, with songs exploring grooves and genres including afrobeat, broken beat, jungle, jazz and grime. Their music has drawn widespread acclaim, supported by tastemakers including Jamz Supernova and Craig Charles on BBC Radio 6, BBC Introducing West Yorkshire, Jazz FM, Rinse FM, Radio FIP and more. The group have performed at the likes of Glastonbury, We Out Here, Greenman and Boomtown, and will embark on a UK tour across May & June in support of the release of ‘We Have Each Other’.

180 Proof Records & BBE Music continue to bring new life to the Strata catalogue, this time with the short-lived label's swan song: Larry Nozero’s 1975 passion project, Time. The final album to be released on Strata Inc., Time is a dream- like mix of mood, an album full of range, tempo, and feeling; from the impulsive and airy rendition of the jazz standard “All The Things You Are” to the brooding melancholia of “Tony,” Nozero’s Time is destined to become known among aficionados as a classic of 1970s jazz. Like time itself, each song is open to individual interpretation - something Nozero himself confessed to on the album’s original liner notes, saying “It got so deep that we decided to call the group and our album after that concept of TIME, because it seemed to mean something to just about everyone.” A native of Detroit, Nozero spent time in Charles Moore’s Detroit Contemporary 5 (part of Strata Inc.) before being drafted into the military. While enlisted, Nozero capitalised on his time by honing his craft in the Army Band. By the time he returned to Detroit, Nozero had little trouble landing high-profile gigs. No stranger to success, Nozero’s previous credits and collaborators include Henry Mancini, Sergio Mendes, and playing Soprano sax on Marvin Gaye’s iconic 1971 album, What’s Going On. Working with his cousin and collaborator Dennis Tini, Time is unlike many albums of the era in that it truly feels like a work fuelled by freewheeling expressionism. The pieces are funky, soulful, strange and soothing all at once. Tini’s stand-out contribution to the album is “Tune for L.N.”, a funk-fuelled piece of rhythm-centric jazz. A distinguishing feature of the album is the use of wordless vocals. The scat work on part two of “Chronicle Of The Murdered House” adds a distinct counterpoint to Nozero’s reed work, while the high pitch bebop of “Baubles, Bangles and Beads” closes out the album with a carefree and buoyant groove. Time has been remastered by the Grammy nominated studio The Carvery, along with the artwork, which has been restored and includes never seen before photos.

Pure Mania is the debut album by The Vibrators, who have always been considered one of the most important punk pioneers in the UK. The band was formed in 1976 by Ian 'Knox' Carnochan, Pat Collier, John Ellis and John 'Eddie' Edwards. In 1976 they were backed by Sex Pistols producer Chris Spedding, who recommended the band to the successful RAK label. The band had legendary shows on John Peel's BBC Radio 1 and played the pioneering punk venue: London's Roxy Club. The band supported Iggy Pop and Mott the Hoople frontman Ian Hunter. Pure Mania has always been considered a true punk classic that was essential to the birth of the British punk scene. Even the Stiff Little Fingers took their name from a track on the album. The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music also named Pure Mania as one of the 50 greatest punk albums of all time. Pure Mania is available as a limited edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on translucent magenta coloured vinyl.

In a testament to Ireland’s vibrant musical history, Allchival presents an anthology celebrating the disco era’s hidden gems from Stuart Bingham's Sunshine. Culled from the annals of their studio recordings, this collection shines a light on the country’s lesser-known contributions to the global disco phenomenon.

Kicking off the compilation with Sunshine's electrifying "Boogie on Up," a testament to the band's prowess in embracing disco rhythms despite their pop cover origins. Produced by the acclaimed Paul Curtis, the track embodies the infectious spirit of disco, marking a pivotal moment for Irish disco hits. Accompanying it is "Don't Stop Me," radiating with Euro-disco vibes, further exemplifying Sunshine's versatility. Bingham recounts the bittersweet journey of "If This Is Free." Initially slated for success under Curtis's wing, the disco era's abrupt demise altered its trajectory, leading to an independent recording that retains a raw, garagey edge reminiscent of the era's ethos.

"Give It To Me" is another standout, blending Nile Rodgers-inspired arrangements with a Euro-disco flair. Stuart Bingham's production prowess and Rosey's captivating vocals converge to create an irresistible groove that transcends disco conventions.

Venturing into more experimental territory, "The Boogie Bug" showcases some Irish ingenuity in rap-infused grooves. Despite its ahead-of-its-time sound, the track faced resistance in a disco-weary landscape and rounding out the compilation is "Oh Gee, I Got U B.B.," a playful nod to dub-mix traditions.

This Sunshine anthology is a journey through Ireland's disco era, unearthing forgotten gems and shedding light on the country's rich musical tapestry. From Sunshine's infectious rhythms to Stuart Bingham's resilient spirit, each track encapsulates the era's vibrancy and innovation.

Death Is Not The End together all three LP volumes of the critically acclaimed If I Had a Pair of Wings LP compilation series for a bundled edition.

"...all of the music on this compilation is the result of the forward-thinking artists and producers that realised the worth of local Jamaican artistry during a time when the island's leading political figures had not yet managed to throw off the colonial yolk. These are sounds with a certain innocence and the optimistic promise of better to come, with the influence of American pop ballads and doo-wop looming large, yet already pointing to the innovations of the future. Listen keenly and take in the sounds of the Jamaican music industry at its very beginnings, its singers and players drawing from the popular styles of the island's larger neighbour and already changing those styles into something their own." - David Katz

Lauren Laverne's comp of the week on BBC Radio 6 Music w/c 11th Jan.

Rock n Roll Star! zeichnet Bowies Weg zu Ziggy Stardust nach. Angefangen bei frühen Demos für zu Hause, über Radiosessions und Live-Auftritte bis hin zu Session-Aufnahmen, Outtakes und alternativen Versionen von den Aufnahmen zum Album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust ROCK 'N' ROLL STAR! enthält 29 unveröffentlichte Tracks, darunter frühe Songwriting-Demos, Aufnahmen von Davids Band The Arnold Corns, Proben in Bowies damaligem Zuhause Haddon Hall, BBC-Sessions, Singles, Live-Auftritte sowie Outtakes und alternative Versionen von den Original-Aufnahmesessions des Albums, die vom ursprünglichen Album-Produzenten Ken Scott neu gemischt wurden. Zu den unveröffentlichten Highlights gehören eine alternative Version von "Lady Stardust", eine ungehörte Version des Deep-Cut-Klassikers "Shadow Man" und eine Up-Tempo-Aufnahme von The Who's "I Can't Explain", die er später verlangsamt und für das PIN-UPS-Album gecovert hat. Die reine Audio-Blu-Ray enthält das definitive Remaster des Original-Ziggy Stardust-Albums aus dem Jahr 2012 in 96kHz/24bit PCM Stereo, das Album und zusätzliche Mixe aus dem Jahr 2003 in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sowie die Singles, Outtakes und alternative Versionen in 96kHz/24bit PCM Stereo. Die Blu-Ray enthält außerdem eine Version des ZIGGY STARDUST-Albums namens WAITING IN THE SKY (BEFORE THE STARMAN CAME TO EARTH), die von Trident Studio-Bändern vom 15. Dezember 1971 stammt und eine alternative Reihenfolge sowie vier Songs enthält, die es nicht auf das endgültige Album geschafft haben. Diese wird auch als limitierte Vinyl-LP am 20. April 2024 zum Record Store Day erhältlich sein. Außerdem gibt es eine 1-LP-Version von ROCK 'N' ROLL STAR! mit den alternativen Aufnahmen und Abmischungen.

A Londoner with Iraqi and Belarusian heritage, Flo Perlin began learning the cello at the age of five, later falling in love with the guitar when her Colombian teacher Cesar Rodriguez- Duran (the same person who taught Michael Kiwanuka) introduced her to the world of Bossa Nova, which influenced her own finger picking style.

Combining this experience with a diverse range of influences from artists such as Zero 7, Laura Marling, Buena Vista Social Club, Suzanne Vega and Erykah Badu, enabled Flo to develop an accomplished talent, further enhanced by a unique vocal style and ability that is instantly recognisable - a rare gift in today's musical landscape. In addition to the soothing and hypnotic nature of her voice, Flo Perlin is able to create beautifully crafted, melodic and poetic songs that address common yet complex issues, intertwined with profound and personal perspectives. In light of this, BBC 6 Music have described her as "a true storyteller".

'Clay' itself is a metaphor for the human capacity to adapt and adjust to different experiences and challenges. Just like clay, we mould and change shapes

Big Wave, the sixth full-length release from the Catalan singer-songwriter, strides boldly in a new direction, its songs charged with a fresh power -- precipitated by changes in her personal life. On her previous albums, particularly Hardcore From The Heart and Dripping Springs, Joana's music engages in a tug-of-war between fragility and intensity, a dynamic that has caught the attention of major publications such as Mojo, Uncut, and The Guardian, as well as Lauren Laverne, Guy Garvey and Gideon Coe on their BBC 6 Music show. Her songs have been described as "torrents of familiar heartache made startling and luminous". Big Wave retains her characteristic use of reverb and pop melody, but is tighter, fiercer, shrouded in distortion. An emotional and sonic ferocity because "I wanted to be more aggressive," Joana explains. "Because I was going through a period where I was feeling very uncomfortable."

Dinah Washington had one of the most distinctive and versatile voices in music. Washington could sell an R&B stomp just as well as she could interpret a torch song, and she could hold her own in the company of Jazz trumpet genius Clifford Brown and Bebop drum pioneer Max Roach. Her records, made for Mercury Records and the company’s Jazz offshoot EmArcy Records in the US appeared in the UK through Oriole and then EMI. Notably, the 1959 album release of What a Diff'rence A Day Makes featured the classics Cry Me A River, Manhattan, A Sunday Kind Of Love, Time After Time and What a Diff'rence A Day Makes. During the same year she visited the UK performing at the Bath Jazz Festival and recording an appearance for Granada Television’s The Variety Show. Washington’s discs regularly featured on BBC radio, but despite this, her only UK chart single came in November 1962 when September in the Rain reached number 35 from the album of the same title. Also taken from September Rain and featured on this LP is the popular Jazz standard composed by McHugh and Gaskill I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me...