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Revered selector Moodymann remixes ‘Take Me As I Am’ by Detroit artists Dames Brown, from their 2026 Defected LP of the same name. First distributed as a super-exclusive dubplate at Amsterdam Dance Event in late 2025, this avant-garde remix showcases a master at work, transforming the soulful feel of ‘Take Me As I Am’ into a provocative, groove-laden sonic experience for heads in the know.

Kicking off 2026 with a bang, Dames Brown’s hotly anticipated full-length LP ‘Take Me As I Am’, presented by Amp Fiddler, paid homage to the late Detroit pioneer while re-introducing the vocal-house trio to the world. Across 14 tracks, the Dames weaved together their disco, R&B and house influences and collaborated with Eddie Fowlkes, Andrés, Waajeed and Amp Fiddler himself.

The critically acclaimed LP was recognised by DJ Mag, Mixmag and Billboard, with the latter noting the project is “dripping with all the soul, style, funk and feeling that you might expect from the powerhouse Detroit trio.” Title track ‘Take Me As I Am’ represented the album’s elevated house sound in full, and now this fresh re-arrangement by fellow Detroiter Moodymann has arrived.

Nightcode EP finds UK deep-house craftsman Jacksonville in full control, lacing warm chords, swinging drums and basslines built for red-lit basements. Across “Nightcode”, “Ecstasy in Starlight”, “Octobers in Love” and “Blind Spot”, he fuses classic Detroit/UK house textures with his own emotional, story-telling touch—timeless deep house for DJs who play past sunrise.

Feedbacks:


Laurent Garnier : Octobers in Love <3 <3 <3
Nick Holder : dope
Gina Breeze (Classic / Get Up / Homoelectric) : Feeling the deepness! Look forward to playing.
Nightmares On Wax (Warp Records) : Ecstasy in starl;ight and Blind spot are my jams !
Josh Wink (Ovum) : Deep, old old school flavored with new school production.
Alexkid (Rawax / FUSE / NG Trax) : Lovely
Lauren Lo Sung (LOLiFE records, e1even records) : Octobers in love is nice!
Dj Hutch (Ambers / Rinse FM) : grooves
Louise Chen (NTS) : This is so so sooo good! Can't wait to play on the radio!
Rob Pearson (Evasive Records / Sine 102.6fm) : Nightcode is the standout for me, will play tonight on Evasive
Eviltron / Paul Donton (Bombis / Triangle) : Blind Spot and Ecstasy in Starlight are the ones on the
D'Julz (Bass Culture) : feeling night code and blind spot . merci!
Junior Sanchez (Strictly Rhythm / Cube Recordings) : Really Cool EP!
DJ Three : this is all very high quality house that feels very much a
nd_baumecker (Ostgut Ton) : Nightcode and Octobers In Love for me. Quality as usual.
Sasha (Last Night On Earth) : Downloading for Sasha
William Kiss (Rekids) : very nice!
Monty Luke (Rekids / Black Catalogue) : thx for this...
Mystic Bill (Classic / Trax / Relief) : Will try some of these out, thanks!
Carista : beautiful
Crackazat (Freerange / Local Talk) : Sick sick sick
Jhobei (Bizarre Trax / FUSE / Felon 5) : Nice smooth deep
Khadija (Rek'd / Rafiki Collective) : Danke
Ben Sims : Now downloading - will check asap!
DJ Bone (FURTHER) : Very nice tunes here, thanks
Bake (All Caps/Rinse FM) : thank you!
Dj Deep (Deeply Rooted) : very nice tracks!
Oliver $ (Classic Music Company / Play It Down) : nice one!
Tripmastaz (Plant 74) : Nightcode is tight
Harvey Sutherland (MCDE / PPU / Voltaire Records) : couple of nice tunes here!
Anthony Collins (Frank & Tony / Scissor & Thread) : super nice deep tunes
Marcel Dettmann : thx
Voigtmann (Subsequent) : Ecstacy in Starlight is the one!
Gerd (4Lux / Clone) : dope house trax from the phonogramme crew once again!
Groove Armada : Great EP - Love Nightcode, Ocotber is love so good too±
Harri (Sub Club) : nice, will play and support
Jorkes (Freeride Millenium) : ecstasy in starlight..yes yes yes yes
DJ Minx (Women On Wax Recordings) : Every one of these...top tier! I'm on 'em!
DJ Rocca (Nang Records, Mantra Vibes) : Great EP. Nightcode is great, super bassline indeed
Jacques Renault : Ectasy In Starlight for me here!
Geir Aspenes (G-Ha (Sunkissed)) : Thank u
Mark Farina : dig it
Âme (Innervisions) : thanks
Djebali ( ( djebali ) / INFUSE / Freak n Chic) : Love it ! thanks for sharing. Blind Spot is my fav
Jaye Ward (Dalston Super Store / Netil Radio) : wicked release!! night code is a belter!!! thx
Iron Curtis (Mule Musiq, Morris Audio) : thank you!

In the early 1990s, at the intersection of New Beat, early techno and EBM, a wave of raw, experimental club music emerged from Germany—dark, mechanical and often strangely playful. Among its most distinctive voices was Scrot, the project of producer Lars Janzik (Base Scan, Decade V, Technoline).

Originally released on ZYX Records, Scrot’s three seminal singles—“Teufelsrhythmus”, “Der Rhythmusmensch” and “Der Amokläufer”—captured a unique moment in early European techno. Built on hypnotic drum machine patterns, lo-fi sequencing and spoken-word German samples, these tracks combined industrial textures and unconventional vocal treatments with early techno production techniques and a peculiar sense of humor.

Limited to 300 copies on black vinyl and 200 copies on orange vinyl, and accompanied by an exclusive postcard, “Teufel & Mensch” brings together some of the project’s most iconic tracks and remixes, alongside the previously unreleased Knauer Remix of “Teufelsrhythmus”.

More than a retrospective, “Teufel & Mensch” stands as a document of a transitional era—when techno was still forming its identity, and artists like Scrot were pushing its boundaries into strange and uncompromising territory.

In the early 1990s, at the intersection of New Beat, early techno and EBM, a wave of raw, experimental club music emerged from Germany—dark, mechanical and often strangely playful. Among its most distinctive voices was Scrot, the project of producer Lars Janzik (Base Scan, Decade V, Technoline).

Originally released on ZYX Records, Scrot’s three seminal singles—“Teufelsrhythmus”, “Der Rhythmusmensch” and “Der Amokläufer”—captured a unique moment in early European techno. Built on hypnotic drum machine patterns, lo-fi sequencing and spoken-word German samples, these tracks combined industrial textures and unconventional vocal treatments with early techno production techniques and a peculiar sense of humor.

Limited to 300 copies on black vinyl and 200 copies on orange vinyl, and accompanied by an exclusive postcard, “Teufel & Mensch” brings together some of the project’s most iconic tracks and remixes, alongside the previously unreleased Knauer Remix of “Teufelsrhythmus”.

More than a retrospective, “Teufel & Mensch” stands as a document of a transitional era—when techno was still forming its identity, and artists like Scrot were pushing its boundaries into strange and uncompromising territory.

For the 6th edition of Easy Tiger, Marko Nastic welcomes Bosko Balos for the first chapter of their new project, Mooshoo Clan, presented through a 4-track EP titled A Journey To Hyperspace. The record opens with Bellissimo - a wavy bassline-driven track followed by old-school drum programming that pulls you straight onto the dancefloor. Down the grooves, we arrive at Original 59. From the very first moments, you’re drawn into a vocal and bass-led paracosm, evoking the feeling of falling into a lost world of pure joy. On the flip side, the strong energy continues with Take It From The Top - a classic pumper, fueled by vintage stabs designed to get the crowd moving. Part one closes with the signature track Mooshoo Clan - a bass-heavy roller that keeps the momentum alive, this time leaning into a darker, more hypnotic mood.

Holden returns to SK_eleven with “Origin,” the final chapter in the SK_X series. With this EP, Holden continues to invert techno’s norms in ways few others can. He places melody directly at the forefront, giving us four tracks that work just as well for the peak time dancefloor as they do for repeat listening at home.

Opener “Crux” tunnels on a singular, winding motif that eventually unfolds into a bloom of texture and agile melody. “Hemisphere” brings a futuristic, otherworldly approach to classic dub techno techniques, blending a funk-driven bassline with dusty, alien chords. On the B-side of the record, “Sustained Light” tells a story of hope and redemption with its patient, atmospheric hook, only to be consumed by the underlying rhythm. “Origin” closes out the record: a forceful, shimmering testament to the power of melody and emotion in techno and Holden’s vision for the modern dancefloor.

After breaking through with a gold selling debut in the late 1990’s, Harlem emcee Cam’ron quickly emerged as a leading figure in hip-hop, just as the genre was reaching mass audiences for the first time. A platinum-selling classic on Roc-A-Fella Records came a few years later, followed by the founding of the iconic collective Dipset and the release of three more seismic solo albums over the course of the 2000s. The last chapter in his historic run was 2009’s Crime Pays, which drew praise from critics while also lighting up the Billboard Charts, showcasing Cam’s sonic evolution while proving his pen game remained unmatched. More than 15 years after it’s release, this vital collection is now receiving an official vinyl pressing for the first time ever. A perpetually underrated lyricist with transcendent rhyme mechanics embedded in his leisurely flow, Cam’ron is in peak form on Crime Pays, effortlessly walking listeners through the details of his fascinating life and times. With suprisingly modern production supplied by AraabMuzik, I.N.F.O., Skitzo, and more, this memorable album is an important chapter in the story of a truly essential artist.

BBE Music’s celebrated J Jazz compilation series reaches its fifth and final volume in early 2026, culminating in a track list that maintains the exceptionally high standard first set with volume one back in 2018. This final volume features a selection of tracks that is as diverse as it is deep, reflecting the rich and varied Japanese jazz scene that spanned from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, a golden era of innovation and creativity. J Jazz volume 5 sees compilers Tony Higgins and Mike Peden dig ever deeper into their respective record collections to reveal tracks that encompass myriad styles including white hot jazz funk fusion from Toshiyuki Honda (Eastern Legacy) and Mikio Masuda (Sonic Barrier), super rare ethnic jazz crossover by Christal Zone - their one-off 45 promo release from 1971, Rai Rai, a deconstructed and abstract jazz classic by Yasuhiro Kohno with his solo piano rendition of My Favourite Things, and Mile and Half’s skin-tearing, shredding freak-out from their mega rare private press album.

A track that is so relentless, it leaves the listener in need of oxygen and a Valium. These hand-picked selections sit alongside other specially chosen numbers that embrace hard-driving samba (Seiichi Nakumura’s Judy’s Samba), epic head-nodding soul jazz (Masaru Imada’s World Line), psychedelic private press fusion (Aoyama Gakuin 101’s Fervor), angular post-bop tear-ups (Akira Miyazawa’s Nijimasu), intense and insistent fusion (Motohiko Hino’s Olive Step), serene cinematic pianism (Hideo Ichikawa’s On the Trade Wind) and tripped-out hallucinogenic tribal funky jazz (Masahiko Sato’s Garandoh’s Africa to Africa). Most of the tracks on this collection are being reissued for the first time, many of them only available previously on extremely limited and mega-rare private press or independent releases. J Jazz volume 5 is a fitting end to a compilation series that helped create a new audience and appreciation of Japanese jazz Some of the albums the tracks are drawn from are featured in the large format book J Jazz: Modern and Free Jazz from Japan 1954-1988, by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden, published by BBE Music in 2024. With almost 7000 words of extensive sleeve notes, J Jazz volume 5 comes in a triple 180g vinyl set inside a deluxe gatefold sleeve with obi strip, and comes with a 4-page insert, with photographs from the renowned Tokyo Jazz Joints project. It is also available as a double CD and digital download. Mastered at the Grammy-nominated Carvery Studio by Frank Merritt, this latest collection is a worthy successor to the preceding four volumes that set the bar so high. The J Jazz series is curated for BBE Music by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden.

Irish band Dea Matrona return with their second album, Hate That I Care. Darker and more emotionally intense, the record finds Mollie McGinn and Orláith Forsythe coming into their own, embracing alt-rock with a sharpened edge. Written with a deeper awareness of the world around them, Hate That I Care explores desire, rebelling against expectations and the complicated process of self-discovery.

On her new album, Neon Summer Skin, Bedouine, the project of Azniv Korkejian, explores this feeling of safety long before one can fully understand the concept. Written with vivid, honest and intimate imagery after visiting her family in Saudi Arabia, it tells the story of family and upbringing, and mourns the end of her childhood. There is a singular resonance and newfound heft in this music previously unheard in Bedouine’s discography. Bedouine is known for making gentle, lilting folk songs that build fingerpicked guitar melodies into tsunamis of emotion. Her masterful songwriting and timeless melodies have earned her praise from publications like Pitchfork, who said her music “boasts a surreal calm and lived in glow,” and Rolling Stone, who lauded her “humble folk-pop brilliance,” plus an NPR Tiny Desk Concert, and tours with the likes of Fleet Foxes and Father John Misty. While working on the record, Bedouine realized the pain of displacement, of searching for home, has been a throughline in her family history. Other relatives have also experienced this sense of loss as they’ve migrated between Armenia, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. “I felt so frustrated about the places that I'm from becoming war torn or difficult to return to,” she says. “My family has been split apart time and time again.” This realization prompted her to document and honor her parents’ lives and stories. On a family trip to Houston, Bedouine recorded a conversation with her mother and sampled the introduction to “Canopies.” The song tells the story of her mother’s time in an orphanage. She was put there by her own mother as a way of escaping her abusive father. Nearby, her mother would sing about feeling her daughter’s essence in the air: "The waves of Beirut's beaches flutter, and how sweetly they blow my darling's air." It’s a story of profound yearning told with the quiet profundity of a flower blossoming.

Hailing from New Orleans, Louisiana, Soilent Green emerged in the early 1990s as a formidable force in the extreme metal scene, blending sludge, grindcore, and death metal into a uniquely savage sound. The band quickly gained recognition for their ferocious intensity and uncompromising approach, pioneering a fusion of genres that profoundly influenced the development of extreme metal. With a history spanning over two decades, the band has faced more than its share of adversity and struggles. Yet they continue to push forward. Driven by passion, perseverance and an unrelenting will to dominate. On stage, Soilent Green is known for their electrifying performances, harnessing raw energy and aggression to create unforgettable shows. Each performance is a visceral experience, featuring blistering riffs, thunderous drums, and guttural vocals that resonate deeply with audiences. Whether headlining festivals or playing intimate gigs, Soilent Green leaves an indelible mark, forging a connection with fans that cements their legacy as one of extreme metal’s most revered bands.

PAUL WALKER: Paul Walker is the debut studio album by American post-hardcore band, Drug Church. It features 10 tracks, including "Thinking About Joining Drug Church", "Reading Youtube Comments", and "Clifton Country". SWELL: Drug Church, monsters of alt-rock, have weathered a year of dope shows and fan adoration since the release of their seminal punk masterpiece Paul Walker. Now, the chickens have come home to roost. The band has dedicated itself fully to a true ‘sophomore slump’ EP full of indulgent missteps and overreaching stabs at pop crossover. All that being told, they’re “the sickest band ever” has yielded real results. On Swell, Drug Church push their idiosyncratic blend of punk and alt to new heights of sick. Recorded with J. Robbins (every band, ever) in a big, professional studio, Swell delivers the biggest Drug Church sound to date. It’s pretty much the life-changer you assumed it would be. This new repress of the album includes remastered tracks. HIT YOUR HEAD: Drug Church is the logical limit of heavy alt. Like the Bee Girl from the Blind Melon video pitting hard for Helmet. Hit Your Head, recorded with Jay Maas, fully embraces the futureless aesthetic the band hinted at on previous records. This is worst-body-on-the-beach music. These are fired-from-your-window-tinting-job songs. An album for people on probation for crimes that aren't even cool. Big riffs and petty concerns.

PAUL WALKER: Paul Walker is the debut studio album by American post-hardcore band, Drug Church. It features 10 tracks, including "Thinking About Joining Drug Church", "Reading Youtube Comments", and "Clifton Country". SWELL: Drug Church, monsters of alt-rock, have weathered a year of dope shows and fan adoration since the release of their seminal punk masterpiece Paul Walker. Now, the chickens have come home to roost. The band has dedicated itself fully to a true ‘sophomore slump’ EP full of indulgent missteps and overreaching stabs at pop crossover. All that being told, they’re “the sickest band ever” has yielded real results. On Swell, Drug Church push their idiosyncratic blend of punk and alt to new heights of sick. Recorded with J. Robbins (every band, ever) in a big, professional studio, Swell delivers the biggest Drug Church sound to date. It’s pretty much the life-changer you assumed it would be. This new repress of the album includes remastered tracks. HIT YOUR HEAD: Drug Church is the logical limit of heavy alt. Like the Bee Girl from the Blind Melon video pitting hard for Helmet. Hit Your Head, recorded with Jay Maas, fully embraces the futureless aesthetic the band hinted at on previous records. This is worst-body-on-the-beach music. These are fired-from-your-window-tinting-job songs. An album for people on probation for crimes that aren't even cool. Big riffs and petty concerns.

The Flaming Sideburns' debut album remastered 25th anniversary edition out in June via Svart Records In the beginning of the new Millennium, The Flaming Sideburns were getting ready to record our first proper album. First we rented Ismo Alanko’s old rehearsal room in Otaniemi, Espoo, and turned it into a recording facility. Old analog tape recorders, vintage microphones, a Space Echo unit, and other top equipment were brought in directly from Berlin, Germany by the album’s producer, Jürgen Hendlmeier. As producer Jürgen Hendlmeier recalls the final steps of the sessions: “Fact is, when we mastered the record at Seawolf Studios we had no real idea what to do with this equipment. We just wanted to make it louder and louder – that was all we wanted. We wanted to go to twelve instead of eleven.” When Hallelujah Rock’n’Rollah was first released, it did not sound as “natural” as it had originally been planned to be – but the album was a huge success for the band nevertheless. For this remastered edition, Hendlmeier dug deep enough to finally find the files containing all the original mixes. The album’s producer then remastered the album himself, and the end result is far more convincing. Compared to the original version—which is already very good—the album now feels as if it has been completely remixed for the better. As a bonus, on the original album some of the songs were edited shorter, but now all of them appear in their original length. -Eduardo Martinez

The Flaming Sideburns' debut album remastered 25th anniversary edition out in June via Svart Records In the beginning of the new Millennium, The Flaming Sideburns were getting ready to record our first proper album. First we rented Ismo Alanko’s old rehearsal room in Otaniemi, Espoo, and turned it into a recording facility. Old analog tape recorders, vintage microphones, a Space Echo unit, and other top equipment were brought in directly from Berlin, Germany by the album’s producer, Jürgen Hendlmeier. As producer Jürgen Hendlmeier recalls the final steps of the sessions: “Fact is, when we mastered the record at Seawolf Studios we had no real idea what to do with this equipment. We just wanted to make it louder and louder – that was all we wanted. We wanted to go to twelve instead of eleven.” When Hallelujah Rock’n’Rollah was first released, it did not sound as “natural” as it had originally been planned to be – but the album was a huge success for the band nevertheless. For this remastered edition, Hendlmeier dug deep enough to finally find the files containing all the original mixes. The album’s producer then remastered the album himself, and the end result is far more convincing. Compared to the original version—which is already very good—the album now feels as if it has been completely remixed for the better. As a bonus, on the original album some of the songs were edited shorter, but now all of them appear in their original length. -Eduardo Martinez

A classic reissued. “The Sublime” was the deeper side of Rick Lenoir and Larry Thompson’s (LNR) psyche. With additional keys from Aaron Smith (UBQ Project), the title fit the groove – simply sublime. “Bubbles” bring us back to the harder, tougher side of the Tikkle team.

Bubbles is both inspired and inspiring, paying homage to the deepest of Chicago grooves woven together for the dance floor.

#andifyouknowyourhistory#detroit#raresoul

We are talking Holy Grail territory…

Edwin Starr and JJ Barnes were two of the main stars at Ric-Tic, the legendary 1960s Detroit Soul label that ended up being purchased by Motown to take out the competition.

JJ Barnes REAL HUMDINGER Ric-Tic 45 is a standout gem from the Motor City’s Soul heyday years and an all time Northern Soul classic. Edwin’s Ric-Tic 45s and subsequent gems for Motown made him such a Northern Soul icon that he moved to live in England.

What Anglophile Edwin never revealed is that he actually recorded the first version of REAL HUMDINGER for Ric-Tic. It never got released and its’ very existence was unknown. After painstaking detective work WEST GRAND found about the recording and have now managed to licence it from Universal Music / Motown for its debut worldwide release News of the discovery has created huge interest amongst Soul fans globally, As a bonus the flip side is another “wow find” that had been stuck, also unknown and unloved, in the tape vaults for nearly 60 years. It is a preciously unused alternative take on SCOTT’S ON SWINGERS.

The track is in effect an extended jingle for Detroit back in the day star radio DJ Scott Regan based on Edwin’s smash S.O.S (Stop Her On Sight). The released take came out on a limited edition RIC-Tic giveaway single that now commands a £400 price tag.

Mit "Eyes Full" legt Zoh Amba ein eindringliches Songwriter-Debüt vor - und zugleich die erste Veröffentlichung bei Matador. Bekannt geworden als Saxophonist:in der New Yorker Freejazz-Szene und gefeiert auf internationalen Festivals, kehrt Amba nun zu den eigenen Wurzeln zurück: zur Gitarre und zur Heimatstadt Kingsport in Tennessee. Die Songs auf "Eyes Full" tragen den rauen Geist dieser Landschaft in sich - zwischen schlingerndem Blues und Appalachian Folk. Im Zentrum steht das Sehen und Gesehenwerden. Amba richtet den Blick auf Menschen aus amerikanischen Kleinstädten: Arbeiter, Suchende, jene, die kämpfen und oft übersehen werden. Aufgewachsen in den Bergen Tennessees, zog Amba mit 17 nach San Francisco und später nach New York. Doch die Vergangenheit lässt sich nicht abschütteln - sie fordert ihre eigene Stimme. Lange glaubte Amba, dass instrumentale Musik allein zur Transzendenz führen könne. Doch irgendwann drängten sich Worte nach vorn. Die Gitarre wurde zum Werkzeug, um Erinnerungen und Erfahrungen direkt zu begegnen. So entstanden Songs voller Empathie für Menschen am Rand der Gesellschaft - Figuren zwischen Schmerz, Einsamkeit und Hoffnung. Aufgenommen wurde "Eyes Full" live und ohne Overdubs in den Drop of Sun Studios in Asheville. Kevin Hyland an der E-Gitarre und Jim White am Schlagzeug verleihen den Songs eine rohe, unmittelbare Kraft. Ambas Stimme knurrt, flüstert und brennt sich durch die Stücke. Zärtlichkeit und eruptive Energie liegen hier oft nur einen Herzschlag auseinander. "Eyes Full" ist ein Album, das hinschaut - und lange nachhallt.

Gatefold LP Reissue in Crystal Blue Persuasion. Back in 1999 when David Byrne originally compiled this retrospective - making it the first in our critically acclaimed World Psychedelic Classics series - the idea of doing a psychedelic album from outside the U.S. or Europe was a total surprise. More than twenty years since this anthology first hit the shelves, the mutants are back in stock with their electric guitars, cans of bug spray, and deviant, freaky psychedelia.

Maximum Penalty wurden 1986 gegründet und gelten als eine der einzigartigsten Bands, die während der Blütezeit des New Yorker Hardcore entstanden sind. Die Band, die von Sänger Jimmy Williams ins Leben gerufen wurde und 1988 durch den Gitarristen Joseph Affe verstärkt wurde, begann mit schnellem Hardcore-Punk und entwickelte sich nach und nach zu etwas Größerem, angetrieben von melodischen Rhythmen und gefühlvollem, klarem Gesang. Maximum Penalty war von Anfang an ein fester Bestandteil legendärer Veranstaltungsorte wie CBGB und Coney Island High und tourte in den 90er Jahren auch durch Nordamerika und Europa, wo sie die Bühne mit Bands wie Agnostic Front, Madball, Sick Of It All und Gorilla Biscuits teilten. Die erste Schaffensphase von Maximum Penalty umfasste eine beeindruckende Diskografie - ,Demo 89", die EP ,East Side Story" von 1995, die LP ,Independent" von 1996, die LP ,Super Life" von 1997 sowie eine Reihe von Titeln auf verschiedenen Compilations, darunter ,Where The Wild Things Are" und ,Satisfaction Guaranteed" von Blackout Records. Maximum Penalty tauchte 2009 mit der LP ,Life & Times" (Reaper Records) wieder auf und brachte ihren Sound neuen und alten Hörern näher. Der Einfluss, den Maximum Penalty auf die moderne Hardcore-Szene hatte, ist unbestreitbar. Turnstile nahm die Band in eine einflussreiche Playlist auf, und der Hardlore-Podcast erklärte Maximum Penalty zu einer der ,am meisten unterschätzten Hardcore-Bands". Im Jahr 2025 veröffentlichte die Hardcore-Band End It aus Baltimore ein Cover von ,Could You Love Me?" aus dem 1996er Album ,Independent", hauchte dem Titel neues Leben ein und veranlasste Fans, das Original zu entdecken. Zum 30-jährigen Jubiläum wird ,Independent" zum ersten Mal überhaupt auf Vinyl gepresst, und zwar über Flatspot Records. Gitarrist Joseph Affe bemerkt: ,Maximum Penaltys ,Independent` ist das einzige Album, das nie auf Vinyl erschienen ist, da Vinyl zu der Zeit, als es auf CD veröffentlicht wurde, nur eine Nebensache war. Während wir weiter spielten und neue Veröffentlichungen herausbrachten, war die Veröffentlichung von ,Independent` auf Vinyl etwas, das wir schon immer tun wollten, und nun sind wir endlich, 30 Jahre später, so weit. Die ,Independent`-Ära war eine großartige Zeit in der Geschichte von Maximum Penalty - es bedeutet uns sehr viel, zu sehen, dass ein neues Publikum die Platte zum ersten Mal entdeckt, das ist unglaublich!"

Maximum Penalty wurden 1986 gegründet und gelten als eine der einzigartigsten Bands, die während der Blütezeit des New Yorker Hardcore entstanden sind. Die Band, die von Sänger Jimmy Williams ins Leben gerufen wurde und 1988 durch den Gitarristen Joseph Affe verstärkt wurde, begann mit schnellem Hardcore-Punk und entwickelte sich nach und nach zu etwas Größerem, angetrieben von melodischen Rhythmen und gefühlvollem, klarem Gesang. Maximum Penalty war von Anfang an ein fester Bestandteil legendärer Veranstaltungsorte wie CBGB und Coney Island High und tourte in den 90er Jahren auch durch Nordamerika und Europa, wo sie die Bühne mit Bands wie Agnostic Front, Madball, Sick Of It All und Gorilla Biscuits teilten. Die erste Schaffensphase von Maximum Penalty umfasste eine beeindruckende Diskografie - ,Demo 89", die EP ,East Side Story" von 1995, die LP ,Independent" von 1996, die LP ,Super Life" von 1997 sowie eine Reihe von Titeln auf verschiedenen Compilations, darunter ,Where The Wild Things Are" und ,Satisfaction Guaranteed" von Blackout Records. Maximum Penalty tauchte 2009 mit der LP ,Life & Times" (Reaper Records) wieder auf und brachte ihren Sound neuen und alten Hörern näher. Der Einfluss, den Maximum Penalty auf die moderne Hardcore-Szene hatte, ist unbestreitbar. Turnstile nahm die Band in eine einflussreiche Playlist auf, und der Hardlore-Podcast erklärte Maximum Penalty zu einer der ,am meisten unterschätzten Hardcore-Bands". Im Jahr 2025 veröffentlichte die Hardcore-Band End It aus Baltimore ein Cover von ,Could You Love Me?" aus dem 1996er Album ,Independent", hauchte dem Titel neues Leben ein und veranlasste Fans, das Original zu entdecken. Zum 30-jährigen Jubiläum wird ,Independent" zum ersten Mal überhaupt auf Vinyl gepresst, und zwar über Flatspot Records. Gitarrist Joseph Affe bemerkt: ,Maximum Penaltys ,Independent` ist das einzige Album, das nie auf Vinyl erschienen ist, da Vinyl zu der Zeit, als es auf CD veröffentlicht wurde, nur eine Nebensache war. Während wir weiter spielten und neue Veröffentlichungen herausbrachten, war die Veröffentlichung von ,Independent` auf Vinyl etwas, das wir schon immer tun wollten, und nun sind wir endlich, 30 Jahre später, so weit. Die ,Independent`-Ära war eine großartige Zeit in der Geschichte von Maximum Penalty - es bedeutet uns sehr viel, zu sehen, dass ein neues Publikum die Platte zum ersten Mal entdeckt, das ist unglaublich!"

Doublemint green vinyl. Limited to 300 copies. Tel Aviv hardcore heavyweights Eternal Struggle return with their second full-length album "Wartime Love Affair", set for release via Demons Run Amok. Produced by longtime collaborator Brian "Mitts" Daniels (Madball, Skarhead), the new record unleashes a relentless hardcore and metal assault, packed with crushing beatdowns, massive riffs and nonstop aggression. Written and tracked in the midst of real-world conflict, every track is fueled by raw intensity and unfiltered emotion. "Wartime Love Affair" marks a bold new chapter for Eternal Struggle, refining their sound while pushing their ferocity to new heights.

Soul Jazz Records celebrate 25 years of working in partnership with Studio One with brand new editions of FIVE of their bestselling CLASSIC Studio One collections all released on limitededition one-off pressing coloured double vinyl. Also available in new limited-edition card wallet CD editions. The new edition featured albums are Studio One Funk, Studio One Dub, Studio One Ska, Studio One Roots and Studio One Classics. Studio One Roots set the standard for Soul Jazz Records’ long-standing series and features many of the classic artists from Clement 'Sir Coxsone’ Dodd’s mighty roster of reggae. This album includes Freddie McGregor, Willie Williams, Cornell Campbell, Alton Ellis, Devon Russell alongside some of the defining in-house groups of Jamaican reggae history - The Sound Dimension, Brentford All-Stars, The Skatalites, New Establishment and more. The album is filled with a mixture of seminal cuts and super-rarities from the vast vaults of 13 Brentford Road.

Stand-out tracks include Alton Ellis’s ‘Blackish White’, a surreal and powerful Afro-centric dream, Count Ossie’s Rastafarian drummers’ genre-defying interpretation of Booker T and The MGs ‘Meditation’, Willie Williams aweinspiring versioning of the Skatalites' seminal Rastafari anthem ‘Addis Ababa’ and many, many more. Original sleevenotes by Lloyd Bradley (author of When Reggae Was King), compiled by Mark Ainley (Honest Jons), high-quality Soul Jazz mastering, wicked images of Count Ossie and the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari on the cover, and a rare image of Clement Dodd and musicians inside the studio at Studio One on the full colour inner sleeves. “There isn't a weak number across these 16 tracks, from the Gaylads’ ode to ‘Africa’ and Devon Russell's version of the heavyweight ‘Drum Song’ rhythm, to stunning instrumentals such as Jackie Mittoo and the Cyclones with nyahbinghi drummer Count Ossie on ‘Meditation’, Lenny Hibbert’s sparkling vibe work over Mittoo's ‘Ghetto Organ’ and The Sound Dimension’s ‘Congo Rock.” Pitchfork “The music of this compilation is of a rare, rare beauty and is essential to anyone's reggae collection.” All Music

Soul Jazz Records celebrate 25 years of working in partnership with Studio One with brand new editions of FIVE of their best-selling CLASSIC Studio One collections all released on limited-edition one-off pressing coloured double vinyl. Also available in new limited-edition card wallet CD editions. The new edition featured albums are Studio One Funk, Studio One Dub, Studio One Ska, Studio One Roots and Studio One Classics.

Studio One Classics features a non-stop selection of stone-cold classic Studio One killers! Spanning 40 years of the legendary label, this album is a celebration of the music of Studio One Records and features a who’s who of Jamaican Reggae: Bob Marley, The Heptones, Horace Andy, Sugar Minott, Don Drummond, Prince Jazzbo & more. This collection contains numerous legendary tracks, including Bob Marley and the Wailers’ “Simmer Down”," "Love Me Forever" by Carlton & His Shoes, Slim Smith's "Rougher Yet," Horace Andy's "Fever,", Alton Ellis’s “I’m Just A Guy’, The Skatalites’ blazing ‘Confucious’ and loads more. Timeless stuff - every track here is indeed a classic, no-one can argue about that! Studio One produced literally hundreds of hits and this selection includes some of the label’s most enduring songs.

It is simply impossible to imagine modern Jamaican music without Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, founder of the iconic Studio One where virtually every singer and musician of note in Reggae cut their teeth. Studio One's output spans over four decades, all represented here. Coxsone Dodd pioneered nearly every new form of Jamaican music as it developed over time and this album includes Ska, Dancehall, Roots, Rocksteady, DJ, Lovers and more. This is probably the best entry of the many Soul Jazz Studio One releases if you're after a primer in the Studio One sound. Like it says on the wrapper 'Classics' pretty much sums it up

Vince Staples is one of the most revered voices of his generation. Though he's a celebrated multi-hyphenate, making an impact in TV, film, & contemporary culture, music is where he most naturally pushes boundaries as an artist, storyteller, & creative force. Following a string of acclaimed introspective projects, Ramona Park (a melancholic tribute to his hometown) & Dark Times (deeper, more personal themes), Cry Baby is a more outwardly facing artistic statement and piece of social commentary.

Eine junge, innovative Sängerin und Songschreiberin sorgt ab sofort auf dem Verve Label für einen mitreißenden Mix aus Soul, brasilianischer Jazz-Fusion, Funk, Mexican Bolero und House-Einflüssen. Die in Chicago
lebende Sparklmami eröffnet ihr Debütalbum mit den Worten “You’re listening to Sparklmami radio“, und
zieht sofort hinein in eine Welt jenseits klarer Genregrenzen. Nach den digitalen Singles “running“ und
„fajas“ (2024) wird hier erstmals die ganze Tiefe ihrer künstlerischen Vision hörbar.
Sparklmami versteht ihre Musik als Gesamtkunstwerk, erschafft ein eigenes Universum geprägt von markantem Styling. Die visuellen Elemente spiegeln sich auch musikalisch wider: “in this body“ lebt von einer
brodelnden Rhythmusgruppe, vielschichtigen Keyboard-Arrangements, warmen Bläsern und einer Stimme,
die mühelos zwischen Gesang und Spoken Word wechselt.
Sparklmamis Texte folgen diesem Prinzip: Themen wie Identität, Herkunft und Selbstfindung werden nicht
erklärt, sondern erfahrbar gemacht. Gerade darin liegt die besondere Kraft dieses Albums – verletzlich,
eigenständig und mit einer künstlerischen Handschrift, die Aufmerksamkeit verdient.

Auf dem im Juni 1965 aufgenommenen Album “Components” vertiefte Vibrafonist Bobby Hutcherson seine
Zusammenarbeit mit Schlagzeuger Joe Chambers, die er wenige Monate zuvor auf “Dialogue” begonnen
hatte. Zu hören sind die beiden hier mit einem erstklassigen Sextett, das mit Trompeter Freddie Hubbard
und Pianist Herbie Hancock zwei weitere Blue-Note-Stars jener Zeit umfasst. “‘Components’ ist wohl das
Album, das Bobby Hutchersons frühe musikalische Persönlichkeit am besten widerspiegelt”, schrieb Steve
Huey bei AllMusic und gab dem Album die Höchstwertung von fünf Sternen. “Es ist passenderweise in
zwei sehr unterschiedliche Hälften unterteilt. Die erste enthält vier Eigenkompositionen von Hutcherson im
melodischen, aber dennoch anspruchsvollen Hard-Bop-Stil, während die zweite Hälfte vier frei interpretierte
Avantgarde-Stücke von Chambers bietet.”

45 Jahre auf der Bühne haben nicht nur den Musiker Rainhard Fendrich geprägt. Seine Lieder wurden
in dieser Zeit zum persönlichen Soundtrack für Generationen von Menschen. Bleibende Erinnerungen und
ganze Lebensgeschichten sind bis heute eng mit seiner Musik verwoben. Mehr noch: Aus Liedern wurden
Hits, die sich verselbständigt und ein Eigenleben entwickelt haben, weil das Publikum sie zu etwas gemacht
hat, was weit über ihre ursprüngliche Bestimmung hinaus geht.
Seine Jubiläumstournee „45 Jahre – Nur ein Wimpernschlag“ hat Fendrich dazu genutzt, um gemeinsam mit seinen Fans 45 Jahre Erinnerungen zur feiern und mit ihnen auf eine musikalische Reise zu gehen:
mehr als vier Jahrzehnte Hits, von den 80er Jahren bis hin zur Gegenwart.
Das Album „45 Jahre“ ist ein einmaliges Erlebnis! Vor der beeindruckenden Kulisse des Wörthersees in
Klagenfurt und in der Stadthalle Wien wurden drei Stunden Emotionen, Erinnerungen und unvergessliche
Melodien live eingefangen.

Neu remasterte Neuauflage auf 180-g-Vinyl von Don Henleys klassischem, mit 6-fach Platin ausgezeichnetem dritten Solo-Studioalbum, erstmals auf 2 LPs. Enthält die Hits „The End of the Innocence“, „The
Last Worthless Evening“, „The Heart of the Matter“ und „New York Minute“.

2026 Repress

In the beginning of the 1970’s, Guinea-Bissau was a country broken up into many ethnic groups and at the heart of a war for independence. By reviving traditional musical genres as Gumbé and singing in guinean Kriol, José Carlos Schwarz & Cobiana Djazz established an immediate affective bond with their audiences. Through its music and politically engaged spirit of the lyrics, the band played a significant role in shaping the social and political consciousness of the masses. As well as influencing local bands like Super Mama Djombo and giving back a deep sense of cultural identity to bissau-guineans.

The explosive birth of Cobiana Djazz brought about other kinds of detonation. Schwarz became involved in urban guerilla activities which resulted in several bombings in the centre of Bissau, leading to his imprisonment and torture. He remained in lockup for a total period of about 2 years, between 1972 and 1974.

The process of decolonisation, in the wake of the Portuguese revolution of 25 April 1974, led to the recognition, during the same year, of the sovereign nation of Guinea-Bissau.

Schwarz, a key figure in the fight for independence, played an important part in the transition to the democratic regime, profiting from his popularity as an artist. Soon, his criticism (underscoring opportunism and irresponsibility in high places) became a thorn in the side of the political elite. Uneasy with the disquieting effects of his work, government officials effectively separated the author from the masses by assigning him to the embassy in Havana.

José Carlos Schwarz met a tragic and untimely death at the age of 27, when his plane crashed on arrival at Cuba's José Martí International Airport, on May 271th 1977.

Hailed by african giants like Orchestra Baobab, Letta Mbulu or Miriam Makeba (with whom he recorded his first and only solo album), “Zé Carlos” and his poetry won a lasting position in the annals of Guinea-Bissau. However, this collection of songs remains relatively unknown outside the country and its diasporas.

We are proud to offer, in close collaboration with the Schwarz family, this first official reissue on vinyl. Remastered and pressed on heavyweight vinyl.

HVS is stoked to have Wetman back for the second time on the label! This is part one of a two part series showcasing original tunes from Wetman and remixes of those tunes, so stay locked for the next one soon! Dan had initially sent me two original tracks of his along with the two remixes of “Inside” from Etch & Meridian. We both agreed it would be cool to spread out the tracks into a series since there were already two remixes of the same tune, so Laramie and I whipped up a third mix and here we are!

As most of you know, Dan and I both started Vivid way back in 2017 so it's really really awesome to still be releasing tunes from him almost 10 years later! Dan has since gone back down to Cali while I'm stuck up here in Seattle, but we still collaborate as often as we can. His original mix is so damn creative and probably the wildest mix of the bunch. Excellently sourced samples per usual from him, most of which I didn't know, but Meridian is actually the one that tipped me on the Harold Budd sample!

I first heard BC badman Meridian's EP on Disrupt Records when it came out a couple years back, and was floored with his tunes! I was really excited to have a mix from him for this. And his mix really delivers IMO. With some seriously precision cuts/choppage and a really excellent balance of light and dark in the mix. It's very cool having a (sort of) local producer on the label as well!

Etch, out of London needs no intro really, with a ton of quality releases under his belt spanning all sorts of dance genres, it's really an honor having him on the label! Being a fellow FL user and also a gear fanatic make for some fun chats with Etch as well. His mix is the most mellow of the bunch but it still slaps hard everytime.

Laramie's mix is super duper techy, which is a bit different to his usual niceness style! But he wanted to switch it up for this one. I was happy to jump in the studio and record a vocal for the track. We think this mix came together nicely!

Stay locked for Part 2 and many releases in 2026!

Although humankind has made it to the far side of the Moon and back, there is still more to discover. Strap in… Rex The Dog is taking us further out into the lesser-known realms of space disco.

‘Far Out!’ is a reinterpretation of an early breakbeat rave tune from 1991 by Son’z Of A Loop Da Loop Era. It’s a tribute to a simpler time when all you needed was a cascading piano riff played through a powerful sound system, with your best friend by your side.

In Rex’s version, the breakbeats and piano have been replaced with a punchy 4/4 beat and an arpeggiated synth workout that cuts through the air like a laser. Houston, we have a hit.

‘I Need Your Body’ showcases Rex The Dog’s more introspective side, with yearning vocals spread across a heavily bouncing rhythm track full of mind-boggling dub effects.

This new EP cements Rex The Dog’s status as a unique voice in today’s techno world, as well as an incredibly reliable purveyor of highly emotional dancefloor smash hits.
Obwohl die Menschheit es bereits bis zur Rückseite des Mondes und wieder zurück geschafft hat, gibt es noch immer Neues zu entdecken. Schnallt euch an … Rex The Dog entführt uns noch weiter in die weniger bekannten Gefilde des Space Disco.

„Far Out!“ ist eine Neuinterpretation eines frühen Breakbeat Rave Tracks aus dem Jahr 1991 von Son’z Of A Loop Da Loop Era. Es ist eine Hommage an eine einfachere Zeit, in der man nur ein kaskadenartiges Piano-Riff brauchte, abgespielt über ein kraftvolles Soundsystem, mit dem besten Freund an der Seite.

In Rex’ Version wurden die Breakbeats und das Piano durch einen druckvollen 4/4-Beat und ein arpeggiertes Synth-Riff ersetzt, das wie ein Laser durch die Luft schneidet. Houston, wir haben einen Hit.

„I Need Your Body“ zeigt die eher introspektive Seite von Rex The Dog, mit sehnsüchtigem Gesang, der sich über einen heftig bouncenden Rhythmus-Track voller verblüffender Dub-Effekte erstreckt.

Diese neue EP festigt Rex The Dogs Status als einzigartige Stimme in der heutigen Techno-Welt sowie als unglaublich zuverlässiger Lieferant hoch emotionaler Dancefloor Smash Hits.

Mit "Eyes Full" legt Zoh Amba ein eindringliches Songwriter-Debüt vor - und zugleich die erste Veröffentlichung bei Matador. Bekannt geworden als Saxophonist:in der New Yorker Freejazz-Szene und gefeiert auf internationalen Festivals, kehrt Amba nun zu den eigenen Wurzeln zurück: zur Gitarre und zur Heimatstadt Kingsport in Tennessee. Die Songs auf "Eyes Full" tragen den rauen Geist dieser Landschaft in sich - zwischen schlingerndem Blues und Appalachian Folk. Im Zentrum steht das Sehen und Gesehenwerden. Amba richtet den Blick auf Menschen aus amerikanischen Kleinstädten: Arbeiter, Suchende, jene, die kämpfen und oft übersehen werden. Aufgewachsen in den Bergen Tennessees, zog Amba mit 17 nach San Francisco und später nach New York. Doch die Vergangenheit lässt sich nicht abschütteln - sie fordert ihre eigene Stimme. Lange glaubte Amba, dass instrumentale Musik allein zur Transzendenz führen könne. Doch irgendwann drängten sich Worte nach vorn. Die Gitarre wurde zum Werkzeug, um Erinnerungen und Erfahrungen direkt zu begegnen. So entstanden Songs voller Empathie für Menschen am Rand der Gesellschaft - Figuren zwischen Schmerz, Einsamkeit und Hoffnung. Aufgenommen wurde "Eyes Full" live und ohne Overdubs in den Drop of Sun Studios in Asheville. Kevin Hyland an der E-Gitarre und Jim White am Schlagzeug verleihen den Songs eine rohe, unmittelbare Kraft. Ambas Stimme knurrt, flüstert und brennt sich durch die Stücke. Zärtlichkeit und eruptive Energie liegen hier oft nur einen Herzschlag auseinander. "Eyes Full" ist ein Album, das hinschaut - und lange nachhallt.

''Incorregible" is an album where sound becomes a symbolic form of expression and a tool for introspection.

With a sonic language that crosses borders and draws from diverse cultural influences, the album seeks to reframe electronic music as a bridge between the ancestral and the contemporary.

After years of exploring and experimenting with different musical genres such as punk, noise, witch house, reggaeton, Mexican tribal etc., I have arrived at a moment in my life where I seek a deeper, more intimate form of expression, one connected to my personal world.

Although I do not believe in God, I believe in the power of invisible worlds, in the strength of being, and in music as a bridge toward expanded states of consciousness.

This work is born from that conviction: the possibility of turning dance and sound into tools for connecting with the spiritual.

A sonic journey that seeks to connect with the universal rhythms of life through powerful percussions, chants that are poems, Andean instruments, and the hypnotic force of electronic music. Each piece is designed to induce a collective trance, where the body finds its natural place: movement.

Among its most significant moments are the poems in Nahuatl written and recited by Maribel Galicia, a native of Teotihuacán and a member of the Nahua people. Her words resonate like ancestral memories that dialogue with electronic instrumentals, reminding us that tradition and innovation are not opposites, but can dance together.

Tribal Sound System – Incorregible is a sonic ritual that seeks to: Create altered states of consciousness through repetitive musical patterns. Celebrate sonic diversity by fusing sounds from indigenous folklore, Andean instruments, elements of regional Mexican music, and contemporary electronic music. Honor cultural roots by re-signifying electronic music as a bridge between the ancestral and the contemporary.

This project is my way of affirming that music, dance, and shared energy can transform into a healing and transcendent experience. - Rosa Pistola

Following his previous appearances on Figure, French producer Arkan returns with Mad Race, a four-track EP that further sharpens his distinct vision of mental techno. Balancing hypnotic restraint with driving intensity, the release finds the artist navigating deeper into textured, immersive territory while maintaining a strong sense of propulsion throughout.

The title track Mad Race opens the record in forceful fashion, locking into a tightly wound groove as restless synth movements and looming atmospheres continuously build pressure around the rhythm section. Revival follows with a more spacious approach, letting emotive chords and swelling layers unfold gradually over a firm, rolling foundation, capturing a feeling of momentum suspended somewhere between tension and release.

On the flipside, Sawlim pushes further into trippy terrain. Dense percussion and spiralling effects interact with pulsing low-end pressure to create a heads-down club tool filled with subtle movement and detail. Closing track Interlude shifts the focus once more, exploring a more restrained and introspective mood through cavernous textures and hypnotic repetition while still holding onto the EP's underlying drive.

Digital bonus track Make You Horny rounds out the package with a rawer and more playful energy, bringing punchy drums and jagged synth work together into a functional late-night workout.

With Mad Race, Arkan continues refining his own blend of deep, atmospheric and cerebral techno, further cementing his place within the evolving sound of Figure.

Limited first release in a new 7" collector series from Common Saints, the UK psychedelic soul project known for its warm analogue textures and cinematic groove-led sound Features Idol Eyes (33M streams) and Summer Sun (24M streams), pressed on heavyweight black vinyl in a printed sleeve and cut by Stuart Hawkes at Metropolis, London. Strictly limited to 1,000 copies worldwide - strong catalogue demand meets premium analogue presentation.

The Red Clay Strays have officially announced their highly anticipated third studio album, Grateful, via HBYCO Records and RCA Records. Alongside the announcement, the band has released the powerful new single “Demons In Your Choir”. Produced by Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb, Grateful reunites the band with a trusted collaborator following their work on Made by These Moments. The album brings together x11 deeply personal songs shaped by themes of faith, redemption, and gratitude. he Red Clay Strays have seen a meteoric rise in recent years. Following major award wins, platinum certifications, and a breakthrough performance at the CMA Awards, the Alabama band continues to solidify its place as one of the most compelling acts in modern Americana and Southern rock. Standard Black LP Vinyl & CD formats. Marketing.