Somewhere between the sophisticated songwriting of Leonard Cohen and Jacques Brel, the rugged folk of Bob Dylan and Neil Young, the acoustic pop of Simon & Garfunkel, and the haunting melancholy of Nick Drake and Elliott Smith, there is Philippe B, who reminds us of the depth that can be conveyed with nothing more than a guitar and a few words.

TRACK LISTING

1. Ulysse
2. La Jeunesse Est Un Autre Pays
3. Ovni
4. La Chanson De L'été
5. 1999
6. La Ballade De Johnny Crève-cœur
7. Avant/Après
8. La Cadbury
9. Hôtel Tadoussac
10. Futurologie
11. Boule Miroir

LuckyMe are proud to present Baauer’s long awaited debut album, ‘Aa’.

Following the smash ‘GoGo!’ single (2015), the ‘ß’ EP with Rae Sremmurd and Alunageorge (2014), laser-etched vinyl 12” ‘Dum Dum’ (2013) and the genre-defining ‘Higher’ with Just Blaze and Jay Z (2012) - not to mention the ‘Harlem Shake’ phenomenon - multi-platinum selling artist Baauer sets off again to change contemporary American dance music with a highly anticipated debut album.

‘Aa’ (pronounced ‘double a’) is a record that could only be made by a kid born of New York inspired by rap and dance music culture, travelling the globe sampling and processing found sounds.

This is bright, stadium, urban dance music from the 26- year-old Portuguese New Yorker (via London and Philadelphia) known as Harry Rodrigues, with special guests Future, Pusha T, MIA, Novelist, Leikeli47, Rustie and Tirzah, plus the continuing visual collaboration with multi-medium artist Jonathan Zawada.

Grammy-nominated producer Baauer’s third full-length album, 'U', calls back to his earliest musical obsessions – the block rockin’ hits that ruled the airwaves in the ‘00s, and the mixes he discovered on Friday night radio.

Executive-produced by Hudson Mohawke, U plays like a long-lost Radio 1 Essential Mix, its 16 continuous tracks paying homage to the sample-digging masters of ‘00s dance domination. From the sparkling beat collage of ‘Supersonic’ to the big-booty drops on ‘Calling Out For U’ and delirious disco-house on ‘Better’, the album’s singles emulate the crossover thinking of Y2K’s biggest dance acts. Deeper in the folds, the self-taught studio nerd’s quirks are left unironed, underlining his long track record in the club trenches.

Crowned with vocal performances from Aluna, Brazy, Betsy and labelmate KUČKA, U is polished to a shine by piano/keys from Eli Teplin (Justin Bieber, Charli XCX) and additional production from pro studio duo Parisi. Thirteen years on from his overnight breakthrough with the double-platinum ‘Harlem Shake’, Baauer presents his most personal and emotional album yet – a celebration of precious memories, new connections, and an unswerving delight in the search for the perfect sample.

TRACK LISTING

1. Do U Wanna Get Down ?
2. Kno U
3. The Way U Do It
4. Supersonic
5. Kiss On The Lips ft Brazy
6. One Last Time ft Aluna & Brazy
7. Calling Out For U
8. U Give Me Love
9. Closer Together
10. Gravity/Chaos Flow ft KUČKA
11. Meldy (Want U So Bad)
12. Better
13. Nothing’s Ever Real (U Mix) ft Betsy
14. Somebody
15. U Know It’s Real
16. Follow U

Having previously collaborated with Al Doyle (LCD Soundsystem/Hot Chip) on their debut album, this time the duo absconded to Doyle’s studio in his own touring absence and took to production duties themselves. Laugh Like A Bomb was recorded in just three weeks before being mixed by Sheffield producer Ross Orton (Working Men’s Club / Arctic Monkeys / MIA).

“I think a lot of the process of writing this album came from pushing ourselves to our limits to get to the essential idea, and discarding anything that felt superfluous or unnecessary.” explains Baba. “There was a lot of writing, re-writing, deleting, re-recording and then just repeating that process again. A lot of times the best idea would come out of that final push when you’re too exhausted to even think and you rely on feeling.”

Returning following the release of their debut ‘Memory Device’ in 2020 and 18 months of touring across Europe and the US with the likes of Yard Act and Chk Chk Chk, Baba Ali have created an incendiary follow up with one foot firmly placed on the dance floor, the other in a state of constant frenzy. Laugh Like A Bomb showcases anxious synths and scratchy guitars that collide with concrete drum hits, pulsing bass and Baba’s snarly vocals in 40 minute collection that explores feelings of unease, abandon and desire as well explorations into the more sinister.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Stark minimal wave synth lines and snappy percussion meet euphoric hypnotic dancefloor business in a perfect clash of styles, resulting in a wonderfully evocative and singular LP. Part funk, part synth, part pop, and all hugely enjoyable.

TRACK LISTING

Hold My Head
Burn Me Out
Gold Rush!
I'm Bored
Anesthesia, Beverly Hill
Laugh Like A Bomb
Make U Feel
A Circle
Lip Service
Bankrupt Funk
Yves Klein Blue

Baba Stiltz has written and produced the award winning soundtrack for the Swedish Movie "Shame On Dry Land (Syndabocken)". Awarded the Guldbagge price for best feature film soundtrack in 2024, the music is dense, at times oppressive, than again light-Mediterranean, all perfectly accompanying the story's vibe. 

Baba Stiltz moving between Stockholm & LA. A myth, a young legend. Writing music since the tender age of 13, not bound by genres or expectations. Used to do Skweee before he defined his own sound of tech-house - skipped that (temporarily?). Now moving on to more folkloristic styles: country, rock, indie… you name it. Good music.

TRACK LISTING

A1) Welcome Dimman
A2) Kicki
A3) Island
A4) Shame On Dry Land
A5) Follow Me
A6) Fredrik’s Gone
A7) Again
A8) Body Drop
A9) Moped Escape
A10) Karema Goodbye
B1) Voyeur
B2) Follow Him
B3) Standoff
B4) Reconciliation
B5) Love Theme
B6) Dress Rehearsal
B7) Kill Krum
B8) Believe
B9) Underwater Love

From the heart of the Australian psych scene... rainbow rockers BABE RAINBOW return with their 7th studio album ‘Acid And Honey’ recorded on an op shop acoustic on a houseboat in Amsterdam and finished at zen master Mullarky’s Malibu ranch. Exciting country-pop beat production backs wailing Babe rainbow vocals on solid skanking hip-hop hard rocking finger funky sounds. The first single ‘Polymucalsaccharide’ is just something Perry Farrell says and it means "drool, like you're dribbling cos the truth is once you hit the road you don’t remember the good shows, they’re just like every other show."

TRACK LISTING

1. Acid and Honey
2. Special
3. Waterfall
4. Polymucalsaccharide
5. Amsterdam
6. Mangoes
7. Dream Gasoline
8. Morning Lullaby
9. Horizon
10. Camouflage
11. Wisteria

Babe Rainbow’s ‘Slipper Imp and Shakaerator’ is a sun-soaked celebration of psychedelic acid-pop, infused with the laid-back magic of Australia’s Gold Coast. A return to their roots, the album blends nostalgic riffs, shimmering 80s funk, flowing rhythms, and lysergic jams into an effortlessly joyful, homegrown album that’s wild, radiant, and ready to be shared.

TRACK LISTING

1. What Is Ashwagandha
2. LONG LIVE THE WILDERNESS
3. Now And Zen
4. Sunday
5. Apollonia
6. Like Cleopatra
7. When The Milk Flows
8. Mt Dub (ft. Stu Mackenzie)
9. Aquarium Cowgirl
10. Rainbows End (ft. Camille Jansen)
11. Re-ju-ven-ate

Byron Bay good vibe factory Babe Rainbow brings us a dripping slice of sunshine to Levitation Sessions, with a set recorded at The Music Farm with friends and family. The set features a catalog spanning tracklist of the band’s breezy psychedelic grooves, transporting us to a rural backyard setting: birds chirping, children laughing, sun shining, good vibes vibing - the chillest Session ever???

“We wanted to go so big it was almost psychedelic, so much juice you’d almost drown, and we knew we had to play all the old songs at the farm in Coorabel because all the old songs were recorded there. The Babe Rainbow is a rococo palace built to the most powerful God of all… mass entertainment. We hope you enjoy and look forward to seeing you in person on tour soon…” - Babe Rainbow

Recorded Live at the Music Farm, Byron Bay, AUS

TRACK LISTING

SIDE A
1. Morning Song
2. Peace Blossom Boogy
3. Something New
4. Blue Hour
5. Monky Disco
6. Supermoon

SIDE B
1. Planet Junior
2. Greggo
3. Rainbow Rock
4. Zeitgeist
5. Love Foreve

London duo Babeheaven — vocalist Nancy Andersen and producer/multi- instrumentalist Jamie Travis — return after four years with their highly anticipated 5-track EP ‘Slower Than Sound’, released via Scenic Route on October 24.

Following their singles ‘Beloved’ and the 6 Music-premiered track ‘Picture This’, ‘Slower Than Sound’ marks a deeply personal and intimate turn for Babeheaven. Written and recorded largely in Nancy’s home studio, the EP embraces minimal instrumentation, acoustic textures, and spacious arrangements, capturing the emotional vulnerability and euphoria the duo describe as “Post Rave” — the music you listen to on the ride home from a
party.

“It feels like a rebirth in a lot of ways,” says Nancy. “Writing at home gave me space to experiment, make mistakes, and rebuild confidence. Once I brought the songs to Jamie, we shaped them together into what you hear now.”

The EP explores love, reflection, and personal growth. Beloved conjures a comforting, almost mythic presence, while Lost For Words reflects the struggle to connect with the world and oneself. Picture This offers snapshots of a relationship, looking back while imagining its future. The cover Tiny Demons by Todd Rundgren blends seamlessly with the EP’s introspective mood, and Loud Thoughts, featuring Samba Jean-Baptiste, captures heartbreak, burnout, and creative pressure. “I hope people can find their own meaning in these songs,” Nancy says. “I’m writing for myself, but music is for each listener to interpret.”

Since debuting with Friday Sky in 2016, Babeheaven have steadily built a loyal following through their acclaimed albums Home For Now and Sink Into Me, amassing over 65 million Spotify streams and earning support from BBC Radio 1, 6 Music, and KCRW. Their live shows have sold out Village Underground,

Bush Hall, and Jazz Cafe, and they’ve shared stages with Cigarettes After Sex, Loyle Carner, and Nilüfer Yanya. Visually, Babeheaven’s world has been shaped alongside creatives including Margot Bowman, Frank Lebon, Tegen Williams, Sacha Beeley, and Joyce Ng, cementing their reputation as one of the UK’s most distinctive acts.

After facing cancelled tours, industry pressures, and a period of creative doubt, Slower Than Sound represents a return to the core of their artistry: intimate, honest, and self-produced. Jamie reflects: “Not putting out music for so long was hard, so we hope this is the start of a more prolific period for us, reconnecting with the London music community and beyond.”

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: An intimate selection of warmly evocative synth-pop vignettes, drenched in atmosphere and presented like a dream-world on earth. Soulful downbeat, synthy indie and hip-shaking beats wrapped in a hazy blanket.

TRACK LISTING

1. Picture This
2. Beloved
3. Lost For Words
4. Loud Thoughts
5. Tiny Demons

Kent band in hardcore / emocore shock!! This great little band sound bloody good. It's authentic and totally enjoyable emo with that darker,harder edge to it and at a great price for a longish disc.

Margate’s prolific polymath BABii follows her recent slice of UKG influenced futuristic-pop called ‘SHADOW’ with the emotive and hypnotic new single ‘BRUiiSE’ as she announces her forthcoming sophomore album MiiRROR. Released physically on the 4th June via Gloo, this highly anticipated project is a multidisciplinary manifestation of BABii’s authentic DIY sensibilities and will be accompanied by a book, ARG and live A/V show - all written, produced and creatively directed by BABii, real name Daisy Emily Warne.

Seamlessly setting the tone of what’s to be expected of the album and given the nod from tastemakers including Resident Advisor, i-D, Electronic Beats, The Independent, Hunger, Dummy Mag, Loud & Quiet, The Line of Best fit, NPR, Anthony Fantano and more, first single ‘SHADOW’ dropped alongside a video directed by BABii and Johnny Goddard that aimed to aesthetically capture the soul and imagination of where she grew up as a young child. Filmed at night time in a junkyard, this transportative visual treads the line of fantasy and reality with added VFX and costume all designed and made by BABii out of bungee cords, seat belts, tarpaulin and more. Where ‘SHADOW’ explored not facing your biggest inner demons, ‘BRUiSE’ further enlightens us to this this upcoming projects narrative as BABii sings about “being scared about making the right choice and trying to figure out whether a feeling is true or if it's just an old hurt (or bruise) trying to trick you into repeating a pattern of self sabotage.”

Music has always been a mirror for electronic pop adventurer BABii where among her songs’ skittering beats and fractured synths are reflections of her deepest self. Abandonment is at the heart of this haunting record because Warne grew up without a mother, raised in Yorkshire, Kent and Canada by a nomadic father who, after quitting a potential career playing ice hockey, hustled his way through life, turning his hand to antique dealing and building and renting out a warehouse space to creatives.

The context for this compelling new project is a long awaited interaction following the re-entry of Warne’s mother in her life that one day unleashed a tidal wave of emotions and sparked something in Warne, who decided to devote her next project to exorcising those demons - the dark reality and the idyll she had in her head as a kid. A universe built on real life heartache, MiiRROR will present a fantastical tale and exploration of “the duality of emotions: good and bad, light and dark” across ten songs and a story full of demons and junk yards.

An ardent and inspired teller of stories both dreamlike and real, BABii’s nomadic and creative upbringing by her father laid the foundations for her DIY and daring experimental approach to creation. Since her 2018 debut single ‘PHANTOM’, 2019 debut album HiiDE, GLOO collective collaborative album XYZ and most recent EP iii+, this accomplished multidisciplinary producer, songwriter, vocalist and visual artist has been consistently championed on the airwaves by the likes of Tom Ravenscroft, Lauren Laverne and Jamz Supernova on BBC Radio 1, 6 Music, 1Xtra, and in the press by tastemakers including Loud and Quiet, The Quietus, Clash, The Line of Best Fit and more.

A conceptual artist both sonically and visually, BABii’s unique and instantly recognisable, mellifluous and nymph like vocals blended with ethereal, textured and challenging productions have gained her a loyal following of fans. As we enter a new post pandemic chapter on this earth, BABii promises to provide some much needed sonic escapism as she takes us further into her world. 

TRACK LISTING

1. DRiiFT
2. BRUiiSE
3. WASTE
4. TRACKS
5. TiiME/EMiiT
6. SHADOW
7. HUNTED
8. 4WARDS:BACK
9. VOiiD
10. MOTHER

Despite its modest role on the world stage, Belgium has produced a number of internationally renowned musicians and composers. There is the iconic gypsy jazz guitar maestro Django Reinhardt, whose position remains unassailable, and guitarist/harmonica player Toots Thielemans, who became an internationally renowned artist performing and recording with Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Shirley Horn and Quincy Jones. The other key Belgian figure is composer/arranger Francy Boland, co-leader with US bebop drumming legend Kenny Clarke of Europe's leading big band of the 60s, the Clarke-Boland Big Band.

The Love Planet performed in the main clubs of Brussels, such as Blue Note, Pol's Jazz Place, and Smog as well as in major musical events throughout Belgium including to big festivals in 1969 - the Avant-Garde Festival in Ghent and the First International Jazz Event in Liege – where the Love Planet shared the bill with Miles Davis - and the Bilzen Jazz Festival in 1970. The contrast between the musical architecture of the themes and sonic freedom in the improvised playing perfectly illustrated the polymorphism – an order within disorder – which the Love Planet aimed for.

The initial original quartet line-up was Babs Robert (sax), Paul Dubois (bass), Johnny Brouwers (piano), and Johnny Peret / Robert Pernet (dru- ms). On the album session, the quartet was augmented with the addition of John Van Rjimenant (saxes) and Michel Gobbe (bass). As well as their main instruments, the band members also played an array of unusual instruments, principally percussion. This is the first official re-release
of the 'Babs Robert and the Love Planet'. Original copies of the album fetch many hundreds of Euros on the collecting circuit and it remains a curious and fascinating window into a moment in time that still resona- tes some fifty years later. Come with us to the Love Planet. (Tony Higgins)

TRACK LISTING

1. Extra-Pol-Action (Ice Cream '70)
2. Marrow Bone
3. Yesterday
4. Architexture
5. P.A.C.M.
6. B.R.4 Ten Years After, After All (incl. Parenthesis)
7. Pro Forma 1
8. His Master's Noise

Grace Cuell writes songs as a way of making sense of the world around her. On Infinity Baby, her second album as Baby Cool, she takes a gentle look at what it means to be human as the pendulum swings between shadow and light. Where her debut Earthling on the Road to Self Love felt almost whimsical in its search for meaning, Infinity Baby is more grounded and honest. The songs move through desire, cynicism, devotion and surrender, sometimes defeat, but always circle back to a kind of hope. It’s a record about patterns: the ones we inherit, the ones we repeat, and the ones we choose to keep. Working alongside producer Samuel Joseph who has worked with the likes of King Gizzard, Family Jordan and more, the album was made in the hills of the Northern Rivers. Musically, Baby Cool continues to blur psychedelia, folk and kraut-pop, with the spaciousness of her natural surroundings ever-present in the songwriting and production. On “Mirage,” hope flickers against a world that feels broken. “Loop” sits with the strange repetition of daily life, walking the same road and expecting something to shift. “Everything” captures the exhaustion of trying to squeeze meaning from every moment, while “Devotion” unpacks the way we fall in love with ideas that exist mostly in our own minds. “Sacred” steps away from romantic love and lands somewhere steadier, friendship as the deepest, most enduring form of connection. And at the heart of the record is “Infinity Baby,” a song rooted in a childhood fear of endlessness. Instead of resisting that fear, Cuell writes through it. The song feels like a small act of soothing for her younger self, and maybe for anyone else who has ever felt overwhelmed by the scale of it all. Infinity Baby doesn’t offer answers. It sits in the spin of things. And somewhere in that spin, it finds a quiet kind of acceptance.

TRACK LISTING

1. Intro
2. Mirage
3. Loop
4. Sky
5. Desert
6. Everything
7. Devotion
8. Island
9. Sacred
10. Infinity Baby
11. Otherside

If there’s a group in this age that faithfully carries the torch of real group soul harmony, it must be these three cats from the US west coast by the name of Thee Baby Cuffs. Currently composed of Joe Narvaez and Reality Jonez, the trio prances on the stage with their new song 'There Ain’t Enough Roses'. Produced together with the Timmion house band Cold Diamond & Mink, these gentlemen lay down pure soulful romantics enough to fill a jacuzzi.

Even though they seem to be walking out from the candy and flower shop empty handed to meet their lover, they are equipped with lyrics and falsetto flows that can melt any heart. Continuing with their tried and tested downtempo ballad style, Thee Baby Cuffs deliver a soul boulder just as potent as their previous Timmion releases 'My My Baby' and 'You’re My Reason', not to forget the brilliant work that they have put out on the Raza Del Soul label from California.

So hop on in the passenger’s seat and let Thee Baby Cuffs serenade you all the way to the sunset. In case you’re more for the instrumentals, flip the single over to reveal the flute-led version that’ll send you to that sweet Steve Parks lowrider territory in no time.

TRACK LISTING

1. There Ain’t Enough Roses
2. Instrumental

One of Sweden’s most obscure psychedelic treasures from the late 1960’s. Compiled with newly updated, detailed, historical photos and liner notes by Dungen guitarist, Reine Fiske. Imagine vintage Cream and Syd Barrett-led Pink Floyd morphing into a primeval Hawkwind sonic brain attack and you’re on the right track. They just may be the most impressive examples of vintage Swedish psychedelia you’re ever likely to hear.

TRACK LISTING

1. Somebody Keeps Calling My Name
2. Being Is More Than Life
3. Bergakungen
4. Being Is More Than Life (2)
5. St. George’s Dragon
6. St. George’s Dragon (2)
7. Raw Diamond

Baby In Vain are a three-piece from Copenhagen, Denmark. Think Queens Of The Stone Age, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Sonic Youth. Their debut album, ‘More Nothing’, was produced by Rob Ellis (PJ Harvey, Torres, Bat For Lashes).

The band have previously toured with The Kills, Thurston Moore, Ty Segall, Jesus and Mary Chain.

Partisan Records released the ‘For The Kids’ EP in April 2016 and it went to #1 in the Denmark vinyl charts.

“Denmark’s Baby in Vain are giving guitar music a snarling shot of adrenaline” -NME

“A band whose sheer unrelenting attack can leave you breathless” - Clash

“Songs that thrum with fearlessness and great confidence” - The Guardian

“A visceral combination of Sleater Kinney, Babes In Toyland, and Queens Of The Stone Age with boss-ass results” - Noisey

“The Danish trio don’t fuck around.” - DIY

TRACK LISTING

K.
Each Time You Fall In Love
Sunsetz
Apocalypse
Flash
Sweet
Opera House
Truly
John Wayne
Young & Dumb

Less than a year after her album Through and Through, Baby Rose returns with Slow Burn, a collection of songs that explode her sonic palette from progressive R&B into a rawer, richer and more sprawling lens of American music. Here, Rose asserts herself as not only a once-in-tenlifetimes vocalist, but as a formidable songwriter connecting the dots where Muscle Shoals meets psych, psych meets jazz, jazz meets Americana, and the right players bring it all together. Produced by BADBADNOTGOOD, Rose and the band found an instant but seemingly endless well of inspiration; what started as an introduction became a day, became a song, became a night, became Slow Burn. Baby Rose was already a powerful position player — she can share the stage with Robert Glasper without breaking a sweat, or close an epic film like Creed III, for which she performed the closing credit song, with steely confidence. When Rose first met with BADBADNOTGOOD the idea was to say hello, get acquainted, see what a collaboration could, over time, potentially become. But the connection was instant, and together they put down lead single “One Last Dance” in just that first meeting. It was Rose’s first freestyle vocal, and it snapped crucial pieces of her vision into focus. “I’ve known deep down there were new spaces and sounds that I could rise to,” Rose explains. “I’ve always been into different sounds that bring in those rawer textures.” And so while the speed of their collaboration thrilled and surprised Rose, the potential and the end results did not. “We moved quickly,” she says, “and it really was a faucet. Once we got ‘One Last Dance’, it became clear everything was going to flow.”

The songs on Slow Burn were inspired in part by Rose’s experiences driving between her family’s home bases: the noise and chaos of DC and the quiet, Carolina countryside. Rose would crank music and let her mind drift, making room for the internal monologues and imagined dialogues you might not otherwise dare to hear. There’s a dreaminess in those moments, and they smolder on Slow Burn: memories lose their realities, feelings replace happenings. Slow Burn’s title track, for example, sets soft, ambling drums against Rose’s lyrical repetitions, as she traces those recollections—some lives, some felt— with patient, insistent desire.

The standout “One Last Dance” arrives disguised as a love song, but is actually an ode to a lost friendship, and an imagined dream of one more day like the old days. Reality blurs with feeling again, vocals layer into lullaby, and BADBADNOTGOOD’s bassist Chester Hansen brings that dreamlike quality to a sneaky, cautious but loving undertone. In fact most of the songs on Slow Burn have that stealthy, shadowed feel, like they’re arriving on tiptoe: intimate but a little dangerous, tender but a little mysterious. As complete and compelling a work as this is, Slow Burn points to a bigger, higher ascent in Baby Rose’s future. “I feel boundless,” says Rose. “It’s one thing carrying the weight of the emotion I’m going to bring as a vocalist and lyricist, but now I feel like I’m the head on a body with all these players and artists and other limbs. I’m in love with that process. When you have the right energy and the right synergy,” she says, “all that’s left is to trust yourself.”

TRACK LISTING

1. On My Mind
2. Slow Burn
3. Caroline Feat. Mereba
4. Weekness
5. It’s Alright
6. One Last Dance

With modern dating being reduced to app-swiping, toxic nonchalance and even balloon-popping humiliation, we’re losing recipes on how to properly yearn for each other. But while most try to keep their guards up, Baby Rose is staying devoted to what’s real. Fresh off winning her first GRAMMY Award in the Best R&B Album category for her part on Leon Thomas’ 'MUTT', the unmistakable contralto returns with 'Yearnalism', her third studio album steeped in confidence, care and liberating love. The singer-songwriter-producer defines yearnalism as the process and documentation of desire in its many forms: “Desiring freedom, desiring love, desiring what you can't have, desiring expansion.”

This streamlined 12-song LP of soon-to-be classics creates a bumpy roadmap of desire free from ego. Rose notes that despite the current trend of “too cool” emotional avoidance in music and entertainment, she pushed herself and her collaborators to bare a different side of themselves. “If you're coming into my court, you're coming to yearn,” she declares with a laugh. Three albums in, Yearnalism is a sonic snapshot of Rose at her most self-assured. “This is me really honing in and trusting that signature, catching lightning-in-a-bottle sound,” she says. “This is kind of a lesson in me really figuring out that my favorite process is being a part of the crew, being a part of this whole moment.” Baby Rose has been building up to this moment, brick by brick, for almost a decade. Raised between Washington D.C. and Fayetteville, N.C. on artists like Nina Simone, Donny Hathaway and Janis Joplin, the musician born Jasmine Rose Wilson has been a mainstay in alternative R&B since her 2019 debut, 'To Myself'. That’s when the smoky resonance of her voice and a wise-beyond-her-years presence first stopped listeners in their tracks. Since then, she has held her own on records with Ari Lennox, Big K.R.I.T., Q, BADBADNOTGOOD and J. Cole. She closed out the end credits of Hollywood blockbuster Creed III and lent her talents to A24’s Materialists both onscreen and off by giving the film’s soundtrack two songs of aching texture and moonlighting as a wedding singer in a cameo. She’s graced stages with everyone from Robert Glasper to Vince Staples and made appearances in performance art at The Museum of Modern Art and ballets at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in arrangements by Misty Copeland’s choreographer, the legendary Kyle Abraham. Her industry admirers include heavyweights like SZA, Alicia Keys, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, H.E.R, Kehlani, James Blake and Olivia Dean. Plainly put, Rose’s name rings bells and her artistry speaks even higher volumes. Getting to the level of self-love that each track of 'Yearnalism' exudes has been a journey for Rose and one that she plans to keep taking. Rose credits therapy for allowing her to call past bouts of anxiety and depression by their names, friends like SZA for introducing her to methods of breathwork and meditation and keeping God first for helping her stay grounded through her journey. With her continued study of Yearnalism, Rose reminds the listener that it’s worth it to say the hard parts out loud with honesty and to love in spite of fear

TRACK LISTING

1. When I'm Gone
2. But, Nvm
3. Is This Love (feat. Elmiene)
4. Dressed In Metal
5. Let Me Go
6. Better
7. Friends Again (feat. Leon Thomas)
8. Sunday
9. Believe Me
10. The Reason
11. All My Love
12. Jasmine's Sonnet

Baby Rose is undeniably a once-in-a-lifetime artist. She burst onto the scene with her 2019 debut project To Myself, which has amassed over 25 million global streams to date and landed her early co-signs by SZA, J. Cole, James Blake, Kehlani, and LeBron James. Later the singer received a Grammy nomination for her contribution to Dreamville’s Revenge of the Dreamers III album and was also featured on albums from Big Krit and Matt Martians.

Through and Through will show Baby Rose like we have never seen or heard her before. Sonically, the album see’s Rose carving out a lane for herself that is unrestricted by genres and showcases her extraordinary range as a skilled singer, songwriter and executive producer. Paired with her once-in-a-lifetime voice, Through and Through will exist like nothing else in music right now. 

The Baby Seals debut album, "Chaos," is a sonic exploration that blends heavy guitars, a pop edge, and a punk rock garage spirit with a heavy attack. The band, comprised of Amy "Amos" Devine on drums and backing vocals, Kate Shore on bass and backing vocals, and Kerry Devine on guitar and lead vocals, delivers a raw and energetic collection that captures the essence of their live performances.

Recorded in March 2023 in Thaxted, just outside of Essex, "Chaos" embodies the DIY ethos that has defined The Baby Seals' approach to music. Working with engineer Joe in a secluded outhouse surrounded by fields, the band laid down the tracks live over a day, capturing the unfiltered essence of their sound. Joe's extensive collection of homemade pedals added a unique touch to the recording, while Benny T's mixing expertise brought the album to its final form.

The decision to minimise post-production sets "Chaos" apart from previous recordings, reflecting the band's commitment to authenticity and a desire to showcase their growth and maturity.

On Chaos Kerry says: “Chaos is the next phase in life for us lasses in the band - babies and mid-life responsibilities. The album definitely is about how we feel and experience the world around us in our 30s and 40s. Someone who heard the album recently said it's like the The Baby Seals have grown up and I liked that because that's what I feel likes happened to me in the last two years… The album definitely has Themes: inclusivity, gender inequality, the mental load, the motherload, power, body positivity, challenging taboos, liberation. The importance of what to take seriously and what not to take seriously.

Title track, Chaos is one of the songs on the album which I'd written after a series of events including watching an interview with the late writer Benjamin Zephaniah who said the only way to liberation for all was to tear big governments down and to believe in your community.

The cover photo by Jeff Pitcher sums us up and hopefully gives you a feeling of what the album sounds like. Album design was created by Igor Prato Luna, he just seemed to understand what we are about. He referenced loads of wonderful album cover, poster and flyer artwork from the 60s - 90s, and even some fabulous sci-fi artwork from the 1920s and those incredible 1950s sci-fi pulp book covers. Nothing was referenced too heavily, though, and Igor definitely made it his own. “

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Clashing, distorted guitars and pumpelling percussion, topped with the near-shouted vocal trilogy of Amy and Kerry Devine and Kate Shore. It's rich in the traditions of punk rock and garage but with a more modern, sardonic vim. Superbly loud, and made for crashing around to.

TRACK LISTING

1. Yawn Porn
2. ID'd At Aldi
3. Vibrator
4. Chaos
5. Invisible Woman
6. My Labia Is Lopsided But I Don't Mind
7. Mild Misogynist
8. Nipple Hair
9. It's Not About The Money Honey

Baby? are Erin Allen (Violence Creeps, High Castle) and Max Nordile (Preening, Violence Creeps, Uzi Rash).

This collaboration sprang from a singular epic recording session. “Even though we hang 11 times weekly, shouldn’t we remotely pile on overdubs ad infinitum for havoc injection?” Did they really say that? Did they really do all this on purpose?

For fans of Wild Man Fischer, Minutemen, Electric Miles, Contortions, The Fugs, Preening.

Punked-up no-wave improv skronk to get you going all night.

Includes poster insert.

TRACK LISTING

Number One In Hell
Clocklords
But I Don't Believe You
Labor Board
Radical Document
Babbling Brook
Log Me Out
Old Skin
Fall On The Floor
Ice Cream Sandwich

What if a song could feel like a moment you never want to end, even though you know it must? This duality exists at the heart of 'Stay Here Where It’s Warm', the debut album from Toronto duo Babygirl. Meticulously built, it’s a gently devastating record about fleeting intimacy, emotional refuge, and learning to let go.

TRACK LISTING

1. Take Me Back
2. All Is Well
3. Dancing With Her
4. You Don't Need A Reason To Call
5. You're The Difference
6. Buzzed
7. Give Up With Me
8. Can't Be Friends
9. Take Me To Heaven
10. After You
11. Stay Here Where It's Warm

Dirty Blends continue presenting the music from new signing: Nico Babylon, alongside label stalwart The Jak.

Two contrasting tracks of Muzic Box flavoured mayhem. "An Announcement..." utilizes a riotous gospel sermon in that typically Chicagoan style but adds a spitting and gurgling backdrop of acid synthesis and stripped back beats.

"Roman Romance 4 The Drum Kidz" is a homage to Fred Brown from Rocking House Records (Chicago). Dark, but with some melodious undertones, it's heavy on the hand claps and other digital, primitive percussion taken from Roland's famous drum machines.

sTriCtLy 4 tHa fReAkz...! 

TRACK LISTING

The Jak Meets Niko Babylon - An Announcement Of A Miracle
The Jak Vs Niko Babylon - Roman Romance 4 The Drum Kidz

It's the return of the nations favourite Muzic Box-inspired label - Dirty Blends, who come correct with not one but three slices of primordial jak beat and sherm-sticked warehouse trax this week.

"Drum Major" is a conceptual production from new klan member Nico Babylon who creates a hypnotic electronic blueprint focused on vintage synths and syncopated movement of rhythmic dimensions and craftsmanship. Plainly said - this is the next level of jakbeat moving forward!

On "This Nasty Possession" The Jak collaborates with Nico on this uber old school formula from the days of Chicago underground in the mid 80s along the timeline of Gherkin / Gene Hunt era. Everything you hear on this tune was created by hand, no samples were taken!

For those who like it much darker and feral. 

TRACK LISTING

Nico Babylon - Drum Major
The Jak & Nico Babylon - This Nasty Possession

Often described as a 'turntable band' (played a lot but few sales) The Babys really were on their last legs by the time they recorded this 1980 album. There is so much quality in both songwriting and performance on thaes reissues it's hard to say what went wrong--most of it has to be down to bad timing, if you like hard tight rock licks this is the stuff for you.

Produced by The Clash’s resident innovator, Mick Jones, and even boasting a vocal cameo from Kate Moss, 'Down In Albion' evokes the sights and smells of its era yet also possesses a forward looking perspective which creates a perpetually relevant body of work that both charts and soothes the human condition.

Accompanying the album’s original 16 tracks, the anniversary edition includes five carefully chosen songs from the band’s archives, with several – despite bootleg fame amongst the band’s fanbase – getting their first official release.

'Gang Of Gin' and '352 Days' were both recorded around the album and were considered as possible b-sides but never officially released, while 'Why Did You Break My Heart/Piracy' did feature on the flip side of the single release of 'Albion'.

'Do You Know Me' and 'My Darling Clementine' are both taken from the fan favourite session for Zane Lowe’s BBC Radio 1 show, which was recorded in October 2004 and helped to lay the creative foundations for 'Down In Albion'.

Initially formed in 2003 when Doherty was temporarily excluded from The Libertines, Babyshambles quickly evolved into an alternative creative outlet for the songwriter, allowing him to explore a different range of themes within a fluid, spontaneous musical landscape.

Forging an expressive, collaborative partnership with bassist Drew McConnell, drummer Adam Ficek and lead guitarist Patrick Walden, as the Babyshambles’ line-up solidified, 'Down In Albion' managed to not only bottle the lightning of a group who always sailed close to the wind – creatively, culturally and personally – but it is also filled with insightful and timeless songwriting that skips between vivid narratives and full throttle emotion.

This edition not only celebrates their visceral mix of personal experience and state of the nation observations, but also pays tribute to Babyshambles’ Walden, who passed away earlier this year. While his characterful playing and melodic innovation is etched deep within 'Down In Albion's music, the guitarist's portrait, photographed by Hedi Slimane, has also been embedded within the sleeve using a special UV gloss.

From the nihilistic-titled yet deceptively hopeful 'Fuck Forever', via the squalor and the joy of 'Pipedown' and '8 Dead Boys', the humour of 'What Katie Did Next', the romanticism of 'In Love With A Feeling' and the melancholic yet heart-swelling 21st century anthem 'Albion', with a smile and roar Babyshambles debut is a truly immersive and invigorating web of feelings, abandon and creative energy.

TRACK LISTING

1. La Belle Et La Bete
2. Fuck Forever
3. A'rebours
4. The 32nd Of December
5. Pipedown
6. Sticks And Stones
7. Killamangiro
8. 8 Dead Boys
9. In Love With A Feeling
10. Pentonville
11. What Katy Did Next
12. Albion
13. Back From The Dead
14. Loyalty Song
15. Up The Morning
16. Merry Go Round
17. Gang Of Gin
18. 352 Days
19. Do You Know Me (BBC Radio 1 Session)
20. My Darling Clementine (BBC Radio 1 Session)
21. Why Did You Break My Heart/Piracy

The acclaimed 2007 album reissued on 1LP clear vinyl. Taken from the original 2007 masters when Pete Doherty was at the pinnacle of his creative powers, ‘Shotter’s Nation’ followed in the footsteps 'Down In Albion’, the band’s debut album, and Doherty’s first album outside of his first band - the era-defining Libertines. Both were met with commercial and critical acclaim, breaking into the top 10 of the album charts.

‘Shotter’s Nation’ is unmistakably Doherty. Melodic, stark, catchy, raw, brilliantly unique - his music has always created an unflappable loyalty from his many fans, remaining timeless, yet still sending a nostalgic excitement through its listeners. The album also features four songs co-written by Doherty’s then-girlfriend Kate Moss who also regularly performed live with them.

The approach to the recording and release of the album was an escape from Doherty’s previous methods. Stephen Street (The Smiths, Blur, Morrissey, The Cranberries) took over producer duties from The Clash's Mick Jones, and it was and his first album released by a major label, Parlophone.

TRACK LISTING

1. Carry On Up The Morning
2. Delivery
3. You Talk
4. UnBiloTitled
5. Side Of The Road
6. Crumb Begging Baghead
7. Unstookie Titled
8. French Dog Blues
9. There She Goes
10. Baddie's Boogie
11. Deft Left Hand
12. Lost Art Of Murder

Following a triumphant and eventful UK tour Rough Trade are proud to announce the release of the most anticipated album of the year: Babyshambles' debut album "Down In Albion". It includes the band's top five hit "Fuck Forever" and a new recording of their first "Killamangiro". The sixteen-track album was produced by Mick Jones and mixed by Mick Jones and Bill Price. There is a vinyl due for release later in the year - it's going to be a strictly limited double with the fourth side etched!

Parlophone are thrilled to announce that the third Babyshambles album Sequel To The Prequel. The album was recorded at Question Du Son, Paris and mixed in The Bunker, London, with producer/mixer and long time 'Shambles collaborator Stephen Street.

Filled with hooks and humour, the album features some of the band’s finest ever lyrics ranging from the tender to the downright hilarious. Musically it has already been called their most accomplished and collaborative work to date.

As Peter Doherty told the NME recently, “I don’t want this to be half arsed, I want to get up there and really fu*king smash it out. Babyshambles aren’t back, this band has always been here”.

The album - featuring sleeve artwork by Brit-art icon Damien Hirst - is released on CD, and on heavyweight 12" clear vinyl LP (including a CD of the album, plus artwork poster).

STAFF COMMENTS

Andy says: Proper songs and a solid production make this a surprisingly coherent effort from the erstwhile Libertines man.

TRACK LISTING

1. Fireman
2. Nothing Comes To Nothing
3. New Pair
4. Farmer's Daughter
5. Fall From Grace
6. Maybelline
7. Sequel To The Prequel
8. Dr. No
9. Penguins
10. Picture Me In A Hospital
11. Seven Shades
12. Minefield

"Eric Broucek was the ur-engineer of the most fertile era of DFA Studios, from about 2003 to 2008 (no one knows anything precisely about that time, as it’s all lost in the fog of chaos). His hand was on all of the remixes, LPs, dance 12s. He was there in that over-designed gear dungeon almost every day, recording, mixing, struggling to not roll his eyes at Tim and me. And somewhere in that fog, he quietly dropped limited runs of three 12-inch delayed reaction bombs on his own label Stickydisc Recordings—two under the name Babytalk, and one as Watussi with another DFA regular, Morgan Wiley.

"Back in the day, Eric did not want his music released on DFA. He wanted to forge his own identity, which he did, sending out music that wandered from the DFA path with its uniquely wonky, upended and understated power. His music is so unlike everything else of that era, so profoundly singular, that it still sounds completely out of time.

"A few years back, I started DJing the tracks again, and saw how the world was still surprised by what Eric had made, and the idea of this compilation was born.

"So, in the end, Eric, we totally got to release your records anyway. We heart you, man."

-James Murphy

TRACK LISTING

1. Babytalk - Chance (Original Mix)
2. Babytalk - Chance (Hercules & Love Affair Remix)
3. Babytalk - Chance (Babytalk Remix)
4. Watussi - If All We Had Was Love
5. Watussi - Purple Moon
7. Watussi - Purple Moon (Instrumental)
8. Babytalk - Enough

Steel Drum covers of Drake, Snoop Dogg & Dr Dre, Claudja Barry, The Game & 50 Cent, A$AP Rocky, Stranger Things Theme, and more.

Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band, the mysterious steel pan outfi­t hailing from Hamburg, Germany have amassed a cult following around the globe. With a slew of classic 7”s and three critically acclaimed full length albums, they set a high bar for themselves, one they clearly intend on pushing even higher with this new offering. On their fourth album BRSB, Bacao are back with more of the same, but more of the same with them is inherently different. Covering songs that span genres and range from mega hits to underground album cuts, they make them their own with their unique approach to the traditional steel pans of Trinidad and Tobago.

While part of the allure of a new Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band album is ­finding out what covers they do it is equally intriguing to see what original tunes they cooked upland this record is foul of stand out originals. The album opener, “In The Crosshairs” is a rough and tough mid tempo head nodder while both “Grilled” & “Treasure Quest” pick up the tempo with heavy African Funk in‑fluences on both. Bacao goes deep with “Hazy Memories”, a bass heavy slow burner that walks a line between hypnotic and hype. All these originals stand as testament that the term “cover band” is a shoe that could never fi­t Bacao.

However, in the tradition of steel pan music, they do a heavy amount of covers. This time around there is a big West Coast Hip Hop influence with covers of Game & 50 Cent’s “How We Do”, Dr Dre & Snoop Dogg’s “Nuthin But A G Thang”, and Tupac’s “Got My Mind Made Up” all of which take on new energy and lend themselves to the BRSB steel treatment. Bacao puts another certifi­ed dance‑floor fil­ler on their resume with their cover of Claudja Barry’s uber Disco classic “Love For The Sake Of Love” which they flip into a dubbed out affair aptly changing even the title to “Love For The Sake Of Dub”. Pulling from the contemporary smash hit section of Hip Hop they cover Drake’s “Hotline Bling” and “Love$ick” by Mura Masa & A$AP Rocky. Then they go very unexpected with “Stranger Things Theme” where they take the synth heavy theme song to the hit show and give it a more hypnotizing tone than the original.

By the time BRSB is through, Bacao has taken the listener on a journey spanning a myriad of energies, tempos, and moods while keeping it all under one umbrella. For all that, these songs are alive, and they will be taken out of the context of this album and sewn into the fabric of DJ sets around the globe for many years to come. Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band continues building their legacy and pushing the boundaries of steel pan music forward with another rock solid musical offering. Enjoy.

TRACK LISTING

1. In The Crosshairs
2. How We Do
3. Hazy Memories
4. Love For The Sake Of Dub
5. Hotline Bling
6. Grilled
7. Love$ick
8. Stranger Things Theme
9. Treasure Quest
10. Nuthin’ But A G Thang
11. Got My Mind Made Up
12. The Champion’s Walk

Steel Drum Covers of Grace Jones, Galt MacDermot, Slum Village, Minnie Riperton, Jay Z, Ike Turner, and more.

Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band, the mysterious steel pan out­t hailing from Hamburg, Germany have amassed a cult following around the globe. With a slew of classic 7”s and two critically acclaimed full length albums, they set a high bar for themselves, one they clearly intend on pushing even higher with this new offering. On their third album, aptly titled Expansions, BRSB are back with more of the same, but more of the same with them is inherently different. Covering songs that span genres and range from mega hits to album cuts, they make them their own with their unique approach to the traditional steel pans of Trinidad and Tobago.

Part of the allure of a new record from Bacao is ­nding out what covers they chose. However, die hard fans are also waiting to hear the original numbers like the stellar album opener “Tough Victory”. Its airtight rhythm section, brass arrangements, and layers of steel pan melodies make the term “cover band” a shoe that could never ­t Bacao. Within the next three songs they go from Jazz (Galt MacDermot), to Hip Hop (Slum Village / J Dilla), to a dance ‑oor classic (Grace Jones) taking them all on with their signature style, expanding on the originals. An easy crowd favorite is their gritty, gully, and neck snapping cover of the Timbaland produced Jay-Z club hit “Dirt Off Your Shoulder”. The infamous crushing Bacao drums start the show and the moment they start playing the top line on the pans, all bets are off. Sure to become a dance ‑oor ­ller is their bottom heavy, four on the ‑oor version of Sylvester’s classic “I Need Somebody To Love Tonight”. They venture into some gutbucket funk with Ike Turner’s “Getting Nasty” and bring the steel pans to Minnie Riperton’s Jazz classic “Les Fleurs”. Digging deeper in the modern canon and paying tribute to a tribute, they cover Erykah Badu’s homage to the late great J Dilla, “The Healer”. This is the type of thing to make Spice Adams jump on his kitchen counter and scream. From the second the beat drops they give the original Madlib production a run for its money, shaking subwoofers with the eerie tremolo bass while the pans play E. Badu’s vocal melodies.

By the time the album is through Bacao has taken the listener on a journey that spans a myriad of energies, tempos, and moods while somehow managing to keep it all under one umbrella. For all that, these songs are alive, and they will be taken out of the context of this album and sewn into the fabric of DJ sets around the globe for many years to come. Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band is breathing renewed life into the originals and continuing to push the boundaries of steel pan music, or, as the title suggests, expanding on it.

TRACK LISTING

SIDE A:
1. Tough Victory
2. Space
3. Raise It Up
4. My Jamaican Dub
5. I Need Somebody To Love Tonight
6. Dirt Off Your Shoulder

SIDE B:
1. Getting Nasty
2. Blow Your Cover
3. Represent
4. The Healer
5. Les Fleur
6. Squaring The Circles

CD Has Three Bonus Tracks:
Juicy
Look Out Baby (Here I Come)
Kaiser Noir

"By popular demand, Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band is back with another must have of a two sider. Two tracks finding their way to vinyl for the first time that were cut during The Serpents Mouth sessions but only made it to the cd and digital release. A lot of people wrote us asking for it, and here it is, a 7 inch release that lives at the intersection of Funk, Soul, and Hip Hop. The A side is Bacao's crushing cover of the Jackson 5's B-Boy classic "Great To Be Here". A tune that a lot of people probably thought had steel pans on the original version, a misconception that lead to BRSB choosing it for their inimitable treatment. They open the tune with a chunky open drum break that gives way to the steel pan work banging out the infectious and instantly recognizable guitar lines from the J5's version. The B side finds Bacao diggin deeper into the hip hop crates again and coming up with a monster of a Gang Starr track to cover. Taking on their underground street a nthem they cut for their Full Clip compilation, "All 4 Tha Ca$h". BRSB tease the tune in with the two top notes of the riff for the first 8 bars catching listeners ears and giving the DJs a record to work with. When the whole riff drops and they give away what the tune is they are covering awww shits & ooooooohs are sure to be heard out in the crowd." 

The German steel pan outfit has amassed a collection of 7s on the label that are all essential pieces in DJ boxes around the world.

The A side "Nautilus" is a cover of the Bob James uber classic that has been sampled by hip hop more times than maybe any other record. It is a DJ staple that has soundtracked many a dance floor and breakdance cypher. Bacao's version is a welcome new take on the tried and true original.

The B side is their cover of the Khruangbin cult classic "Maria También" and Bacao give the original version a run for its money. Steel pans ride over chunky drums to great effect and make this another must have for DJs around the globe

TRACK LISTING

1. Nautilus
2. Maria También

Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band, the mysterious steel pan outfit hailing from Hamburg, Germany made significant noise in 2024 when French film Anatomy of a Fall won an Academy Award for best original screenplay. Bacao’s cover of 50 Cent’s 'PIMP' was featured so heavily in the film and plays such a huge role in the storyline that it became synonymous with its success. Subsequently, they ushered in the first appearance of steel pans in the orchestra pit at the Academy Awards so they could play the tune as director Justine Triet walked on stage to accept the award. All of this brought a lot of new fans to Bacao and pushed the streaming numbers of 'PIMP' well past 40 million. For those in the know, this tune made its way into underground fame back in 2008 when it was first pressed on band leader Bjorn Wagner’s own Mocambo imprint and was often mistaken for the original sample source from which 50 made his hit.

All accolades and international fame aside, 'PIMP' is literally just the tip of the Bacao iceberg. With four full length albums and a tall stack of 7” singles that have become staples to DJs around the world, they have been prolific since signing with Big Crown in 2014. Despite the constant releases and elaborate catalog, every recording session has borne more fruit than could fit on an album, leaving a handful of tunes in the recording vault. Here on 'Big Crown Vaults Vol. 4' we open up that vault and give all (well, most of) those tunes a proper pressing and release.

The album opens up with their cover of the Bob James uber-classic breakbeat 'Nautilus' and they put a spin on the original that puts it directly in the must have category for all hip hop and breakbeat enthusiasts. Keeping their foot on the gas, they give the BRSB treatment to the Khruangbin classic 'Maria También' with their signature bottom heavy drums taking the energy of the tune to a whole new place. Infamous for digging deep in the crates when picking material to reinterpret, they next take on Royce the 5’9”'s J Dilla produced 'Let’s Grow'. Originally the B side to the first pressing of 'PIMP' (and making an appearance on the very limited first 2LP pressing of their debut album '55') we put the 'PIMP (Version)' on here where they give their original recording the proper dub treatment with melodica and tape echo galore. They turn up the tempo and the funk covering the Jackson 5’s 'Great To Be Here' and again dive deep into obscurity with the Billy Jones dancefloor burner 'Lookout Baby (Here I Come)'. While part of the allure of a new Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band album is finding out what covers they are going to take on, it is equally intriguing to see what original tunes they’ve cooked up. While 'BCR Vaults Vol. 4' only has one original, 'Kaiso Noir', it’s an uptempo crowd-pleaser that sounds like a mix between a b-boy break and a James Bond score.

This collection of songs spans from 2008 to 2023 and runs a variety of genres from hip hop to jazz to soul and pop through the Bacao lens. The band is already at work on their 5th full length studio album and this compilation should be the perfect thing to hold fans over until it arrives.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Classic Bacao sound here, on the ever brilliant Big Crown records, with a bunch of unheard singles and versions of their most beloved pieces and their unique covers too. Big shout-out for their cover of Fiddy's 'PIMP'.

TRACK LISTING

1. Nautilus
2. Maria También
3. Let’s Grow
4. PIMP (Version)
5. Look Out (Here I Come)
6. Great To Be Here
7. Juicy Fruit
8. 8th Wonder
9. Murkit Gem
10. All For The Cash
11. Kaiso Noir
12. Guess Who’s Back
13. Giana Sisters

Stonewall disco classic by Spanish duo Baccara. It reached number 1 in 18 countries.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Sir, can you boogie? Yes sir, I can boogie. Then boogie you shall, good sir! And everyone boogied.

TRACK LISTING

1. Yes Sir, I Can Boogie
2. Yes Sir, I Can Bookie (Karaoke Version)

BACCO is a super session unit led by "Masayoshi Takanaka". The album is filled with tight, groovy West Coast rock tunes, combining high-level performances that could be described as funky fusion with explosive, emotional vocals by Jim Diamond.

TRACK LISTING

1. HIGH ACE
2. TOKYO LADY
3. CHA CHA ME
4. SEVENTEEN AND BLUE
5. GETTING’ LOST DOWN ON 8TH STREET
6. JUST ANOTHER BOY IN THE BAND
7. KID KIND
8. STAND BY ME

Bachelor, the new project from Melina Duterte (Jay Som) and Ellen Kempner (Palehound), is not a band, it’s a friend-ship. After being mutual fans for years, they finally met when sharing the bill at a show in Sacramento in 2017. Keeping in touch over text and Instagram posts, Duterte and Kempner started recording together for fun in 2018, resulting with what would become "Sand Angel", the seductive slow-burner that convinced the pair to write an album together.

Reconvening in January 2020, the duo packed the entirety of Duterte’s recording equipment into two cars and headed to a rental house in Topanga, CA. In this space Kempner and Duterte hybridized their individual song-writing talents, producing a collection that slips between moods with ease and showcases their lyrical prowess. Arriving with almost no songs written and no solid plan, they finished the 10 songs that make up Doomin’ Sun after two short weeks. That much work in so little time may sound exhausting, but it wasn’t, it was blissful and freeing.

There was a lot of pain that went into the record, especially around themes of queerness and climate change inspired by the red skies and wildfires subsuming Australia at the time. However, when the duo did shed tears during the creative process, they weren’t tears of sadness, they were tears of laughter. When Kempner and Duterte look back on those weeks, what they remember first is shortness of breath and the inability to track vocal takes without falling to the floor howling. They couldn’t remember a time they’d ever been so delirious with creativity, so overwhelmed with joy.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: With more than a little nod to seminal grunge bands of the 90's (and beyond), Bachelor sees Jay Som and Palehound team up for a riotous mix of pop-punk, grunge and grooving noisy rock. Tracks like 'Sand Angel' and 'Anything At All' tread a more minimal, psychy groove while 'Stay In The Car' is undoubtably the most riotous, melodic slice of pop on here. Really great stuff.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
1. Back Of My Hand
2. Sand Angel
3. Stay In The Car
4. Went Out Without You
5. Spin Out

Side B
6. Anything At All
7. Moon
8. Sick Of Spiraling
9. Aurora
10. Doomin’ Sun

Killer Nu Groove / 90's NYC House style tracks on Tartelet

B FROM E (Frej Garcia Levin) represents a new generation of talented young artists making waves in Copenhagen. Of Mexican-Danish descent, and born and raised in the notorious tower blocks of the south-western suburbs of Copenhagen, the 27-year old is on the up-and- up. In high demand as the founder of boom bap rap group NATKAT, producer of pop outfit Ny Sensei (New Sensei) and head of tape-only label Buddahood, the multi-talent seems to have a hand in everything at the moment. His 2017 debut ‘Porno TR-XXX’ (C.U.P) saw some of the hottest names in the game spinning B FROM E at last year’s Dekmantel festival, resulting in offers from several well-known record labels.

His new record on Tartelet Records comes as four cuts exploring different paths of the garage house sound. The opener ‘Dark Energy’ is fueled by filthy breaks and a nostalgic theme that would not be out of place in an early Atari computer game. ‘The People (Dream Mix)’ is a trippy tour through subtle layered melodies, carried by a stripped-back groove.

On the B-side you will find ‘Positive Sister (2605 Tool)’: a chunky cut with a serious bassline. Saving the best for last, ‘You Will See’, rounds off the record in style. A feel-good tune that is sure to get plenty of spins this summer. HOT TIP!

TRACK LISTING

Dark Energy
The People (Dream Mix)
Positive Sister (2605 Tool)
You Will See

backinhumanform is Joe Clarke. He is from the west of Ireland, but lives and performs in London. He was lead singer in Manchester band, Adventures of Salvador, for 3½ years. His debut album was released recently to positive reviews and was featured as #29 in Traveller’s Tunes’ Top 30 of 2020 (Paul Weller was #1). Listeners have heard shades of John Grant, Midlake and Beck in his songs. He himself cites Mazzy Star’s production values and guitar style as an influence. Other favourite bands & singers include James, John Cale, Kate Bush, Cocteau Twins, Engineers, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. backinhumanform is his self-titled debut album, and Shadows is the first single taken from it.

TRACK LISTING

1. Old Man
2. Ships
3. On The Road
4. Half-Light
5. Shadows
6. Chained To The Wheel
7. Moments
8. Hundreds
9. Slippin' Away
10. Dreads
11. Auld Lang Xiety

From Santa Barbera, California, a 10 song mini album entitled "Acrophobe". This is cracking emo-core from Joey and Derrick from Lagwagon and Marko 72. A real departure from the Lagwagon sound, with the use of keyboards and a variety of stringed instruments. I think it's one of the best and most varied releases on the excellent Honest Don's label for ages.

Great title and great band featuring three members of Lagwagon and now expanded to a septet. Their unique sound of synthesized space / rock / pop punk has just got bigger. "Houston, We Have A Drinking Problem" is the band's first full length and is an assured and exciting mix of electronics like drum machines, computers, and sequencers, along with an equal showing of analog synths, piano, electric guitars, traditional percussion, real strings, and even a bit of harmonica.

Bad Astronaut from Santa Barbara, CA consist of Joey Cape (Lagwagon, Me First And The Gimmie Gimmies) on guitar and vocals, Marko 72 (Nerfherder, Swingin¹ Utters) on bass, and Derrick Plourde (Lagwagon) on drums. They've released a CDEP on Fat Wreck Chords and will soon be releasing their debut full length. Armchair Martian have released three full-length CDs. This release consists of each band covering three of the other bands' songs and a collaborative effort on the seventh. All songs are exclusive to this split EP.

'Sour Soul' is the collaborative album from Toronto jazz / hip-hop band BadBadNotGood and Staten Island rap champ Ghostface Killah. Inspired by and taking inspiration from 1960s and 70s music and the recording techniques and production of that era, and eschewing sampling in favour of live instrumentation, BBNG with producer Frank Dukes have created a dramatic, cinematic musical staging for Ghostface’s vivid storytelling. 'Sour Soul' also features guest spots from MF DOOM, Elzhi (Slum Village / J Dilla), Danny Brown and prodigal new rapper Tree (Project mayhem).

'Building Babylon at the Bayou' showcases some of the earliest live performances from Bad Brains, even pre-dating the band’s 1982 self-titled debut. A snapshot of the band’s burgeoning beginnings, these recordings from 1980 and 1981 recorded at The Bayou in Washington DC, were captured between the band being unofficially “banned in DC” and relocating to NYC. This is the first non-jazz release by newly formed Time Traveler Recordings. Transferred from the original tapes and mastered by legendary producer Don Zientara, famous for his work with Minor Threat and Fugazi, amongst others. Featuring a booklet with liner notes by Washington Post critic Chris Richards and testimonials from Ian MacKaye, Henry Rollins, Jello Biafra, Vernon Reid, John Joseph as well as previously unseen photographs and ephemera.

TRACK LISTING

CD1 - July 14, 1980:
1. Supertouch / Shitfit
2. Attitude
3. 1-2-X-U (Wire Cover)
4. The Big Takeover
5. The Man Won't Annoy Ya
6. Right Brigade
7. Redbone In The City
8. Paranoid (Black Sabbath Cover)
9. Stay Close To Me
10. Pay To Cum
11. Suck Sess
12. Banned In DC
13. I Luv I Jah
14. I
15. At The Movies

CD2 - March 14, 1981:
1. I (Incomplete)
2. The Big Take Over
3. Many Changes In Life (Barrington Levy Cover)
4. Sailin' On
5. Right Brigade
6. Rally Round Jah Throne
7. Coptic Times
8. Drum Solo / Tuning
9. Riot Squad
10. Rock For Light

First album in 5 years from the legendary hardcore group.

"This album takes us back to self-produced record shines with Bad Brains' true sense of freedom and musical experimentation, with blends of soulful backgrounds meshed with blistering hardcore and metal riffs, with classic dub," says Darryl Jenifer of Bad Brains.

Considered to be the "holy grail" of punk rock, Bad Brains are one of the definitive American punk groups who garner the same respect as Sex Pistols, Black Flag, The Ramones and The Clash. It's a return to form for the band that helped define American Punk and Hardcore music.

TRACK LISTING

1. Into The Future
2. Popcorn
3. We Belong Together
4. Youth Of Today
5. Rub A Dub Love
6. Yes I
7. Suck Sess
8. Jah Love
9. Earnest Love
10. Come Down
11. Fun
12. Maybe A Joyful Noise
13. Mca Dub

Following on from 2022s ‘Human Capital’, which mercilessly attacked Conservative meritocracy and the exploitative forces of late capitalism, ‘Contempt’ ups the ante yet again and explores the continued effects that austerity has had on the working public and specifically capital’s destruction of the planet and its inhabitants. It’s released with multiple essays in an accompanying zine, one that follows environmental and humanitarian journalist Aidan Frere-Smith and another that tells the story of a homelessness crisis in a city full of unused housing. Utilizing a mix of propulsive rhythm and furious, explosive guitars to maximum effect, Bad Breeding have weaponised their anger in the fight for survival; “Because these days are ours to take / Seize them with union, love and rage”. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Temple Of Victory
2. Survival
3. Devotion
4. Liberty
5. Discipline
6. Retribution
7. Gilded Cage / Sanctuary
8. Vacant Paradise
9. Idolatry
10. Contempt

'Lighten Up' (Fat Wreck Chords) the SoCal punk group Bad Cop Bad Cop’s fourth full-length, paints a striking portrait of life’s hard-won victories and hard-fought losses. Recorded at the Compound in Long Beach, home to veteran producer Antoine Arvizu (Sublime, Ryan Bingham). The band loved recording the singles 'Shattered' and 'Safe and Legal' there in 2023 with Arvizu and Migs (Sublime, Slightly Stoopid, Long Beach Dub Allstars. Bad Cop Bad Cop stretched their signature hooky, melodic punk into unexpected places, like the jazzy 'Las Ventanas', the dub-inflected 'Note to Self', or 'Johnny Appleseed', a reimagining of the Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros classic. After tracking the instruments, the band spent 10 intense 12-hour days recording vocals with longtime collaborator John E. Carey Jr. (Old Man Markley, NOFX, Get Dead). “The singing was the most important part for us. We really tried things out,” Dee says, adding that Gallarza stepped up to sing third harmony for the first time. Lighten Up also benefits from Windsor, an expert guitarist who not only shreds (check out the end of 'I4NI') but whose music theory knowledge proved invaluable. “Alex's guitar playing is just so fantastic and has really elevated our songwriting, truly,” Dee says. Everything about 'Lighten Up' feels elevated and genuine. “This was the first time we didn’t give a fuck about what anyone else was doing or wanted us to do. 'Lighten Up' was for us” Dee says. “We had a complete and total ball making it and we love it so much.”

TRACK LISTING

1. All Together Now
2. Strugglinh
3. Straight Out Of Detox
4. Note To Self
5. Disbelief
6. See Me Now
7. Human Is Human
8. I4NI
9. Las Ventanas
10. Dead Friends
11. Johnny Appleseed

As you may already know, BAD WITH PHONES is a one-off. The self-proclaimed ‘extra guy’ is extra in unique ways, and his debut album CRASH holds a high-wire duality of instant recognisability and true individuality. Manny, as he’s known to his friends, is a guitarist and frontman, a future don of weirdo pop, R&B, rap and post-punk in a pink and blue wig and sunglasses. He’s here to transmit songs that are epic and iconic, low key hypnagogic and soaked in bliss and damage like Tyler The Creator, Grace Jones or Basquiat if they’d grown up in 1990s Deptford listening to Sade and David Bowie. This album is packed with intimate anthems and comedown soothers for the day after a mangled night.

The CRASH back sleeve cover features a snap of his hired jeep, destroyed, on a volcanic landscape. The south east Londoner had been due a break after the stresses of releasing Marinade and had just signed to Brixton label Don’t Sleep. He was maybe going to see family in Togo but instead flew to Lanzarote with a girlfriend. Once on the island, there was a massive car crash. Miraculously, they both emerged unharmed. CRASH is both therapy and a kind of sci-fi, with each song an episode that captures and channels the dazed aftermath of intense life experience.

And his name? It came from an experiment where he went phone-free for six months or just because he didn’t pay his bills, depending on what you want to believe. Either way, it suits the sense of blurry disconnection he infuses through this music, the background electricity of sky-high pylons powered through his guitars, the dissociated but super-gentle love-not-love songs – until the energy levels ramp up like they do on the indie disco anthem ‘Don’t Talk To Me’ with its all-comers blah blah blah chorus echoing through the streets and dancefloors of next summer and the summer after that. BAD WITH PHONES is coming for you.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
1. (call Me) Friday
2. DennisRodman
3. Devils
4. Don't Talk To Me
5. InAWeek (anything Can Happen)

Side B
1. Monica Too
2. Drive.
3. Emmanuelle
4. LVR
5. TICKET

Ministry of Sound release the much anticipated third studio album from New York based Rapper, Singer & Actor - JOEY BADA$$.

Collaborators include Diddy & Chris Brown, among others.

'Echoes' (1984) is the debut solo album by Wally Badarou, a keyboardist and producer closely associated with the Compass Point Studios scene.

This re-issue faithfully replicates the original Island Records UK release and is pressed on 180g vinyl.

'Echoes' has since gained cult status for its forward-thinking production and genre-defying style. Built around early digital synthesizer technology and fluid composition, the album remains a notable example of 1980s electronic music that continues to resonate with modern audiences. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Keys
2. Hi-Life
3. Mambo
4. Voices
5. Canyons
6. Endless Race
7. Chief Inspector
8. Waltz
9. Jungle
10. Rain

Wally Badarou is a synth pioneer and musical polymath. But rarely does he sing over his sumptuous tracks. The 6 songs that comprise new record 'Simple Things' finally realise Wally's vision for select backing tracks from his beloved 'Colors Of Silence'.

The tracks were originally developed back in 2001 for the release of the original CD; here, Wally has “simply" added overdubs and vocals to their mastered mixes with some discerning edits.

Simply put, 'Simple Things' is another slice of simply stunning Wally Badarou genius.

TRACK LISTING

1. It Couldn't Be You
2. You Can't Hide Always
3. We'll Make It Again
4. Walk Straight Ahead
5. Painting My Life Blue
6. Just Two Lovers 

Joey Badass is a 19-year old rapper from Brooklyn, NY. He burst onto the scene in 2012 with the release of his 1999 MIXTAPE, which was downloaded over 2 million times. Since then Joey has gone on several worldwide tours, performing with the likes of Wiz Khalifa, B. O. B., Disclosure, Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, A$AP Rocky, Big K. R. I. T & more. Joey Badass is now preparing to release his debut album, B4. DA. SS on January 20th, which also happens to be his 20th birthday. The album has production from Hit-Boy, DJ Premier, J Dilla, Statik Selektah, Kirk Knight, Chuck Strangers, and more. B4. DA. SS also features tracks with Kiesza, Action Bronson, Chronixx, Elle Varner, Maverick Sabre, BJ the Chicago Kid, & more.

TRACK LISTING

Save The Children
Greenbax (Introlude)
Paper Trail$
Piece Of Mind
Big Dusty
Hazeus View
Like Me (feat. BJ The Chicago Kid)
Belly Of The Beast (feat. Chronixx)
No. 99
Christ Conscious
On & On (feat. Maverick Sabre & Dyemond Lewis)
Escape 120 (feat. Raury)
Black Beetles
O.C.B
Curry Chicken
Run Up On Ya (feat. Action Bronson & Elle Varner)
Teach Me

Sour Soul is the collaborative album from Toronto jazz/hip-hop band BADBADNOTGOOD and Staten Island rap champ Ghostface Killah. Inspired by 1960s and 70s music - taking inspiration from the recording techniques and production of that era, and eschewing sampling in favour of live instrumentation, BBNG with producer Frank Dukes have created a dramatic, cinematic musical staging for Ghostface’s vivid storytelling. Sour Soul also features guest spots from MF DOOM, Elzhi (Slum Village / J Dilla), Danny Brown and prodigal new rapper Tree (Project Mayhem).

TRACK LISTING

1. Mono
2. Sour Soul
3. Six Degrees (feat. Danny Brown)
4. Gunshowers (feat. Elzhi)
5. Stark's Reality
6. Tone's Rap
7. Mind Playing Tricks
8. Street Knowledge (feat. Tree)
9. Ray Gun (feat. DOOM)
10. Nuggets Of Wisdom
11. Food
12. Experience

At the start of 2024 BADBADNOTGOOD were brimming with new creative energy. Having just come off a run of one-off international tour dates and a series of sessions for projects with artists Daniel Cesar, Charlotte Day Wilson, reggie, Baby Rose, and Turnstile, the Canadian-trio of Al Sow, Chester Hansen and Leland Whitty were eager to get back into the studio to simply create. The trio called on some of their closest friends and collaborators, BADBADNOTGOOD touring member Felix Fox-Pappas (keys) and a few key-players in the Toronto jazz scene including Kaelin Murphy (trumpet), Juan Carlos Medrano (percussion) and LA musician Tyler Lott (guitar), for an intensive and productive one-week of recording at Valentine Studios in Los Angeles in February 2024. The result of those sessions is the Mid Spiral series, originally released as 3 parts – Chaos, Order and Growth – digitally earlier this year and now collected altogether on a double LP and CD.

The 'Mid Spiral' suites see BADBADNOTGOOD return to their roots of instrumental jazz while once again pushing the boundaries of how they cross pollinate genres, incorporating their love of hip-hop, neo-soul, psychedelic, funk and more. For the sessions, the trio incorporated additional musicians to add more voices of instrumentation, resulting in a deeply collaborative and expansive new sound. As the trio sifted through the weeks’ worth of material, it was clear that three distinct moods emerged, a deeper reflection of where the musicians are within their own personal lives, along with the state of the wider world: Chaos, Order and Growth.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: 'Mid Spiral' sees the famously chill trio perfectly performing their usual brand of jazzy lounge and swooning instrumental funk, but this time sees a broader range of musical influences enter the fray. Airy 60's tropicalia, woozy surf rock and crisp percussive improvisations accent their usual, pretty fare.

TRACK LISTING

1. Eyes On Me
2. Take Me With You
3. Weird & Wonderful
4. Mid Spiral
5. Last Laugh
6. Your Soul & Mine
7. Playgroup
8. Juan's World
9. Taco Taco
10. Sétima Regra
11. Sunday Afternoon's Dream
12. Rewind Your Mind
13. First Love
14. Audacia
15. Celestial Hands
16. Ways Of Seeing
17. White Light

BADBADNOTGOOD return with their highly anticipated album, "Talk Memory", the sixth full length excursion from this Canadian trio if you count their collaboration with Ghostface Killah amongst their discography. Collaborators include legendary composer Arthur Verocai and contemporary icons such as Terrace Martin, Karriem Riggins and Laraaji.

It's high octane, ambitious and noisy, modern jazz set firmly in present times and holding no punches with its delivery. The boys can play, make no mistake, effortlessly drifting from languid passages to all-out throttle. Considering there's only three of them, it's a full and realized sound; slightly gritty but sophisticated in its execution; with each musician challenging the next to out-better themselves. As the songs swirl into a mighty cresendo you can almost picture them trying to compete with each for dexterity and flair... I'm sure they'd be an amazing prospect live.

Favourite moment for me is the opener of disc two, "Love Proceeding", featuring Arthur Verocia, which glides in on optimistic and cinematic sax before erupting into an explosion of augmented 7s and frenzied drums; the ultimate example of jazz's fusion of tension and release; a formular that's executed with aplomb throughout the album.

Advanced and highly accomplished, "Talk Memory" finds these bastions of modern jazz in exquisite form. Recommended. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: BadBadNotGood return for their first LP for XL Recordings, with their trademark enthusiastic jazz fusion sound in full force, bolstered with a number of huge music industry names. It's yet another groundbreaking juxtaposition of loungey downbeat jazz and rhythmic hip-hop, both innovative and warmingly familiar.

TRACK LISTING

1. Signal From The Noise
2. Unfolding (Momentum 73) Featuring Laraajii
3. City Of Mirrors Featuring Arthur Verocai
4. Beside April Featuring Karriem Riggins, Arthur Verocai
5. Love Proceeding Featuring Arthur Verocai
6. Open Channels (physical Only)
7. Timid, Intimidating
8. Beside April (Reprise) Featuring Arthur Verocai
9. Talk Meaning Featuring Arthur Verocai, Terrace Martin And Brandee Younger

Canadian Jazz group BADBADNOTGOOD unite with Swedish electronic band Little Dragon for their beautiful and melancholic single, Tried.The single follows a myriad of successful collaborations from BADBADNOTGOOD with Kendrick Lamar, Kali Uchis, Snoop Dogg, Thundercat, Kaytranada, Charlotte Day Wilson and Sam Herring (Future Islands) and Little Dragon’s 2018 “Lover Chanting” EP.

STAFF COMMENTS

Millie says: BADBADNOTGOOD's new collaboration with Little Dragon demonstrates their mellow side of beautifully slowed-down jazz rhythm, matched with the sweet vocals of Little Dragon is a heavenly retreat for the ears.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Tried
B1. Tried (Instrumental)

Festive re-working of this classic football anthem, in time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which features England & Wales amongst others. 

2026 marks the 30th anniversary of 'Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home)', released to coincide with the World Cup and celebrating one of the most iconic songs in British sporting and music history.

This special edition single features brand new illustrated artwork by Guardian Cartoonist David Squires.

Three Lions remains a truly unique chart phenomenon. It is the only song ever to reach UK Number One on four separate occasions with the same artist — twice in 1996 on its original release, for three consecutive weeks during the 1998 World Cup, and again in 2018 when it made chart history by jumping from No.24 to No.1 in a single week.

TRACK LISTING

1. Three Lions (Remastered)
2. Three Lions (Karaoke)
3. Three Lions (Jules Rimet Extended Mix) - CD Only
4. Three Lions (Sake Bar Remix) - CD Only

Devils Ghosts and Firearms is Mike Badger’s first studio album in almost a decade. The album reflects Mike’s love of homespun & RnR roots music; Americana, Rockabilly, Pop and Country Blues, created with his raw DIY Punk ethos. Feat. guest performances from members of Lightning Seeds, The Christians, Furious, The La’s, The Shakers, Nashville’s Barflies, Mojave Collective, Jazzophonists, and Seprona.

RIYL: Alt-Country, Michael Head, Jay Farrar, John Martyn, Steve Earle, Chuck Prophet.

TRACK LISTING

(A1) Ghost In This Machine
(A2) Growing Older So Gracefully
(A3) Wolfman
(A4) Shoot Me In The Head (If I Ever Become One Of Them)
(A5) Beach Buggies On The Moon!
(A6) How The Hell It Come To This?
(A7) Sunset On Levant
(B8) Keep ‘Em Busy (So They Don’t Look Up)
(B9) Dark Side Of The Mountain
(B10) Sci Fi Hot Rod Messiah
(B11) Cudda Wudda Shudda
(B12) Half Bottle O’ Whisky
(B13) Who Am I Now?
(B14) Devils Ghosts And Firearms

Badly Drawn Boy along with sparring partner Andy Votel began work on "One Plus One Is One" in June 2003 at Stockport's Moulin Rouge Studio. A simpler and more spacious record than "Have You Fed The Fish". It was meant to be that way. Sure there are some sonic shenanigans and a playfulness that speaks of the relaxed atmosphere this record was created in, but it stands or falls on the quality of the songs. It stands. It is truly a return to the homegrown feel of "The Hour Of The Bewilderbeast" and it's probably Damon's most heartfelt record. Sound-wise, there's plenty of piano, and a lovely flute flutters around some of it, but Damon's finger-picking is his best-yet too. He doesn't seem to be goofing around as much, either; it's time to get real, with songs of love, family and friends. From the superb sleeve in this is a cosy, homely record and a big return to form.

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of his seminal, magical, Mercury-prize winning debut, Badly Drawn Boy (aka Damon Gough) releases a new deluxe version of the album, including bonus unheard tracks (on the double CD version) and new artwork.

Released in May 2000 to widespread acclaim, ‘The Hour Of Bewilderbeast’ beat other shortlisted nominees including Coldplay, Doves, Leftfield and Richard Ashcroft to that year’s Mercury Music Prize. Like all great debuts, it captured the zeitgeist of the moment, managing that rare feat of sounding both completely of its time, and utterly timeless. The album went platinum and Damon was then asked to write the soundtrack the film of Nick Hornby’s book ‘About A Boy’, which became a huge hit. He went on to release eight studio albums over 12 years, before taking a break over the last couple of years and now he’s back with a fresh focus.

It’s an album that shouldn’t really work on paper, a bewildering assortment of leftfield folk ditties, poetic shanties, experimental passages and nocturnal piano ballads, some recorded in bedrooms, some in studios, with a myriad of different oddball production techniques, and numerous personnel playing most instruments known to man, and several not. However, underpinned by the genius songwriting of Damon Gough and his intuitive ear for melody, it worked beautifully, and charmed a generation of music critics and music lovers. Damon arrived fully formed yet badly drawn, an overnight success which had taken years, simultaneously a little shambolic and in possession of grand vision, somehow both cocksure and yet self-doubting, all of which only endured him to a public growing tired of the over-polished sheen of late 90s.

Andy Votel has updated his classic artwork, loosely based on Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Vitruvian Man’, for the re-release. “I’m very fond of the cover,” says Damon. “It sums up the time as much as the music does. The gatefold vinyl will have the original artwork and when you open it up there’s a new version which reflects everything that’s happened in the last 15 years.”

'Mama's Gun' is the second studio album by neo soul singer Erykah Badu, released in 2000. Recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, the album incorporates funk, soul and jazz styles. Covering themes of insecurity, social issues and personal relationships, Badu delivered a highly intimate and personal album that reached Platinum two months after its release. 'Mama's Gun' features substantial contributions from several members of the Soulquarians outfit, of which Badu was a member. It also features guests such as soul singer Betty Wright and trumpeter Roy Hargrove.

The album contains the single "Bag Lady" which, with its colorful, artsy music video, shot to #1 on the R&B charts, and also into the Top 10 on the billboard charts. "Bag Lady" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and for Best R&B Song. Also the song "Didn't Cha Know?" was nominated for Best R&B Song.

Rolling Stone magazine applauded her for taking "chances the way Stevie Wonder or Nina Simone did in their prime" and went on to say "she has taken her art to the next level." Entertainment Weekly called the album a "'70s soul homage featuring live musicians and a smooth-funk sound that wouldn't be out of place on a CTI record."

TRACK LISTING

SIDE A
1. Penitentiary Philosophy
2. Didn't Cha Know
3. My Life
4. ... & On

SIDE B
1. Cleva
2. Hey Sugah
3. Booty
4. Kiss Me On My Neck (Hesi)
5. A.D. 2000

SIDE C
1. Orange Moon
2. In Love With You
3. Bag Lady

SIDE D
1. Time's A Wastin
2. Green Eyes

New Amerykah Part One is the fourth studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter Erykah Badu. It was released on February 26, 2008, by Universal Motown. Here we have both formats pressed on coloured vinyl!

In contrast to "New Amerykah, Part I: 4th World War", which was digitally produced and political in tone, "New Amerykah Part II" features lush live instrumentation and taps into Badu’s emotional side by thematically focusing on romance and relationships.

A collaboration between Faris Badwan (The Horrors / Cat’s Eyes) & renowned guitarist John Coxon (Spring Heel Jack / Spiritualized / Treader), it is the first release of an ongoing collaborative series between Faris and other artists, details of which will be subsequently announced. Badwan & Coxon met some years ago when Faris was looking for producers to work with on his solo material and their working relationship evolved beyond the existing songs into something more improvisational and instinctive.

As Faris explains: The new songs we ended up working on were largely spontaneous and cut together from early takes with minimal overdubbing. The lyrics were improvised and the focus was placed more on creating atmosphere and keeping things fairly raw and expressive. I guess I found it rewarding particularly with the guitar playing because it was so intuitive and completely free from any expectations of how a song should be constructed. There are hooks and repetitive sections but fewer traditional structures. We tried to avoid doing any planning beforehand and focussed more on responding to what was happening in the moment. I guess the sessions were kind of a constant dialogue where we would each respond to the other's improvisation.

With Promise Land I began by improvising lyrics over a drone track John and I created. Some time later I came across “To Our Land” by Mahmoud Darwish, a Palestinian poet, and was struck by the similarities - there are a few lines that match really closely. Despite being half-palestinian myself this was a total accident and I know for sure I hadn’t seen Darwish’s piece before. With Boiling Point the lyrics are almost the ghost of a narrative rather than an explicit story. I’m interested in the subconscious and how the hidden parts of your brain express themselves when given the opportunity. Looking back it was almost more about creating the right conditions for the subconscious to come out.

The discovery of a cassette of Carola Baer’s early ’90s private home recordings was like finding a needle in a haystack. Made as a one-off mixtape of newly-recorded songs, and given to a long-since forgotten recipient, this cassette was found in 2017 at a Goodwill “bins” location in Portland, Oregon.

These chaotic, by-the-pound thrift stores contain thousands of unsorted items in constant flux, which are only available for the public to buy for a limited time before they are discarded. The prospect that this obscure relic would be rescued from its untimely fate is nothing short of a miracle. As this tape was the only one in existence, with no back up versions of many of the songs, it’s more than likely that this music would have been lost forever.

The Story Of Valerie is made up of songs culled from that cassette, with a few additional tracks from the time, and is the first time Carola Baer’s solo material has been heard by the public. The intense emotion of the music is brought upon by the primary themes of the album: the cruelty of humanity, isolated life as a British immigrant in the US, and the pain of doomed relationships.

Despite being inspired by classic 4AD acts like Dead Can Dance and Cocteau Twins, Baer’s home recordings have a sound and style that is uniquely her own. Many of the tracks feel like musical exorcisms, with Baer’s spine tingling voice soaring above minimal arrangements for Yamaha DX-7 and Casio CZ-101 synthesizers. Like finding a stranger’s diary, the listener is granted access to music that is emotionally raw and deeply personal.

TRACK LISTING

1. Maker Of Me
2. Golden Boy
3. Save Me
4. We Already Feel
5. Springtime
6. Doors Talk
7. Solemn Cattle
8. Nothing Left To Say
9. See The Lights Again
10. Dreams
11. On Top Of The Mountain

Originally issued on A&M Records in 1975, 'Diamonds & Rust' marked a change in direction for Baez; it gave her songs of the heart and politics an unashamedly commercial veneer, returning her to the US Top 20 for the first time in four years.

This reissue, released to mark the album's 50th anniversary, faithfully replicates the original A&M UK release and is pressed on 180g vinyl.

TRACK LISTING

1. Diamonds And Rust
2. Fountain Of Sorrow 
3. Never Dreamed You’d Leave In Summer 
4. Children And All That Jazz
5. Simple Twist Of Fate
6. Blue Sky 
7. Hello In There
8. Jesse
9. Winds Of The Old Days 
10. Dida (Ft. Joni Mitchell)
11. I Dream Of Jeannie/Danny Boy

London experimental spoken word and electronics duo BAG land on Phantom Limb with mesmerising new album 'This House is a Body', marrying visceral poetry with exploratory production to achieve beguiling, occasionally screwy and occasionally dreamy sonics.

“This album functions as a floor plan, a house in itself, collecting and containing the ecosystems of multiple rooms,” write BAG - Canadian artist and poet Jody DeSchutter and London producer Daniel Allison. “The roles we play can be defined by the room we are in; and it can be near impossible to tell what room we are in without looking from outside. This album maps out a number of rooms which hold such relations, memories, or experiences and builds them all into a single house, a single body.”

Formed from Allison’s headspinning, depth-mining production for synthesis, field recording, and acoustic instrumentation, and DeSchutter’s lysergic and prophetic spoken word, the palette of 'This House is a Body' can turn on a dime from claustrophobia and dread to hyperreal dream sequence, illuminated in sunstreamed glory in places and dripping with basement effluvia in others. Throughout, words, meaning, and imagery all dissolve into an architecture of alternately familiar and unknowable sound.

TRACK LISTING

1. Old Becoming New
2. Vessel Diaspora
3. Floor Phlegm Hue
4. Soft Tissue
5. Arriving Through the Front Door
6. Moth Ball
7. Spin
8. Terraforming
9. Lilac Sea
10. 'Oumuamua

Bag People were Chicagoans who outgrew their home in the maelstrom of the early 80s NYC post-punk/ no-wave scene. They weren’t around long, but their compulsive noise-rock sound, unearthed from tapes lost for 40 years, looms large and stands tall next to the efforts of better-known contemporaries like Sonic Youth and Swans. A righteous puke of art-punk from a time of incredible brokenness in the world – in other words, savage sounds for today!

TRACK LISTING

1. Fire God
2. Dead Meat
3. Parade
4. UPS
5. Blessed Ignorance
6. I Got A Leotard
7. Lark's Vomit
8. Instrumental
9. Sweet Roughness Blues
10. Long Way Back
11. What's What
12. Don't Make Me (Live At CBGB 1983)

Kenneth Bager was invited to the cinema by his dear friend, the movie enthusiast & director Peder Pedersen. They watched the classic ‘The Thief’ by Michael Mann starring James Caan in the lead role. The soundtrack was made by the legendary German electronica band Tangerine Dream. The music, a mix of Electronic Avant-Garde, floating, ambient prog-rock made an immense impression on Kenneth. A few days later Kenneth had a visitor, Tolga Böyük from the Turkish band islandman, who was over in Copenhagen from Istanbul. The pair of them watched William Friedkin’s film ‘Sorcerer’ once again Tangerine Dream scoring the soundtrack. After watching the movie, Kenneth and Tolga felt the inspiration to do a soundtrack for a non-existing movie.

They started out by composing five tracks before nightfall. The next day, still excited about yesterday’s movie, the two came up with the album title ‘East of North’ (Tolga being from the east and Kenneth from the north). Together they kept going in the musical direction from the previous day, and managed to produce 10 tracks within 24 hours! They imagined a film through music which told a story about two people stuck on the arctic ice cap. One of them treasonously tries to fool the other. The album cover picture was captured during that session on a cold, windy day near the beach in Hellerup, Denmark. The music on 'East of North' is a tribute to some of history’s most significant electronic film composers: Vangelis, John Carpenter, and Tangerine Dream.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: The endlessly talented K-Bag teams up with Tolga Böyük of Islandman fame for an impeccably conceived and gorgeously minimalistic suite of arps and icy melodies. Reminiscent of classic soundtracks / Seven Waves-era Ciani and obviously Tangerine Dream. I'm more than sure that noisy synth sound is an Arp Odyssey / 2600 too and that's me sold straight away. Really beautiful stuff.

TRACK LISTING

A1. The Meeting
A2. Blood Is Thicker Than Ice
A3. Betrayal (New)
A4. The Hunt Begins
A5. Wounds Of Sorrow
B1. Here To Eternity
B2. Re-arrange Your Face
B3. Love Of My Life
B4. Choices Of Consequences (New)
B5. The End 

New Struktur artists The Baggy Kidz deliver five tracks of meaty electronics. Also includes the "Fiesta Slagz" video.

Sami Baha is a Turkish producer based in South East London. His music was introduced to the world via his 2016 EP 'Mavericks'. Sami got into producing through being a rapper himself, working with local rappers in Turkey and producing beats for them, before setting his sights outside the country. 'Free For All' features MCs from all corners of the globe: UK drill squad 67's Dimzy, Stockholm's Yung Lean and Chicago rapper and singer DJ Nate (aka Flexxbabii). The record also features Egyptian MCs Dawsha and Abanob. Sami's production is refined and elegant, familiar tropes are reassembled in original ways, the instrumentation reflecting his background and influences simultaneously. Everything Sami brings to the album sounds relaxed and minimal, but tough, built from thoughtful arrangements and instruments, shot through with emotion and a dreamy night-time feel. 

TRACK LISTING

LP A:

1/Cash Rain
2/Discreet (ft. Dimzy)
3/Aliens
4/Gambit
5/Thugs (ft. DJ Nate)
6/Free For All
7/NAH

B:

1/When The Sun's Gone (ft. Yung Lean)
2/Path Riot
3/Glory (ft. Kufura)
4/Ahl El M8na (ft. Dawsha & Abanob)
5/Limbo
6/Cold Pursuit

Delivering the second sermon in their Disco Gospel series, Chicago's Sadar Bahar & Marc Davis hand-pick and re-edit two more under-the-radar disco/ gospel fusion tracks for the modern dancefloor.

Up first, Myrna Summers 'So Much to Live For' channels that straight from the heart passion and collective joy that gospel embodies. Bursting with uplifting lyrics, scintillating organ melodies, and an infectious sing-along spirit, Marc and Sadar give it a club-ready DJ edit, extending it for maximum dancefloor deliverance.

The B side sees the duo work their magic on, 'Lifted Me Higher'. Written by Kevin Yancy and taken from the Yancy Family's 1989 album From One Christian Family to Another, it features vocals from siblings Kevin, Judy, and Rev. Darryl Yancy, along with Lois Scott. The all-star team of Chicago musicians includes Sherwin (Butch) Yancy on organ, Michael Wade on piano and synthesizer, and Richard Gibbs (longtime accompanist for Aretha Franklin) on piano and bass. With a soulful boogie flavour, dripping in slap bass and '80s synthlines, Marc and Sadar rework the intro so it rides out on a section of delectable instrumental grooves, before letting the glorious vocals hit home.

Both revered selectors and producers, Marc and Sadar are integral parts of Chicago's underground music scene, sharing the city's spirit with the world. Through his own label, Black Pegasus, and the Chi Talo series, Marc has become an in- demand DJ known for his raw and eclectic sets. He joins forces with good friend, DJ's DJ and Soul In The Hole head Sadar Bahar, whose name regularly tops the bill at some of the finest clubs and festivals around the globe.

Digging deep once again, the pair serve up two certified secret weapons from their renowned collections. Finding that sweet spot that drew out the most uplifting, powerful, and danceable elements of both gospel and disco, they shine a light on two beauties from Myrna Summers and The Yancy Family. Tweaked and re- edited with style and consideration, they re-work the tracks with DJs and dancers in mind.

TRACK LISTING

1. Myrna Summers - So Much To Live For (Sadar Bahar & Marc Davis Edit)
2. The Yancy Family - Lifted Me Higher (Sadar Bahar & Marc Davis Edit)

Think of Tired Hearts, the new album from rising, indie-pop trio BAILEN, as a highly charged electrical field. Opposite charges attract, similar charges repel, and the current is set in motion. On this, their second full-length album for Fantasy, the New York City based siblings, Daniel, David, and Julia Bailen heighten the musical tension, and deliver a dazzling set of songs that incisively navigates the space between the heart’s expectation and the head’s sober reality. A masterful follow-up to BAILEN’s accomplished debut, 2019’s Thrilled To Be Here, Tired Heartsbeats with empathy, vulnerability, and resolve.

Produced by Brad Cook (Bon Iver, Waxahatchee) and recorded at his home studio in Durham, North Carolina, Tired Hearts’ taut, synth-driven tracks are centered around BAILEN’s radiant harmonies and futuristic arrangements furthering the group’s exhilarating avant-pop evolution.

By way of example, the dopamine saturated “Nothing Left To Give,” and the high-wattage New Wave dance track “Call It Like It Is,” seem destined for playlisting greatness. The evocative “These Bones,” a touching parable of reconciliation and the alluring “Love You Blind,” connect with assured simplicity. Meanwhile, the title track’s dramatic sonics skillfully underscore an aching portrait of betrayal, the dreamy folk-ballad “Relic” recalls the best of early-period Bee Gees, and the stunning “BRCA” gracefully unties a complex knot of familial anxiety, guilt, and acceptance.

On Tired Hearts, their exquisite new album, BAILEN learns how to dream in the face of life’s uncertainty and in the process, moves forward aware, resilient, and hopeful.

TRACK LISTING

01. Tired Hearts
02. Nothing Left To Give
03. These Bones
04. Leave Me Wanting More
05. Here We Are Again
06. Call It Like It Is
07. Change Your Mind
08. Love You Blind
09. Relic
10. BRCA (Nothing Takes Me Down)
11. Shadows
12. Hiding 

Black Rainbows is a musical project inspired by the objects and artworks collected by Theaster Gates at the Stoney Island Arts Bank in Chicago. Situated at the Great Grand Crossing neighborhoods of Chicago's South Side, Stoney Island Arts Bank is a cathedral to Black Art, a curated collection of Black archives comprising books, sculpture, records, furniture and problematic objects from America's past. As well as being a site for archive, the Arts bank is also a place for convening. Bailey Rae attended The Black Artists Retreat there in 2017 and performed in the space.

Wide ranging in it's themes, Black Rainbows' subjects are drawn from encounters with objects in the Arts Bank. Taking us from the rock hewn churces of Ethiopia, to the journeys of Black Pioneers Westward, from Miss New York Transit Queen 1957, to how the sunset appears from Harriet Jacobs' loophole.

Black Rainbows explores Black femininity, Spell Work, Inner Space/Outer Space, time collapse and ancestors, the erasure Black childhood and music as a vessel for transcendence.

The project will be released in various iterations - live performances, books, visuals, lectures, exhibitions, and more.

Sonically, the album is a multi-genre mix of the progressive R&B, neo soul sound that will be familiar to fans but it also contains rock, jazz and electronic elements.

The album was produced by S.J. Brown and Corinne Bailey Rae.

TRACK LISTING

1. A Spell, A Prayer
2. Black Rainbows
3. Erasure
4. Earthlings
5. Red Horse
6. New York Transit Queen
7. He Will Follow You With His Eyes
8. Put It Down
9. Peach Velvet Sky
10. Before The Throne Of The Invisible God

Second Circle is very excited to announce ‘In Dream’, the eight-track debut album from Tokyo-born, Berlin-based producer and DJ Courtney Bailey.

Sonically, 'In Dream' unfolds as a rich, lush soundscape, woven together with expansive digital synth pads, Fairlight-esque stabs, and vibrant acid bass lines. At times the EP leans back horizontally to evoke the balearic spirit of Yello ('Burnt Moon'), at other times it leans more upright towards to dancefloor ('In Heaven'), but what remains throughout is a sense of intimacy, gracefully guided by Bailey’s whisper soft spoken vocals and gentle melodic vocal lines.

Building on an initial spark of inspiration that arose when listening to the work of Japanese artist Dream Dolphin aka Noriko Kodera, ‘In Dream' is Bailey’s direct creative response to new feelings, energy and emotions. Time spent in the outdoors, specifically in the natural landscapes of Australia also had a profound influence on the making of the record; opener ‘Kodou’ was directly inspired by a moment in Melbourne watching rainbow-colored parrots in a pink-flowering tree. Similarly, 'Burnt Moon' captures the essence of watching moonlight shimmer on ocean waters. At its core, 'In Dream' embraces a child-like wonder for the beauty of nature, an act which infuses the music with a radiant, luminous sense of positivity.

Capturing the essence of stepping into the unknown and more importantly, doing it with curiosity and optimism, ‘In Dream’ paints a vibrant, multi-colour vision of life, with Bailey inviting us all to immerse ourselves in it’s wonders.

Sleeve art and design by Michael Willis.

TRACK LISTING

Kodou
In Dream
Kokoro No Koe
Burnt Moon
Under The Water
Like A Heaven
Swept Away
New Journey

A dramatic, string-drenched epic, James Ralph Bailey’s Just Me ’N’ You has been a sought-after soul masterpiece for decades. A lush suite of beautiful songs, it was conceived as a concept album; a sophisticated paean to love. Originally released by MAM Records in 1974, Just Me ’N’ You is a breathtaking jazzy soul album. It’s similar in style to Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On - particularly the performances, orchestrations and chord progressions - but dealing with a different universal subject matter.

If What’s Going On was about romance instead of politics, it would sound like this. Fans of Marvin, Leon Ware, Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson and Willie Hutch will love this record. Not as well known - this is definitely an underrated gem - the work of James Ralph Bailey is no less mind-blowing. It’s got to be one of the best soul albums of all time. The original productions were made on a basic home tape machine and enhanced with strings, rhythmic overdubs and a variety of other instrumentation. These are beautiful arrangements of strings and jazzy horns.

Rhythm guitars and bouncy bass serve as the groove foundation, congas provide a Latin feel whilst the vibraphone and harmonica add colour. And then of course there’s JR’s voice. His style recalls Hathaway, with a delivery akin to Marvin at the time. As he scats and sings, accompanying himself in sweet harmonies, there is still a rawness of pain and longing in his voice, the rawness familiar to all deep soul. As an album, Just Me ’N’ You is no mere collection of songs. The tender, smooth tunes flow perfectly together into a fluid, single artistic statement. This is one where it’s hard to pick out any standouts. You may have heard the soaring title track before, maybe on Gilles Peterson’s Digs America compilation. The opening track “After Hours” sounds as fresh now as it ever was and segues beautifully into the majestic “Heaven On Earth”.

Recorded by Hathaway the previous year, Bailey’s original of “Love Love Love” is incredible and arguably the definitive version. The powerful, dreamy, sax-and-harmony-laced “All Strung Out Over You” has echoes of the Chi-Lites, it’s that good. Goosebumps. And we could go on. Mastered by Simon Francis, cut by Pete Norman and pressed at Record Industry, this Be With edition of Just Me ’N’ You sounds every bit as brilliant as it should. A joyous celebration of love, this album is perfect in every way. If you don’t already own a copy then now is the time.

TRACK LISTING

A1 : After Hours (02:57)
A2 : Heaven On Earth (05:09)
A3 : Just Me ’N’ You (05:40)
A4 : She Called Me (04:42)
A5 : Cute As A Button (03:31)

B1 : Love, Love, Love (03:07)
B2 : I’ll Always Be Your Lover (04:11)
B3 : All Strung Out Over You (03:35)
B4 : Not Too Long Ago (04:08)
B5 : Everything I Want I See In You (03:05)

Big Crown Records present "Ekundayo", Liam Bailey’s debut record on the label. This album is a long time in the making, and after listening, clearly worth the wait. It didn’t take a long time to record, but it did take years for all the stars to line up. Bailey, born and raised in Nottingham, England, the son of an English mother and Jamaican father got his early influences from his mom’s record collection. Bob Marley and Dillinger, Stevie Wonder and The Supremes, The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix would eventually shape the singer/songwriter we know today. Fast-forward to 2005, Liam is in London and doing the whatever-gig-you-can-get musician hustle with hopes of landing a record deal. And it was through this time that Liam first teamed up with Leon Michels, musician / producer luminary, and the co-founder of Brooklyn's own Big Crown Records. Liam flew out to New York and those first sessions together produced the now classic tunes “When Will They Learn” and “I’m Gonna Miss You” which still get spins at reggae spots around the globe. That trip helped kick off what was to follow next for Liam: a slew of record releases, label deals, and working with some wildly-notable mainstream producers.


Even a just-famous Amy Winehouse heard one of Liam's apartment-made, lo-fi recordings through a friend and liked what she heard. Regardless of the audio quality, Liam's particular sound shone through—all guitar, warm-rough and genuine soul. She signed him to her label shortly after. But, as the story can go with major labels, they already had an idea of the Liam they wanted to make, promote, and push. With the typical pay-day enticement, Liam did his best to fit into whatever shape they put him to. "'Maybe I can make it work,' that's what you're thinking," Liam remembers, "but, you quickly find out that you can't." While Liam’s career went through a bunch of record industry twists and turns he and Michels stayed in touch and would regularly connect and collaborate. Finally, in 2019, the time was right to do a full-length album together. And this time, it would be free of any restricting major label presumptions and opinions.


"This is the record we always wanted to make," says Michels. Set to release in November 2020, the album is called Ekundayo. And the word's meaning may be all you need to know to get to the essence of this project. It means "sorrow becomes joy" in Yoruba, a language spoken mostly in Western Africa. On the surface, Ekundayo is a weighty Reggae record, full of new and old textured riddims. But listen more in-depth, and you'll find subject matter that's more recognizable from a modern-day R&B record. An example of the former is the first single off the album. Sung to the most beautiful woman at the nightspot, "Champion" is a joyous anthem powered by a silly-thick Juno-bass throb and 808-proof drums. In short, "Champion" is dancehall-ready. But then there's a song like "Don't Blame NY." Moody and sparse with a somber drive, you might have to resist the urge to compare it to a Frank Ocean-ish type vibe. Liam's voice is in a different but fitting element here, showing stripped-back emotion and soulful restraint. Anyone who has lived and tried to thrive in New York won't have a hard time relating to the lyrics but they may join the masses who blame the city, while Liam points the finger at himself and sings praises to The Big Apple.


Credit to Leon's hand, elements of Jamaican production are everywhere, peppered throughout the record. Like the pitch-perfect organ stabs that push through the authentically positive "White Light," or the muted, percussive guitar strums that chug along in the back of "Fight." In the same vein of any fantastic singer/songwriter album, Ekundayo is a reflection of who Liam Bailey is, taking on topics and approaches he never would think of just a few years ago. Some evidence: "Ugly Truth" is about reconnecting with his biological father, a subject he once thought would be too personal to address. The journey from conforming to major labels to this latest record has been a long one for Liam, and a bit of a struggle. But struggle may be the only way we truly grow and evolve. With a new clarity of purpose, sound, and life, Liam has found joy out of those struggles. And it's called Ekundayo.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Ooof! What's this? A new, homegrown and highly inventive hybrid of JA & UK influences; celebrating the cross-pollination of music between the two countries whilst imparting the truly unique identity of the artist onto the listener. Pretty amazing this, no wonder Amy was into it...

TRACK LISTING

A1. Awkward
A2. Champion
A3. White Light
A4. Don’t Blame NY
A5. Cold & Clear
A6. Angel Dust
B1. Fight
B2. Vixit
B3. Ugly Truth
B4. Young In Love
B5. She Hates This Life
B6. Where Do I Start?
B7. Paper Tiger

I Tried Words began with words, mostly words. Moriah Bailey laid the lyrics out on several pages. The words were crafted over many months with feedback from Bailey’s sister and input from the growing melodies and body of music that began to take shape around those words. The contributing musicians, Sarah Reid (violin), Ryan Robinson (percussion), and Ricky Tutaan (guitar), recorded their own parts and sent them to Bailey. The result is lush, intricate arrangements that complement a solid base of harp and vocals.

The album explores dualities: yes/no, future/past, darkness/light, giving/taking, masculinity/femininity, wants/needs. It is in part about Moriah Bailey’s struggle to learn healthy boundaries but also about the harmfulness, complexity, and entanglement of many social boundaries.

With I Tried Words, Bailey relies less on experimental sounds, and instead, lyrically focuses on her struggles to understand and make sense of definitions and expectations of femininity. It explores these themes through an intimate narrative of losing oneself in a relationship and struggling to find a way out of the relationship.

The album ends with a triumphant goodbye and joyous new beginning in “Not Staying”. She sings: “I contorted my body and stretched myself thin to form a bridge between now and when. So, as I'm gathering my strength to say goodbye, please quit saying I should've tried.”

TRACK LISTING

SIDE A:
1. Wishful Thoughts
2. A Late Spring
3. The Downpour
4. So You Say…
SIDE B:
5. The Ocean LIfe
6. My Father’s Words
7. My Mother’s Words
8. Not Staying

Isolated at the rural fringe of Northern California, Bailey’s Nervous Kats took Shasta County by storm in the early ’60s. Combining surf, rock n’ roll, exotica, and R&B, the Kats were a teenage dream draped in Magnatone amplifiers and crisp white polo tees. Their self-titled—and only—LP came at the dead end of the band’s run, issued on Orville Simmons’ one-shot Emma imprint in 1965. The mid-century modern LP of your dreams.

TRACK LISTING

1. Surf Express
2. Cobra
3. First Love
4. Five Fingers Of Scotch
5. Chong
6. Pandora
7. Simba
8. Traveling Sam
9. I Don’t Know
10. Prophecy Of Love
11. Devil’s Run
12. Northwind

Kranky was a bit surprised earlier this year when Jessica Bailiff contacted them and asked they wanted to preview her new album for possible release. They had no idea she had even been working on an album, let alone had completed one, and they were rewarded with a listen to her most compelling album to date.

After being in Europe for 5 weeks as a touring member of Boduf Songs, Jessica Bailiff spent much of 2011, writing and recording At the Down-Turned Jagged Rim of the Sky in her spartan home studio. Sequestering herself through the hot summer months until finished, she then passed the tracks on to her friend Odd Nosdam for final mixing.
*Down-tuned, distorted bass guitar adds a new color to her palette, but familiar ones also come into play: fuzzed and delayed electric guitar, organ, piano, cello, and drums. Noisy pop-tinged love songs nestle slyly in a bed of off-kilter lullabies and dark, metallic waltzes.

No need to recycle descriptives like “lo-fi” or “hushed vocals” - these are spurious words. This is another intimate collection of songs recorded entirely by Jessica at home, in a room next to where she sleeps. If you listen carefully, you might hear her dreaming.

TRACK LISTING

01 Your Ghost Is Not Enough 
02 Take Me To The Sun 
03 Sanguine 
04 If You Say It 
05 Violets & Roses 
06 This Is Real
07 Goodnight 
08 Slowly 
09 Firefly

After her first two highly acclaimed albums recorded with Low, Jessica Bailiff's third album is a massive leap forward. The album has a much more acoustic focus than her previous two, with beautiful ambient interludes, violin, piano, tin whistle, smeary guitars and even sitar.

"Feels Like Home" is Jessica's fourth full length album, and is the most refined example of her musical vision to date. Jessica combines folk acoustic guitar, droning guitar, gossamer vocals and piano filgrees to create a lush, mysterious world. Beautiful stuff!

Bailter Space’s ‘Wammo’ is back in print for the first time since the album’s release 25 years ago.

Formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1987 as Nelsh Bailter Space, the band’s musical family tree touches on some of the nation’s most revered weirdo luminaries - including Flying Nun mainstays like The Skeptics, The Clean and The Gordons.

Bailter Space embraced chaos but celebrated precision, finding melody amid networks of brooding noise and feedback. After relocating to New York City, the band - who by then included Alister Parker, John Halvorsen and Brent McLachlan - arrived on Matador in in time for the US release of ‘Robot World’ (1993).

‘Wammo’ was the trio’s third and final full-length with the label (their fifth album overall). At the time, music scribes were a bit puzzled by the record’s “accessibility.” In retrospect though we can recognize ‘Wammo’ for the perfectly melancholy and drone-laced brain-zap that it is.

TRACK LISTING

Untied
Splat
At Five We Drive
Zapped
Colours
Retro
Glimmer
Voltage
D Thing
Wammo

"Laughing Boy", the second solo album from Matteah Baim, was recorded in Chicago, where it was produced, arranged, and mixed by Baim with engineer Jamie Carter. Expanding on the sounds hinted at with her previous band, Metallic Falcons, and her first solo record, "Death of The Sun", Baim has created her most lush and beautiful recordings yet with "Laughing Boy". Matteah Baim was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1996, at the age of 17, she moved to California to study painting and drawing at the San Francisco Art Institute. After graduating, Baim moved to New York where she met Sierra Casady. In 2005, the duo began to write music together and formed the 'soft metal' Metallic Falcons. Voodoo Eros released their first record, "Desert Doughnuts", in 2006, recorded in Brooklyn, New Mexico, and Chicago, with performances by Antony, Devendra Banhart, Jana Hunter, and Greg Rogove. After the Metallic Falcons disbanded, Baim moved to Los Angeles and began writing and recording material (both at her Venice Beach home and at Chicago's CarterCo studio) for "Death Of The Sun". She spent the next two years touring and writing material for "Laughing Boy", working on music for several films, and exhibiting drawings.

All too often, rare records suck ass. Yeah they're rare, and only wotzizname from wherever the fuck has a copy, but they tend to be average variations of well known jams, with their scarcity merely a novelty.

But then there are records like this, popping up out of nowhere only to blow your musically obsessed mind! From a quick scan of the centre label, you'd be forgiven for thinking this is your standard Chicago acid track, desireable only for the posibility of a few motivational spoken word cuts. When you whack the platter on the player however, you experience something very different indeed. A spiritual journey through cosmic keys and subtle percussion, which vibrates at your very core, enriching your soul with every passing moment.

Frustrated at her students' lack of cultural awareness, Miami-Dade public school teacher Dr Mary Sullivan Bain recorded ‘Do You Know Black History’ in 1985, self releasing it as a single for educational purposes. Original copies didn't make it much much further than Florida’s public school libraries and the record has been shrouded in mystery up until now. Produced with no label constraints, this cross-genre grail sits comfortably in many boxes... 808’s, bass synths, deep chords, live percussion and effects dubbed into the mix. The production leans towards the electronic diy framework that informed the local sound on the Miami south side. The vocal side offers an inspirational account of Black history, full of passion and pain, while the instrumental side strolls through outer space and Ibizan sunset, sounding exactly like the kind of sublime ambient cut you'd find on a battered old Café del Mar. Reissued officially for the first time ever by Backatcha, this is a total one of a kind.

TRACK LISTING

A. Do You Know Black History
B. Do You Know Black History (Instrumental)

California Schemin' is the remarkable true story of how two rappers from Dundee duped the music industry out of hundreds of thousands of pounds. Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd – or Silibil N' Brains, as they became known – were two ordinary Scottish boys who shared an extraordinary dream: to become rap superstars. Creating new identities for themselves, they persuaded the music industry that they were the latest hot young talent from California. Silibil N' Brains then lived out that lie for more than two years, securing an enormous record deal with Sony and being catapulted into the industry high-life, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Madonna and Eminem. But they could never actually deliver and promote the album they were paid so much money to put together.

As soon as they became famous, they would be recognised by anyone who had known them in their former lives in Scotland and the dream would evaporate. As the pressure mounted, there could be disastrous consequences … California Schemin' is a story of incredible highs and terrible lows, of doing whatever it takes to follow your dream.

Beginning his career as a club DJ and disco producer in the early-70s in his native Boston, Arthur Baker moved to New York City in 1981 and in the summer of 1982 produced one of the genre-defining early hip-hop tracks "Planet Rock" by Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force. This began an illustrious career that has seen him work with artists including Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Al Green, Pet Shop Boys, Quincy Jones, New Order, New Edition, Hall & Oates, Neneh Cherry and Damon Albarn. Looking for the Perfect Beat will tell Arthur's unique and inspiring story in his own words and features unheard stories about many of the world's best and most successful musicial figures, which together form a portrait of a man who has been quietly influencing the sound of popular music for over fifty years.

Released in 1956 'Playboys' is a masterpiece by legendary trumpeter Chet Baker and saxophonist Art Pepper.

The album showcases the collaboration between two prominent West Coast jazz musicians and includes other notable players such as pianist Carl Perkins, bassist Curtis Counce, and drummer Lawrence Marable. The album is known for its cool jazz style, characterized by smooth, lyrical improvisations and a relaxed, swinging feel.

Due to potential legal issues with Playboy magazine, the album was reissued in 1961 as "Picture of Heath." This name change also emphasised the contributions of saxophonist and composer Jimmy Heath, who wrote most of the tracks on the album that's a prime example of the West Coast jazz style, which is known for its cool, relaxed sound, contrasting with the more aggressive bebop style of the East Coast.

'Playboys' features intricate arrangements and smooth, lyrical improvisations: tracks like "Picture of Heath" and "For Miles and Miles" highlight the seamless interplay between Baker's trumpet and Pepper's alto saxophone. Critics and jazz enthusiasts have praised the album for its cohesive ensemble work and the individual talents of the musicians.

TRACK LISTING

For Minors Only
Minor-Yours
Resonant Emotions
Tynan Tyme
Picture Of Heath
For Miles And Miles
C.T.A.

Although Chet Baker and Bill Evans were both highly lyrical and introspective players who could have made a fabulous partnership, they only ever recorded together on a couple or so occasions. By the time the recordings here were made, Chet Baker had been a star for less than a decade and this wholly instrumental album presents him accompanied by other great jazz stars with whom he would also rarely play and record with again.

"Chet Baker's penultimate session for Riverside produced an all-star lineup to support him, including jazz heavyweights Pepper Adams, Bill Evans, and Kenny Burrell. Each of them makes important contributions to the session. A good place to hear Baker's special way with the horn is made even more attractive with the presence and contributions of top jazz artists." - ***** Dave Nathan, AllMusic

TRACK LISTING

Alone Together
How High The Moon
It Never Entered My Mind
'tis Autumn
I Talk To The Trees
If You Could See Me Now
September Song
You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
Time On My Hands
You And The Night And The Music 
Thank Heaven For Little Girls

The recordings for the album took place between October 25, 1955, and February 10, 1956, at Studio Pathe-Magellan in Paris and features a mix of cool jazz and bop styles with tracks like "How About You," "Once in a While," and "Alone Together." The ensemble of musicians on this album includes notable names such as Jean- Louis Viale on drums, and Benoit Quersin on bass; the album highlighting Baker's distinctive trumpet tone and his collaboration with talented European musicians: "I Get Chet" is a significant work in his discography and reflect his mastery in the cool jazz and bop genres. The tracks are characterized by its relaxed tempos and lighter tone, and bop, known for its complex rhythms and harmonies, it is praised for its lyrical and cool jazz elements. For this and other reasons and considered a gem from Chet Baker's Paris sessions, showcasing his talent during a pivotal time in his career.

TRACK LISTING

How About You
Once In A While
Chekeetah
Alone Together
Chet
Dinah
Tasty Pudding
Anticipated Blues
V Line
Exitus

Craft Recordings reissue not one but four classic, remastered titles from legendary jazz artist Chet Baker. The albums comprise Baker’s entire output as a leader for the renowned jazz label Riverside - all recorded and released between 1958 and 1959: (Chet Baker Sings) It Could Happen to You, Chet Baker in New York, Chet and Chet Baker Plays the Best of Lerner and Loewe.

The recordings, which feature such icons as Bill Evans, Johnny Griffin and Kenny Burrell, have all been cut from their original analog master tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI.

In 1962, the master trumpeter Chet Baker recorded his beloved sessions at the RCA Studios in Rome, Italy. Backing him was an impressive roster of up-and-coming European jazz musicians, including the saxophonist Bobby Jaspar. The unique chemistry between the sextet is present throughout the album, which features interpretations of standards by Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins. For decades, critics have mentioned the album for its unique classic status which all jazz aficionados should experience.

TRACK LISTING

SIDE A
1. Well You Needn't
2. These Foolish Things
3. Barbados
4. Star Eyes

SIDE B
1. Over The Rainbow
2. Pent Up House
3. Ballata In Forma Di Blues
4. Blues In The Closet

It Could Happen to You follows a formula similar to two other Baker albums, "Chet Baker Sings" (1954) and "Chet Baker Sings and Plays with Bud Shank, Russ Freeman & Strings" (recorded in 1955, released in 1964) in which he sings traditional pop standards in a jazzy fashion Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker, Jr., known for his lyrical and intimate style and for having been among the main exponents of genre known as cool jazz, confirmed in this recording as one of most important musician (and singer) of the jazz.

This release is part of the New Ermitage collection available from January 2024: 18 jazz and soul titles reissued on yellow vinyl with new codes and renewed graphics.

TRACK LISTING

1. Do It The Hard Way
2. I'm Old Fashioned
3. You're Driving Me Crazy
4. It Could Happen To You
5. My Heart Stood Still
6. The More I See You
7. Everything Happens To Me
8. Dancing On The Ceiling
9. How Long Has This Been Going On?
10. Old Devil Moon

Contains new specially prepared liner notes by Penguin Guide to Jazz's writer Brian Morton and by Paris' prestigious Jazz Magazine . Unique cover photograph by renowned American jazz photographer Bob Willoughby (1927-2009).

The complementing talents of Chet Baker (1929-1988) both as a trumpet player and as a singer are now well known. His trumpet and voice are extensions of the same musical personality, and once you have become familiar with both facets of Baker, you expect to hear them both. However, Chet Baker Sings was a revelation at the time and won Baker new fame and a new audience, which was less familiar with jazz than with pop music.

Includes the bonus tracks "Let's Get Lost" and "Just Friends".

TRACK LISTING

That Old Feeling
It's Always You
Like Someone In Love
My Ideal
I've Never Been In Love Before
My Buddy
Let's Get Lost
But Not For Me
Time After Time
I Get Along Without You Very Well
My Funny Valentine
There Will Never Be Another You
The Thrill Is Gone
I Fall In Love Too Easily
Look For The Silver Lining
Just Friends

21st Century troubadour Hak Baker - following his critically acclaimed debut album 'World's End FM' - releases new EP 'Nostalgia Death Act I'. 'Nostalgia Death' is about looking to the future and "succeeding ourselves" rather than "tunneling into hubs shrouded in nostalgia... it’s dangerous, moreish and comfortable." Do old habits really die young?

TRACK LISTING

1. No Control!
2. Nameless
3. Boys X Girls
4. Blender
5. Nostalgia Death
6. Everybody's Dyin’
7. Prometheus (Live)
8. LUVLY
9. Poems

The debut album from London's finest, Hak Baker - 'Worlds End FM' represents the war in Hak's mind, the culture war on the streets of London and the individual battles of his community - from his mother to his brother to his best friends. In a year that will see Hak perform alongside Pete Doherty at The Royal Albert Hall, Jamie T at Finsbury Park & his own headline UK & Germany tours, the campaign has already garnered support from Rolling Stone, NME, Clara Amfo, Steve Lamacq, Jamz Supernova & partnerships with Dr Martens, Fred Perry, Fender, FIFA & Hugo Boss to name a few. Previous highlights include performing on Later with Jools, Glastonbury 2022 (Other Stage), the first artist ever to play at the BBC's new Eastbank site, selling out two Village Underground shows & been championed by the likes of Clara Amfo, Jack Saunders, Sian Eleri, Tom Ravenscroft, Jo Whiley, Huw Stephens & Charlie Sloth.

TRACK LISTING

1. World’s End FM
2. DOOLALLY
3. Windrush Baby
4. Collateral Cause
5. Bricks In The Wall
6. Full On
7. Babylon Must Fall (MC Grindah Skit)
8. I Don't Know
9. Run
10. Telephones 4 Eyes
11. Watford’s Burning (Connie Constance Skit)
12. Brotherhood
13. Luv U Bro (Big Zees Skit)
14. Dying To Live
15. Almost Lost London
16. The End Of The World 

After dropping hints for months and following the release of their first single 'Sugar in the Tank', Julien Baker & TORRES are releasing their debut album 'Send a Prayer My Way'. The album has been in the works since the two played their first show together in 2016 and at the end one singer turned to the other and said, “You know, we should make a country album.” This is the origin story, the stuff of legend in the world of country music, and the beginning of a collaboration between two artists already admired for their spare, elegant lyrics as well as the courage to share their struggles with those who love their music. It’s also the beginning of creating a work that, like the most enduring country albums, sustains and inspires, reminding both singer and listener that not one of us is ever totally alone in this world, that music is a steady companion.

Julien Baker & TORRES’ 'Send A Prayer My Way' was written and sung in the best of the outlaw tradition - defiant, subversive, working class, and determined to wrestle not only with addiction, regret and bad decisions, but also with oppressive systems of power. Mercifully, this is only the beginning of the stories TORRES and Baker are determined to tell. Because these are also songs about radical empathy and second chances, and third chances, and while there’s plenty of struggle and regret in here, there’s also humour and defiance.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: A hugely evocative country album from two of the biggest stars in the very much in-vogue pseudo-country indie revival that hasn't let up in the past decade. 'Send A Prayer My Way' includes all of the clever melodic turns and well-written pieces we'd expect from Baker or Torres, but pointed at a contemplative, updated version of classic Americana.

TRACK LISTING

1. Dirt
2. The Only Marble I’ve Got Left
3. Sugar In The Tank
4. Bottom Of A Bottle
5. Downhill Both Ways
6. No Desert Flower
7. Tape Runs Out
8. Off The Wagon
9. Tuesday
10. Showdown
11. Sylvia
12. Goodbye Baby

Little Oblivions is the third studio album by Julien Baker. Recorded in Memphis, TN, the record weaves together unflinching autobiography with assimilated experience and hard-won observations from the past few years, taking Baker’s capacity for storytelling to new heights. It also marks a sonic shift, with the songwriter’s intimate piano and guitar arrangements newly enriched by bass, drums, keyboards, banjo, and mandolin with nearly all of the instruments performed by Baker.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Julien Baker returns for another beautifully rich set of crescentic rock, coloured with an unmistakeable country hue. It's a delicate balance and is accomplished here with a beautiful warmth and comforting melodicism. Another wonderful journey, full of emotional duality and songwriting genius from Baker.

TRACK LISTING

1. Hardline
2. Heatwave
3. Faith Healer
4. Relative Fiction
5. Crying Wolf
6. Bloodshot
7. Ringside
8. Favor
9. Song In E
10. Repeat
11. Highlight Reel
12. Ziptie