In Welcome to the club, Manchester legend DJ Paulette shares the highs, lows and lessons of a thirty-year music career, with help from some famous friends. One of the Haçienda’s first female DJs, Paulette has scaled the heights of the music industry, playing to crowds of thousands all around the world, and descended to the lows of being unceremoniously benched by COVID-19, with no chance of furlough and little support from the government. Here she tells her story, offering a remarkable view of the music industry from a Black woman’s perspective.

Behind the core values of peace, love, unity and respect, dance music is a world of exclusion, misogyny, racism and classism. But, as Paulette reveals, it is also a space bursting at the seams with powerful women. Part personal account, part call to arms, Welcome to the club exposes the exclusivity of the music industry while seeking to do justice to the often invisible women who keep the beat going.

2019 marks thirty-five years that DJ PIERRE has been DJing and creating acid house music.This seven-part series of 35 remixes of acid track by Phuture is a celebration of the first monumental record for DJ Pierre and the spark for a new genre and movement in dance music history. “35 - 004” will be the fourth volume in this series and will feature 5 remixes from Paul Johnson, Marko Nastic, Zombie Nation, Shinedoe, and N.U.D.E.

In 1987 the first acid house record, “Acid Track”, was released by the Chicago group Phuture—DJ Pierre, DJ Spank-Spank and Herb J. It was DJ Pierre who thought to play and twist the knobs on the Roland TB-303 in such a way that it created an entirely new (and at that time, totally bizarre) instrumental sound often described as “squelchy”, trippy, psychedelic, futuristic, and out of this world. Spanky laid the beats and together “Acid Track” was born.

The legendary Ron Hardy, a resident DJ at the Music Box in Chicago, gave this strange track a listen and played it not once but four times on the dance floor until it created a frenzy.

News of the Acid “squelches” quickly spread around Chicago and then across the Atlantic, inspiring the next wave of pioneering acid artists in the UK to create their own. From here the Acid House movement began, known as the Second Summer of Love (1988). It was this movement that spread across Europe and the world, becoming the rave and festival scene we know today. Thank you DJ Pierre for your legendary contribution and innovative spark to dance music. This world would not be the same without “Acid Track” and acid house. Here’s looking forward to another thirty-five years.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Acid Track (Paul Johnson's Jack Nation Remix)
A2. Acid Track (Marko Nastic Remix )
B1. Acid Track (Shinedoe Remix)
B2. Acid Track (Zombie Nation Remix)
B3. Acid Track (N.U.D.E Remix)

Third release on the Scottish-based Headset label and the first for DJ Posture who invites us into a world of deep dubby textures, jarring house beats and UK-engineered bass weight. It's a subliminal and heady mix comprising of swirling atmospheres, ricocheting rhythms and pleasantly rumbling subs (plus the odd muted saxophone flurry!). Fans of Madteo, Trilogy Tapes and Workshop are gonna find plenty get lost amongst the smokes and strobes on this warehouse-friendly release. 

Intriguing stuff that reveals more on multiple listens, its refreshing to see producers move away from the instagram-friendly breakdown-drop formular and into more blurred, hypnotic and less instantly-gratifying territories. Perfect for sending listeners tumbling down the rabbit hole in the darkest recesses of the club come 4AM... 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Moody, shadow-lurking house and breakbeat stylings that aren't afraid to shy away from the limelight and soundtrack the loose and freeform ends of an evening.

TRACK LISTING

Side 1
1. Itches (9:02)
2. Luna (6:26)
Side 2
1. Nashi (5:08)
2. Ghosting (5:53)

Scene Unseen return with their second release, following the debut release from Jinjé and this time we see a release from a pioneer in the Chilean electronic music and hip-hop scenes, DJ Raff. Recommended for fans of Nick Leon, Dengue Dengue Dengue, Nicola Cruz and Tra Tra Trax.

Raff’s routes were originally in the hip-hop scene back in his native, Chile. His influence of this scene cannot be understated, as his name appeared in the credits of over 50 hip-hop releases coming out of the country. Most notably with Anna Tijoux and Makiza, as well as seeing his own track "Latino & Proud" used in the EA Sports game, FIFA 2012 and then later as the theme music for the Comedy Central show, Broad City. As time moved on, so did Raff’s sound and he started to move into more of an instrumental focus, moving away from any vocals and the hip-hop rhythms. Since then he has released on Mutante Discos, Nacional Records, Wonderwheel Recordings and his own Pirotecnia label, among others. As well as remixing for the mighty Dengue Dengue Dengue, Landikhan and more.

Raff’s new EP for Scene Unseen, “Estado Líquido”, is an EP of true beauty once again, showcasing four tracks that combine his signature Latin American vibes with his hip-hop influences.

The title track opens the EP with the calm samples and inspiration from the sound of the ocean, an emotive nod to the people attempting to travel from Africa to Europe over the years and the struggles they have faced.

“Basta” translates to ‘Enough’ in Spanish. This track is inspired by the large-scale protests in Chile back in 2019 and lasting until March 2020. An electronic hip-hop beat alongside a constant synth arpeggio that was something more common to his early productions. “Casualidad” is a reference to a more personal stage of Raff’s life, with soft, bright, and uplifting melodies flowing between more fine percussive works.

Final track, “Ceremonia”, combines percussive African rhythms with melancholic synth leads and pads, alongside a deep solid bass line and repetitive chants. The repetitive chants and percussions hold together the opposite worlds of happy festive rhythms and nostalgic melodies, taking the song to a place where both feelings combine in harmony.

Artwork is made by DMNC (Francisco Meneses) a designer, art director and VJ from Santiago de Chile. Previous work is linked to 3D animation and he actively collaborates with various electronic music projects across Latin America.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Beguiling beats and exotic textures decorate this splendidly inventive EP from Chilean producer DJ Raff.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Estado Liquido
A2. Basta!
B1. Casualidad
B2. Ceremonia

Honest Jon's Shangaan mash-ups keep flowing, this time rubbing the energised South African electro dancefloor grooves up against the equally hyper footwork sound from Chicago, USA. This 12" offers two absolutely lethal, footwork reworks from these three originators - body-rocking, invigorating and startling, hybrid without compromise. DJ Rashad And Spinn's A-side is route-one dancefloor murder, honed and nasty, vintage Chicago sounds reborn and gone clear across the border; on the flip RP Boo serves up a fiercely dazzling juke vocal collage, bare and hard as nails.

10 year anniversary release 'Double Cup' of the seminal debut studio album from the late footwork pioneer DJ Rashad.

Released originally in 2013, it ended up on year-end lists from Pitchfork, The Guardian, Dazed, Resident Advisor, Crack Magazine, The Wire and Complex, as well as decade lists from Pitchfork, Noisey and SPIN. Rolling Stone described it as "somehow both weightless and brutally powerful" while Pitchfork said it as "unquestionably the strongest footwork-related LP" and NME said it was "unprecedented".

TRACK LISTING

1. Feelin (feat. DJ Spinn & Taso)
2. Show U How (feat. DJ Spinn)
3. Pass That Shit (feat. DJ Spinn & Taso)
4. She A Go (feat. DJ Spinn & Taso)
5. Only One (feat. DJ Spinn & Taso)
6. Everyday Of My Life (feat. DJ Phil)
7. I Don't Give A Fuck
8. Double Cup (feat. DJ Spinn)
9. Drank, Kush, Barz (feat. DJ Spinn)
10. Reggie
11. Acid Bit (feat. Addison Groove)
12. Leavin (feat. DJ Manny)
13. Let U No (feat. DJ Spinn)
14. I'm Too Hi (feat. DJ Earl)

Former DMC champion and local superstar DJ Rasp delivers his first instrumental single. Side A kicks off with the title track 'Cycles Of Hope', a downtempo / lo-fi hip-hop cut with a healthy dose of turntable trickery. 'My Heart Bleeds' is an experimental fusion of electronic sounds, eerie samples, heavy drum breaks & turntablism. Meanwhile the B side features 7 skipless scratch sentences with both classic scratch sounds & original phrases of samples and beats designed for you to cut it up and get creative! Nice to see a bit of classic turntablism getting some attention again. Play alongside this week's "The SP Chronicles" and you've got yourself at least half a mixtape on the go! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Deft, uncluttered instrumental hip-hop decorated with skilled turntablism throughout. It's nice to see a return to this style that used to be commonplace in the days of Fat City and Grand Central.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Cycles Of Hope
A2. My Heart Bleeds
B. Scratch Sentences 

Just What The World Needs returns to their own self-titled label with a 14th outing of fiery disco heat. This is potent music that melds together jazz, funk and soul with a lashing of synth goodness. The opener is a real driver with emotive gospel vocals and mad jazz keys and the flip side comes on strong with jazz say leading the way beneath vaping chords and funky, smooth drums. Last of all is a supercharged leftfield bomb with explosive cosmic synths and the sort of energy that stands out in any set.

STAFF COMMENTS

Mine says: Driving disco with that Theo flair; acidic proto-house with a cinematic twist; and summery clarinet-guided jazz-funk. DJ Righteous certainly keeps us on our toes across three fresh edits.

TRACK LISTING

Track 1
Track 2
Track 3

DJ Rocca and Lex combine a trio of fresh house cuts that blend elements of disco, Latin and soul. Up first is the glorious 'Solid Street' which has loose and percussive disco-house grooves overlaid with big synth energy and steamy vocals. 'Solar System' is slower and deeper, with a more rugged bassline and low slung sense of funk that never lets up. 'Last of all, 'Rose Tree' is a ramshackle house arrangement with whistles, Rhodes keys, tin-pot percussion, florid flutes and plenty of sunny energy all making it a real standout. A timeless EP packed with musicality.

TRACK LISTING

Solid Street
Solar System
Rose Tree

If much of DJ Seinfeld’s previous work was characterised by a sepia-tinged haze, a result of the producer’s deliberately lo-fi production techniques, then brand new album ‘Mirrors’ sees his music come firmly into focus.

“On this album I wanted to retain a lot of the raw emotionality that brought people to my music in the first place,” says Armand Jakobsson, better known as DJ Seinfeld. “But I also wanted to become a much better producer. It’s been an arduous process but it’s a real statement of where I’m at as a producer and person right now. I’ve been through various sonic explorations in the past few years but have come to understand what people like about my music and how to move forward with it.”

Recorded between Berlin and Malmo, ‘Mirrors’ is the follow-up to Seinfeld’s critically acclaimed 2017 debut album ‘Time Spent Away From U’ and his first for Ninja Tune. Named after a quote by Armand’s favourite writer, Argentinean novelist Julio Cortázar, the album finds the producer in a more settled and grounded mood after an unfortunate family incident forced the producer to spend more time at home in his native Sweden over the past few years.

Citing late night sessions learning how to produce on his laptop while at university in Edinburgh and ‘pretending to be Burial’ as key turning points in his journey, Seinfeld has now produced an album with all the emotional depth and musical dexterity of those electronic luminaries. ‘Mirrors’ touches on everything from UK Garage to down-tempo house to ambient to breaks and is an at times tender, at times euphoric sonic journey with a producer slowly realising his full potential.

TRACK LISTING

1. She Loves Me
2. Walking With Ur Smile
3. U Already Know
4. The Right Place (feat. Teira)
5. Home Calling
6. These Things Will Come To Be
7. Tell Me One More Time
8. Someday
9. I Feel Better
10. Song For The Lonely

Action Adventure is DJ Shadow's seventh solo LP, an inward-looking project, made for Shadow alone without any collaborators. DJ Shadow explains, “This album is about my relationship to music. My life as a collector and curator. All my records and tapes.”

“Ozone Scraper” is the lead single of the album campaign. It represents the feeling of transportation, of jet engines lifting the passenger somewhere impossible. It's one of DJ Shadow's favorites on the album, as it's an invitation to strap in and also sets the table for the kind of deep listening Shadow loves.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: It's DJ Shadow! You know you're getting a perfectly produced mix of cut-up hip-hop beats and funky electronica business. It's obviously brilliant, and sounds more like Entroducing than anyone else could muster to this day. Classic Shadow.

As the first-ever album composed entirely of sampled material, "Endtroducing" is a landmark in the history of electronic music.

its influence reverberates through the years, inspiring countless artists and solidifying DJ Shadow's place as a visionary in the realm of sample-based production. Each track tells a unique story, from the hypnotic groove of "Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt" to the cinematic atmosphere of "Midnight In A Perfect World." Shadow's meticulous craftsmanship shines through, showcasing his unparalleled skill in constructing beats that resonate with both intensity and emotion.

TRACK LISTING

Best Foot Forward
Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt
The Number Song
A - Changeling
B - Transmission
What Does Your Soul Look Like , Pt. 4
Stem / Long Stem
A - Transmission 2
B - Mutual Slump
Organ Donor
Why Hip-hop Sucks In '96
Midnight In A Perfect World
Napalm Brain / Scatter Brain - Medley
A - What Does Your Soul Look Like Pt. 1 / Blue Sky Revisit
B - Transmission 3

Having already gained an underground following with his US releases on Hollywood Basic, his own Solesides label and via the ultra-hip Mo' Wax imprint, the arrival of the 1995 recorded (hence the tenth anniversary deluxe edition reissue) and 1996 released "Endtroducing..." saw DJ Shadow gain plaudits across the globe. With his crate diggers magpie-like sample finding ability, Shadow took hip hop's blueprint of building breaks from old records to another level, creating an often psychedelic, tripped-out, but still funky selection of instrumental tracks that totally reinvigorated the 'trip hop' scene and inspired many artists who followed. Our (and so many others') record of the year for 1996, "Endtroducing..." still sounds as fresh as ever in 2005!

The unassailable DJ Shadow finally returns to our humble shelves with an ambitious and exceptional double album, "Our Pathetic Age", once again on Mass Appeal. "Our Pathetic Age" is the result of an intensely creative period that found the hip-hop and electronic innovator delving further into original composition and experimentation. The first half of Our Pathetic Age features 11 new instrumental works that balance some of Shadow’s most menacing sounds with beams of hope, including his first fully composed orchestral piece. Mindblowing swathes of synth heft surge to trap percussion, sci fi sequences and distorted jukes, or else jazzy syncopation carries nebulous melodies into the upper atmosphere.
The second half of Our Pathetic Age is a full album of vocal collaborations, ranging from Run The Jewels, Nas and Dave East to Sam Herring, Paul Banks and Wiki, Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah and Raekwon. Shadow notably reunites with his early Solesides collaborators Lateef The Truthseeker and Gift of Gab (Blackalicious). It also features St. Louis MCs Rockwell Knuckles and Tef Poe, fellow Bay Area musicians Fantastic Negrito and Jumbo is Dr.ama, and Brookyln MC Stro. Full track list with collaborators is below.

"More than anything, I try to get a sense of the mood of society as a whole. The subtle signals that humans send each other, the way people behave, their frustrations and ebbs and flows. In my part of the world, people are scared. There's rampant homelessness, and a real fear of falling into generational poverty. People are addicted to, and addled by distraction; they're angry and confused, and disaffected by their own governmental institutions. There's songs on the record that are inspired by this energy and seek to harness it, to make sense of it. In some cases, there's attempts to salve the wound; in others, the songs merely observe but don't offer solutions. I want the album to reflect the times we live in, a signpost in the ground to mark the era...Our Pathetic Age." - DJ Shadow.

The album was produced by DJ Shadow, and the album art was created by Paul Insect, who also designed Shadow’s The Mountain Will Fall and Outsider covers.

TRACK LISTING

Vinyl Tracklisting:
Side A
1. Nature Always Wins
2. Slingblade
3. Intersectionality
4. Beauty, Power Motion, Life Work Chaos, Law
5. Juggernaut
Side B
1. Firestorm
2. Weightless
3. Rosie
4. If I Die Today
5. My Lonely Room
Side C
1. Drone Warfare (feat. Nas, Pharaohe Monch)
2. Rain On Snow (feat. Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon)
3. Rocket Fuel (feat. De La Soul)
4. C.O.N.F.O.R.M. (feat. Gift Of Gab, Lateef The Truth Speaker, Infamous Taz)
5. Small Colleges / Stay With Me (feat. Wiki, Paul Banks)
6. JoJo’s Words (feat. Stro)
Side D
1. Kings & Queens (feat. Run The Jewels)
2. Taxin’ (feat. Dave East)
3. Dark Side Of The Heart (feat. Fantastic Negrito, Jumbo Is Dr.ama)
4. I Am Not A Robot (Interlude)
5. Urgent, Important, Please Read (feat. Rockwell Knuckles. Tef Poe, Daemon)
6. Our Pathetic Age (feat. Sam Herring)

CD Tracklisting:
Disc 1
1. Nature Always Wins
2. Slingblade
3. Intersectionality
4. Beauty, Power Motion, Life Work Chaos, Law
5. Juggernaut
6. Firestorm
7. Weightless
8. Rosie
9. If I Die Today
10. My Lonely Room
11. WE Are Always Alone

Disc 2
1. Drone Warfare (feat. Nas, Pharaohe Monch)
2. Rain On Snow (feat. Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon)
3. Rocket Fuel (feat. De La Soul)
4. C.O.N.F.O.R.M. (feat. Gift Of Gab, Lateef The Truth Speaker, Infamous Taz)
5. Small Colleges / Stay With Me (feat. Wiki, Paul Banks)
6. JoJo’s Words (feat. Stro)
7. Kings & Queens (feat. Run The Jewels)
8. Taxin’ (feat. Dave East)
9. Dark Side Of The Heart (feat. Fantastic Negrito, Jumbo Is Dr.ama)
10. I Am Not A Robot (Interlude)
11. Urgent, Important, Please Read (feat. Rockwell Knuckles. Tef Poe, Daemon)
12. Our Pathetic Age (feat. Sam Herring) 

Called "The Outsider" beccause he has never fitted into any particular clique, DJ Shadow's new album is eclectic as ever. There's songs with samples and songs with no samples. There's very dark stuff and very light stuff. Fast and slow. Simple and complicated. Vocal and instrumental. Hip hop, blues, crunk, soul, hardcore punk, psyche, breaks - it's all here, making for another satisfying stew of sounds. Guest vocalists include Kasabian's Sergio Pizzorno & Christopher Karloff, Q-Tip & Lateef The Truth Speaker, The Heliocentrics (Malcolm Catto and pals), Chris James (Stateless), David Banner, Christina Carter (Charalambides), Phonte Coleman (Little Brother) and many more.

Six years after his groundbreaking debut LP "Entroducing", Josh Davis (AKA DJ Shadow) is back with the follow up. This is everything you want from a DJ Shadow LP - crazy B-boy breaks cut ups, sublime hip hop instrumentals, oddball samples, quirky downbeat and leftfield rock weirdness. This is a totally epic LP.

House music legend DJ Sneak drops a 12" on Heist. A veteran of many years in the house game (becoming famous around the mid-90s due to a few pioneering releases on Cajual and Henry St. Music), DJ Sneak seems to have been a constant through the development of the genre. 

The aptly titled “Back To Love” the EP starts off with one of Sneak’s most intimate productions to date: “Love Can Make It Happen”. Built around an ever-evolving vocal loop and dreamy strings, this track is deeper than deep with the percussion matching that meditative energy, with the grunt only Sneak can bring.

“Going Back To It” had Chi-town flavour at its core. Moody chords, some vocal chops, a badass bass line and solid percussion is often all you need, perfectly demonstrated here. With "Full Cycle" on the flip, we see Sneak revisit those relentless concentric grooves that became his trademark. Reminding us a little of Carl Craig's Paperclip People project, where the bluntness of a live recorded on/off arrangement really adds something special to a track.

The EP ends with “Pockets”, a house jam with classic 90s vocals and energetic snare drums to add that classic New York touch to proceedings.

Effortlessly mixing both the house legacy of yesteryear with modern, fresh sounds yet miraculously sounding incredibly natural and unforced in the process, Sneak has unleashed an EP that long term fans are gonna eat up, whilst more than satiating today's modern house kids. Expert stuff from the master! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Sneak's been busy of late, this one of three different releases, on different labels, in quick succession. A true veteran of house music, he's lost none of his individuality and charisma over the years; as this release for Heist clearly demonstrates.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Love Can Make It Happen
A2. Going Back To It
B1. Full Cycle
B2. Pockets

Frosted has pulled off a big one here as they snap up the one and only Chicago house gangster, long-time vinyl advocate and BBQ king, DJ Sneak. His debut on the label goes big, as the man often does, with 'Beat Generation' showcasing his mastery of drum loops and smart filters. It's unrelenting and funky in its own low-key way then a Horns mix brings some extra fun. 'Fair & Square' has an old school feel with sweet little guitar riffs stitched into the arrangement next to yelping vocal as the dusty drums roll on. 'Mother Of Funk' has a deeper feel and will lock you into its warming embrace.

TRACK LISTING

Beat Generation
Beat Generation (Horns Mix)
Fair & Square
Mother Of Funk

DJ Sneak started releasing music around 30 years ago, whilst Hard Times was also knocking out records at the same time from the likes of Masters At Work, Todd Terry and Roger Sanchez. Sneak has played for the legendary club night many times, but this is his first outing on the label. Sneak delivers 4 peak time classic cuts reminiscent of his early work, which fits in perfectly with the equally longstanding Hard Times label. Wild and wriggly house music and it's best! Don't sleep...

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Second-wave Chicago house legend DJ Sneak returns with TWO new twelves this week, one on Kaoz Theory and this one, on Hard Times. He ain't changed the formula, just refined it over time, meaning these four tracks are as seductively grooving as some of his finest tracks. Concentric house music at its best. Check!

TRACK LISTING

A1. You're Mine
A2. This One
B1. Body Slangin'
B2. Deep Undercover 

New from the Doo Crew (Montreal) and I have to say, "Fan Needed" has got me giddy with excitement! Built around an insatiably seductive hook, the concentric bass groove is punctuated by varying brass stabs and supplemented with squiggly mainframe tweaks. It's one of those late night burners that could go on forever! A seriously intoxicating track that'll get plenty of dancefloor milage as the last of the summer parties roll on.

"No Fan Needed" on the flip is equally infectious. A more dubbed-out ride with buoyancy and propulsion in equal measure - its stripped back more powerfully grooving arrangement suited to after hours carry-ons or outdoor expansive sunrise sessions.

Highly, highly recommended! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Tune of the week for me! That slamming, nagging, technoid banger "Fan Needed" is the blast of fresh air I needed. "No Fan Needed" on the flip is a nice, heads-down dubber too.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Fan Needed
B1. No Fan Needed

Chicago footwork legend and co-founder of the Teklife producers crew (alongside his musical collaborator DJ Rashad), DJ Spinn makes his long awaited return to Hyperdub with ‘Da Life’ EP, and we couldn’t be happier to have him back. Featuring four brand new offerings, ‘Da Life’ EP is energetic, fast paced and classic footwork. First up is the high energy ‘Knock A Patch Out’, a frantic and cascading key melody contained in crisp claps, with Spinn’s vocal flowing in half way through the track. Next up is ‘Make Her Hot’, which starts out in half time blossoming into a full blown footwork slow jam. ‘Sky Way’, featuring Teklife member DJ Manny, has a moody G Funk melody that starts slowly in half time, with rolling snares and organic kicks. Closing track ‘U Ain’t Really Bout Dat Life’ is an ode to Teklife. Icey synths rise and shimmer with an auto tuned vocal from Spinn spelling out ''T-E-K-L-I-F-E”. Alongside Rashad, Spinn united the footwork genre's producers and took it global. 'Da Life' represents his re-entry back into the scene, four years after 2015's 'Off That Loud' EP, and he’s coming back as strong as ever. 

TRACK LISTING

A1. Knock A Patch Out
A2. Knock A Patch Out (Clean)
B1. Sky Way Ft DJ Manny
B2. Make Her Hot
B3. U Ain’t Really Bout Dat Life

Back in 1995 while living on the West Coast and at the peak of 'Rave mania', DJ Spun and Dhyan Moller recorded a bunch of live tracks, without any sequencer, all direct to cassettes.

The project came alive after Spun, aka Jason Drummond, reached out to Jerome at Still Music after rediscovering a bunch of tracks previously unreleased and all on cassette. Proceeding a successful and meticulous transferring session, Jerome's now preseted the creme of the crop across a lavish triple vinyl release.

The sounds on offer are moody, dark, tracky pieces of acid house voodoo. The kinda shit you'd catch big Ron jamming on two copies with for hours on end, there's a decidedly 'shermy' feel to most of the tracks coated in a thick, noxious, nightclub patina.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Usually, when you get a load of archive tapes or DATS the fidelity and quality of the recordings is pretty low - not so here! With a truly high calibre of content and most, if not all, sounding as crisp, phat and detailed as required, this is a bewilderingly good set to behold! Big ups to all involved - acid heads u need dis!

TRACK LISTING

A1. DJ Spun Acid Experience
A2. UR Wild & Crazy
B1. Not On Acid With Courtney
B2. Grace
C1. ACID707
D1. Hazard!
D2. One
E1. The Other Space Ship
E2. I Can't Get No Satisfaction
F1. Loan Me Your Spaceship Man
F2. JDM A Newer One

Kerri Chandler’s Kaoz Theory welcomes the return of Dj Steaw in January 2024 with his ‘Get Back To The Fonk’ EP.

Parisian House stalwart Dj Steaw has grown to become a widely respected figure in the field of raw, underground, classic House over the past decade, racking up releases on many leading imprints of the genre such as Hot Haus, Meta, Local Talk, Step and Phonogramme as well as his own Steaward, Rutilance and House Puff. Here though he returns to Kaoz Theory following the success of his ‘Colour Of Mind’ EP in 2022.

Title-cut ‘Get Back To The Fonk’ opens and sees Dj Steaw lay down a jazzy keys and stab sequences, a bouncy bass line and heavily swung drums alongside an amalgamation of spoken word vocals and chants. ‘Don’t Stop’ follows next and shift focus into deeper realms with warm, fluttering chords, swaying subs and airy strings running atop of a robust rhythm. ‘In My Body’s House’ is up next to open the B-side, embracing a true House feel this time through the use of organic piano melodies, sax licks and organ lines intertwined with a bumpy bass hook and dubbed out vocal effects. ‘Grey Matter’ then concludes the original material, focusing on multilayered dreamy keys, resonant flutters and skippy percussion.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: DJ Steaw knows what Kerri Chandler likes - swinging those elbows like a podium star with nods to the Church of House music. Perfectly epitomizes across these four tracks. It's definitely got that Kaoz spirit coursing through its grooves.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Get Back To The Fonk
A2. Don’t Stop
B1. In My Body’s House
B2. Grey Matter

Underground hero and label boss DJ Steaw makes his Nu Groove debut with ‘Seascape EP’, a four-track odyssey of deep, soulful house. With over 12 years of experience, the revered DJ and producer is known for his arresting sets appearing on famed stages including Berlin's Tresor, London's fabric, Amsterdam's Shelter and all over his home nation of France. As an electronic tastemaker spanning multiple genres and influences, DJ Steaw has launched House Puff Records, Steaward and Rutilance Records, the latter of which he co-founded with crate digger Gunnter. Having already received support from tastemaker Chris Stussy, this four-track package is a perfect fit for the cult NYC label. Opening with the powerful stabs of ‘Take It There’, ‘Seascape EP’ explores the producer’s signature, bass-heavy sound as well as the myriad of influences from further afield. The title track ‘Seascape’ contrasts breathy pads with bright, dynamic percussion, as ‘Close To You’ and ‘Exotica’ further demonstrate a recognisable, nostalgic aesthetic that is both club-ready and dreamlike in quality.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Take It There
A2. Seascape
B1. Close To U
B2. Exotica

After his first two one-off singles "Black Pegasus" and "Day Without You" introduced DJ Swagger's massive songwriting abilities and love for recording instruments, his first album on Kommerz Records, "Chemistry Forever", showcases his background in UK-leaning electronic music as well as new tendencies towards neo soul, indie pop and jazz.

The 25-year-old from West Germany's Bielefeld is pretty much the archetype of a so-called wunderkid. At his young age the producer, DJ, multi instrumentalist and songwriter released more than 40 vinyl records including two solo albums and endless rave tracks since turning 16. As of most recently and even though coming from an electronic music background DJ Swagger's creative agenda ventured more and more into classic songwriting and taking over the role of lead vocalist of his one-man-band. His third solo album "Chemistry Forever" showcases this transformation from UK-influenced electronica towards neo soul and indie without losing its listeners at any point. 

From electro, 2 step and breakbeat over hip-hop, indie and R&B to a final bebop (!) madness - "Chemistry Forever" is a trip for music lovers while each and every song has heavy potential to be listened to on repeat. Besides his own vocal performances DJ Swagger also invited rappers TripSixVivo (London), Vitus04 (Bielefeld), Kaba (Paris) and poet Dainell Aiken (NYC) for mesmerizing guest perfomances. Additional production work came from Hamburg dance producer Speckman and jazz outfit Jonas Gersema Trio.

TRACK LISTING

1. Yo Swagger
2. Munchies
3. Off The Dime
4. Beep Me
5. But The World Won't Break Me (ft. TripSixVivo)
6. Yawn!!
7. Fat Ketchup (ft. Speckman)
8. Kein Problem (ft. Vitus04 & Kaba)
9. Bottom Line
10. The Techno DJ Superstar Conspiracy (Skit)
11. Poster Man
12. Continuity
13. Speith Keith (ft. Dainell Aiken & Jonas Gersema Trio)
14. Eyo Swagger

A generation younger than the founders of the Teklife crew, DJ Rashad and DJ Spinn, DJ Taye was originally a rapper and beat maker before hooking up with the collective and jumping into the world of footwork production and DJing. However, it was Rashad’s untimely passing in 2014 that was the unlikely catalyst for developing the sounds and ideas for this album. He says, "When Rashad passed away I felt inspired to continue evolving the music that I loved so much coming up in this world. So, I had to do something…make something brand new." 100% committed to pushing further the potential of the footwork template, Still Trippin’ is ambitious in its range and scope.

Taking two years to formulate, the record broadens the possibilities of the sound, forcing it to adapt to songwriting, and also revives Taye’s talent for MCing and producing beats to which he can rap and sing. Furthermore Taye definitely ups the ante with his complex and precise drum programming, never losing sight of footwork’s ability to confound. The album features a range of guests that span contemporary music; the eccentric, instructive rapping of Chuck Inglish of Detroit duo the Cool Kids is featured on ‘Get It Jukin’, Odile Myrtil, a young vocalist from Montreal, lends her smokey soul to ‘Same Sound’, Fabi Reyna, the editor of the celebrated women’s guitar magazine She Shreds, sings and plays bass and rhythm guitar on ‘I Don’t Know’ and Jersey club queen UNIIQU3 offers production and rapping on ‘Gimme Some Mo’.Also, Teklife members DJ PayPal and DJ Manny assist on production, and DJ Lucky is a guest MC on ‘Smokeout’. Taye is ambitious in his hopes for the album; "I took this as an opportunity to not have boundaries with footwork. Different approaches to our ‘underground’ sound to make it broader. It’s only underground until it crosses that visible threshold.” This album brings all of this to the forefront. 

TRACK LISTING

A1. 2094
A2. Trippin’
A3. Need It (ft DJ Manny)
A4. Smokeout (ft DJ Lucky)
A5. Same Sound (ft Odile Myrtil)

B1. 9090
B2. Anotha4 (ft DJ Manny)
B3. Bonfire (ft DJ Paypal)
B4. The Matrixx (ft DJ Manny)

C1. Get It Jukin’ (ft Chuck Inglish)
C2. Pop Drop (ft DJ Paypal)
C3. Gimme Some Mo (ft UNIIQU3)

D1. Truu (ft DJ Paypal)
D2. Closer
D3. I’m Trippin’
D4. I Don’t Know (ft Fabi Reyna)

"The Underdogg" is DJ Tre's debut EP for Hyperdub. He contributed two brilliant tracks to the DJ Rashad tribute set "Next Life", but compared to other long term members of the Teklife footwork crew, he hasn’t released much. Tre has been about since the early days, born and raised on the south side of Chicago. Encouraged by Rashad and his partner DJ Spinn, he has been making tracks since 1999, over a decade before footwork's ascent to global popularity. On this EP his sound, for the most part, is rooted in the speedy 4/4 of juke. It features a sparse and minimalist take on footwork but he's got a knack of adding in tight little switches and details that keep the tracks moving as essential dancefloor weapons. The EP starts with "It’s House Hybrid", which has its musical roots in Chip E's "It's House", one of the very earliest house tracks. It’s a tried and tested dancefloor devastator on dubplate, built on a crackling and hiccuping juke 4/4 which grows in intensity, until a ferocious amen break cracks it open and joins in the onslaught. "A Hammond Jam" matches a moody organ with typical sub rumbles and ghetto-tek drum programming. "Get Dat Ass Up!" bounces against a twitching melody that'salmost purist Detroit techno in its executed, save for the stuttered footwork rhythm that underpins it all. "Tha Rhodez Jam!" micro-edits a delicate Rhodes sample into flickering shapes against switching 8 bar patterns of drums that go from rolling to soca-like pulses with whistles. Essential tools for DJs on the hyperplane.

Tokyo based producer and City-2 St. Giga label owner DJ Trystero arrives on Incienso with his debut LP “Castillo”. Over nine tracks Trystero explores uniquely spontaneous modes of rhythm and sound - turning ambient, breakbeat, electro, techno and house into blurred sonics that expand on their own time.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Ashlar
A2. Oriel
A3. Ludus
B1. Beneath
B2. VALIS
C1. Gutter
C3. Chamber
D1. Exit
D2. Tower

DJ Vadim returns to the Dubcatcher kitchen for another feast of reggae, dancehall and digital bass pressure. A futuristically-leaning interpretation of the JA standards, mixed with the occasional bit of UK flaver, it sees Vadim relocate from London to Barcelona and as such, is more sun-flecked, energetic and party-focused.

As usual, a royal guest list reading like an A-2-Z of global talent: Mr Lexx (Major Lazer), Suku from dancehall legends Ward 21, BAY-C from TOK, Red Fox & studio 1 legend Earl 16 plus UK grime champion Killa P.

If you've ever been lucky enough to see this multi-textured and incendiary DJ play live, then this album should take you right back to front left, twerking and jerking you're way through myriad styles of bass culture. Also sounds mega soundtracking a hot box session in a blacked out Honda Civic! Big ting!

TRACK LISTING

1. Dead To Us (feat Mr Lexx)
2. Nuff Years (feat Ras Demo)
3. Mi Gwarn (feat Claire Angel)
4. Yung N Powerfull (feat Bay C, Zumbi, Abstract Rude & Irah)
5. Manipulators (feat Earl 16)
6. Party Hard (feat Clare Angel)
7. Flames Up (feat Jman, Navigator, Inja, Galak Spiritual & Sr Wilson)
8. Corrupted (feat Big Red, Sr Wilson & Jman)
9. Free Ya Mind (feat Red Fox & Chyna Soulstar)
10. Only Jah Knows (feat Ramon Judah & Parly B)
11. Raving (feat Tenor Youtman, Jago & Syross)
12. The Father (feat Tenor Ucee & Serocee)
13. Nah Badboy Fe We" (feat Jamalski)
14. No Hype Man (feat Jman & Killa P)
15. Talk To Me Propa (feat Suku)
16. Rude Boy (feat Lion D, Raphael & Syross)
17. Ta Tell U (feat Ras Demo)
18. Control U (feat Macka B)

R&B Star joins Yoda for a London anthem. Smooth jazzy R&B sounds combine Yoda’s lush prodection with Joel Culpepper sublime vocals. Culpepper has collaborated with the likes of Swindle and supported Stevie Wonder and Lalah Hathaway to name but two.

TRACK LISTING

A. London Fields
B. London Fields Instrumental

Taken from the ‘Home Cooking’ album. The name DJ Yoda needs no introduction and joined with rising UK Jazz star Nubya Garcia and legendary emcee Edo. G, ‘Roxbury’ is a sublime mix of Rap, Jazz and Soul. Perfect summer vibes! Recorded between DJ Yoda’s studio and the acclaimed Abbey Road, the record is influenced by Guru’s ‘Jazzmatazz’.

TRACK LISTING

A. Roxbury Ft Nubya Garcia And Edo. G
B. Roxbury Instrumental

New remastered version with alternative cover art. Unlike all DJ Yoda’s artist albums, ‘Breakfast Of Champions’ features the same collaborators on every track effectively putting together a band. The genesis of the project was in Manchester, where the legendary Band On The Wall venue asked him to host an artistic residency. He put a call out for local musicians, did auditions, and selected three rappers. Two were local to Manchester - Truthos Mufasa and Sparkz. They were local legends making up parts of The Mouse Outfit and LVLZ. And the third was Rex Domino from down south, who was a British MC who Yoda thought would gel well with the other guys. They wrote, rehearsed and recorded intensively in Manchester - performed a memorable series of live shows (including an epic Glastonbury show), and Yoda put the finishing touches to the album back in London after the fact. “It was such an enjoyable experience” says Yoda. “Lifelong friendships were made, and most excitingly two of the band members got together (James Breen, drummer, and Claire Northey, violinist) and had two kids! So there are Breakfast of Champions humans out there too!” This new pressing features alternative artwork that was never used at the time of the album’s original release. 

TRACK LISTING

A1 And To The World
A2 Day To Night
A3 Pebble Beach
A4 Click
A5 2468
B1 Super Cereal Syrup
B2 The Baddest
B3 Mantra
B4 Better Day
B5 Open Your Eye

Remastered version of ‘Home Cooking’, the album that cemented Yoda as a versatile producer and not just a deejay. It now serves as a snapshot of the jazz and soul scene at the time with artists like Nubya Garcia, Eva Lazarus and Theon Cross going on to break out. Recorded between his own studio and the world-famous Abbey Road, ‘Home Cooking’ keeps one foot in the Hip-Hop old school with collaborations and the return from Jungle Brothers and Boston bastion Edo. G. Two key singles have been remixed for a bonus 7”. ‘Roxbury’ featuring Nubya Garcia and Edo. G has been given the golden treatment by the legendary Double Dee & Steinski while ‘London Fields’ featuring Joel Culpepper is reworked by label mates The Still Brothers. 

TRACK LISTING

London Fields Feat. Joel Culpepper
Thornton Heath Feat. Omar
Rising Brook Feat. Eva Lazarus
Kingswood Feat. Andrew Ashong
Abbey Road Feat. Nubya Garcia Theon Cross & Henry Wu
Roxbury Feat. Edo G & Nubya Garcia
Soweto Feat. Scarface Manolo
Hither Green Feat. Joel Culpepper & Baby Bam
Afrika Feat. Jungle Brothers
Croxley Green
Eastville Feat. Eva Lazarus
Boundary Gardens Feat. Andrew Ashong….
Roxbury Double Dee & Steinski Remix
London Fields Still Brothers Remix

Buoyed by the wealth of collaborators for his acclaimed second artist album, 'Chop Suey' that dropped in late 2012, Yoda has been busy in the studio creating his first live hip hop band, Breakfast of Champions.

Evoking the golden age of hip hop, the band features up-and-coming wordsmith Rex Domino, Mouse Outfit MCs Sparkz and Truthos Mufasa, plus a host of musicians chosen by DJ Yoda himself.

Finally realising his long-held vision for a live hip hop band, ‘Breakfast of Champions’ is so much more than just a hip hop Album. DJ Yoda has managed to bring in the the studio the excitement and the energy of a whole live band, crossing all sorts of genera: hip hop, dub, funk, rocksteady, reggae, R'n'B, ska, country, Klezmer and more, 'Breakfast of Champions' is the ultimate music journey.

Dressed in a powder blue suit with the frilly shirt to match, DJ Yoda invites you to be his +1 for ‘Prom Nite’, his new album promising retro Americana full of daydreaming reverie, international megastar guests, trip hop acknowledging the likes of Morcheeba and Nightmares on Wax, and the turntable extraordinaire’s bread and butter of cuts, beats and rhymes.

Certainly no stranger to retro sounds having famously peppered his DJ and AV sets with the unexpected the world over, and his ‘How to Cut n Paste’ mix series going all the way back to the 30s, Yoda’s harp-laden puppy love vibe spreads from the sweet and mellow sound of 2019’s ‘Home Cooking’, an album described as ‘boundary-breaking’ by Mojo upon slotting nicely into the UK’s blooming jazz canon. Think deliciously harmonised doo-wop murmuring ‘Goodnight Sweetheart’ with an eye for dreamboats en route to Makeout Point – on ‘My Energy’, Eva Lazarus takes the form of an earth angel, with Yoda on jukebox cut-ups, taking it back to starry-eyed, clean cut days of wonder (or more recently, Little Mix’s ‘Love Me Like You’).

Beginning enigmatically with the assistance of Hollywood A-lister (and former next-door neighbour) Lily James, ‘Breathe’ demonstrate Yoda’s continued evolution as a musician (not to mention shrewd decision maker), with James’ vocal confidence - a little Lana del Rey to her breathiness - returning on the velvet-smooth ‘Airplane Mode’. It’s a smartly executed soundclash accentuated by LA rapper Choosey, the star of the album’s straightest hip-hop shooter ‘Harder I Rock’. Homeboy Sandman adds some kick to the prom punch with typical wordplay sent down ‘Coconut Grove’, and Liam Bailey is perfectly cast for the darkly cinematic sway of ‘Don’t Even Try It’.

On an album of many talking points, the LP’s crowning glory is opening single ‘Feel Like Home’: featuring the vocal comforts of the House Gospel Choir, it’s your go–to pick-me-up when the chips are down, targeting the hairs on the backs of necks like a softer focus version of Jamie xx’s ‘Loud Places’. Extended into an alternative, equally uplifting form by Beardyman’s ‘Don’t Mean Thing’, summer festival season already has its homecoming anthem.

With tongues wagging, the twists and turns step away from Heartbreak Ridge when O Love tucks into the mouthwatering shopping list funk of ‘Way Home’; and ‘Lesson 1956’, featuring Jamie Cullum and DJ Woody, jauntily pays homage to classic Cut Chemist alchemy, Yoda’s celebrated turntable tomfoolery back in full effect and extending the flavours found in ‘Home Cooking’.

Again maximising the experience and enjoyment gained from recording live instruments and prioritising songs over beats, Yoda continues to progress with a mixture of risk-taking, elite musicianship, nostalgia brought bang up to date, and ultimately, good clean fun capable of stirring your soul, making ‘Prom Nite’ a date to remember.

TRACK LISTING

1. Breathe (feat. Lily James)
2. Coconut Grove (feat. Homeboy Sandman)
3. Don't Even Try It (feat. Liam Bailey)
4. Lesson 1956 (feat. Jamie Cullum & DJ Woody)
5. My Energy (feat. Eva Lazarus)
6. Feel Like Home (feat. The House Gospel Choir)
7. Airplane Mode (feat. Lily James & Choosey)
8. Harder I Rock (feat. Choosey)
9. Way Home (feat. O. Love)
10. Don’t Mean A Thing (feat. Beardyman)

Django Django will be releasing a 10th-anniversary reissue of their self-titled Mercury Prize-nominated debut album. The original album will be re-released alongside a second disc of the entire album mixed by dub pioneer Mad Professor. The edition is officially announced 13th April with the release of The Mad Professor Dub of their iconic single 'Default' .

TRACK LISTING

Introduction
Hail Bop
Default
Firewater
Waveforms
Zumm Zumm
Hand Of Man
Love's Dart
Wor
Storm
Life's A Beach
Skies Over Cairo
Silver Rays
Introduction Dub
Hail Bop Dub
Default Dub
Firewater Dub
Waveforms Dub
Zumm Zumm Dub
Hand Of Man Dub
Love's Dart Dub
Wor Dub
Storm Dub
Life's A Beach Dub
Skies Over Cairo Dub
Silver Rays Dub

Over the course of their extraordinarily accomplished discography to date, Django Django have constantly headed left where others have gone right. Described by The Guardian as “capable of making music that sounds close to perfection”, they are known for their genre defying eclectic sound and their new album “Glowing in the Dark” heralds, once again, the beginning of a thrilling new era for the band.

Glowing in the Dark has a running theme of escape: from despair, from constraints, from small town life, and even, in dreams, from the Earth. The brilliant title track and new single, for instance, soars gloriously towards the stratosphere. A track built around a sample from one of Dave Maclean’s spoken word records then plushly upholstered with Moog synths and drum loops, it is accompanied by some eye strobing visuals from rapidly ascending NYC artist and illustrator Braulio Amado.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Django Django (So good they named th.. No - Ed.) hit us with their newest album since 2018, and while the songwriting is pure DD, their increased reliance on woozy synths and bombastic basslines lend a more shimmering, poppy edge.

TRACK LISTING

1. Spirals
2. Right The Wrongs
3. Got Me Worried
4. Waking Up Feat. Charlotte Gainsbourg
5. Free From Gravity
6. Headrush
7. The Ark
8. Night Of The Buffalo
9. The World Will Turn
10. Kick The Devil Out
11. Glowing In The Dark
12. Hold Fast
13. Asking For More

After the brilliant, rave-shaped grooves and expansive arrangements of its predecessor, ‘Marble Skies’ is a more concise and focused offering which recalls the dynamic, genre-blurring music of their debut. It’s a return to form; an album which finds them returning to the handmade, cut-and-paste approach of the past. Upon finishing the ‘Born To Saturn’ tour, Dave ventured to LA to work on a production project, whilst the other band members went to India with the British Council. When they returned, the new album process began with a back-to-basics approach which recalled the DIY ethos of the band’s early days, Django Django – minus an absent Maclean – assembled at Urchin Studios in Tottenham, London with Metronomy drummer Anna Prior to experiment with the idea of coming up with new tracks through loose jamming sessions. After ten days of recording, there was plenty of raw material to send up to Dave (then back in his hometown of Dundee) for him to edit, refine and evolve. As ever, all four band members (completed by Tommy Grace on synths and bassist Jimmy Dixon) contributed to the band’s music, melodies and lyrics as the final album took shape. Parts of ‘Marble Skies’ find Django Django sailing into uncharted territories, not least the driving title track (propelled by Prior’s drumming), with its echoes of Krautrock and Suicide. Meanwhile, the hazy Zombies-like summer pop of ‘Champagne’, which explores the joys and ills of alcohol, was inspired by the band’s over-indulgence during a boat trip on the Seine that was hosted by their label. Those drawn to the more dance-orientated side of Django Django will find much to love in the twisted ‘80s electro pop of ‘In Your Beat’ and the dancehall-influenced ‘Surface To Air’, a dreamy-headed pop song fronted by Rebecca Taylor of Slow Club. The collaboration came as a result of the two bands meeting up at SXSW some years ago, where Rebecca and Dave in particular bonded over shared interests in R&B, hip-hop and dancehall. Another more surprising collaborator is Jan Hammer, the Czech-born, American-based jazz-fusion and electronic artist who shares writing credits with the band on the gorgeously floaty ‘Sundials’. If there’s a mood running through ‘Marble Skies’, it’s one of reflection on things past and present, and finding some kind of peace with your place in the grand scheme of things. 

TRACK LISTING

Side 1
1. Marble Skies
2. Surface To Air
3. Champagne
4. Tic Tac Toe
5. Further
Side 2
1. Sundials
2. Beam Me Up
3. In Your Beat
4. Real Gone
5. Fountains

Recorded for Benin’s Communist revolution, ‘Rhythm Revolution’ is a rare and truly unique Afrobeat record - it’s rumoured only 200 copies of the original release survived.

Ferry Djimmy was a schoolteacher, former boxer, and a personal friend of Muhammad Ali and Fela Kuti. He was later Jacques Chirac’s personal bodyguard.

Recorded at the Satel Studio in Cotonou, the album is one of the toughest, wildest and deepest slices of Afro-Funk cut - with raw African rhythms, distortion, energy and wit.

Alongside nods to Hendrix, Kuti and James Brown, there is something truly unique about Ferry Djimmy’s musical legacy.

A must-have for Afrobeat, Afro Funk and Psych collectors.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Hard fuzz and clatter here from a Benin revolutionary.. Ferry wields his guitar like a man possessed, issuing wah-wah bombardments and frenzied solos; whilst a whole array of yet-to-be-sampled breaks thump away in the back. Real deal shit!

TRACK LISTING

Be Free
Atakpa DC9
When I Come In The Road
Brest DC10
Yong Revolution
Carry Me Blak
Antiga
Ichango
A Were We Coco
Egbemi Black
Love Love
Start To Pray
Oluwa Loranmi Nichai
Toba Walemi
Chikri Man
My Dad Has Me To Kanm

Not unlike the supernatural deities from which they take their name, DJINN - the Swedish collective featuring members of Hills and GOAT in their ranks - have proven themselves a potent and mysterious force. Their first release for Rocket Recordings was a portrait of open-minded explorers foraying into the realms of free and cosmic jazz, but never overly reverential or in thrall to their own influences.

Following the ‘Avant De Servir’ tape which was released on Swedish label Zeon Light last year, ‘Transmission’ is a still more intrepid step into new terrain for DJINN - the mantric rhythms are hypnotic here, the freeform extrapolations hit new peaks of vivid abandon, and the moments of calm are blissfully meditative. Yet their sound palette extends into refreshing collisions of intent and metaphysical intensity that echo across the psychic landscapes of Sunburned Hand Of The Man-style freak-folk, as well as the polylingual fusion of jazz, European and Asian music that Don Cherry essayed on 1969’s ‘Eternal Rhythm’ and 1973’s ‘Organic Music Society’.

Amidst these intoxicating and richly eclectic soundworlds, the band are just as comfortable invoking Popol Vuh (as on the mellotronabetted title track) Art Ensemble Of Chicago and the lineage of Swedish underground music that found epiphanies in the radical folk-psych of Arbete Och Fritid whilst also sounding - crucially - like no-one but themselves.

For all the far-reaching explorations of altered states by which DJINN set out their stall, this collection of mystical headspaces - in all its fearless and feral glory - is proof positive that the band’s journey has only just begun. This transmission is set to ring out across dimensions unknown.

The album, which is ltd to 400 copies on colour vinyl comes with a download code that also contains as a bonus their 2020 ‘Avant De Servir EP’ that was originally released on cassette via Swedish label Zeon Light.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: A heady and intoxicating mix of wandering percussion, jazzy groove and psychedelic arm-waving trippery, 'Transmisision' provides the perfect laid-back counterpoint to bands like like Goat or Altin Gun, with the free-flowing improvisational meandering perfectly offsetting the more standard psychey business. A brilliantly enjoyable journey.

TRACK LISTING

1. Sun Ooze
2. Creator Of Creation
3. Transmission
4. Nights With Kurupi
5. Jaguar
6. Urm The Mad
7. Love Divine
8. Orpheus

As 'Portrait With Firewood' is Felix’s most personal body of work to date, the product of an emotionally turbulent 2017, capturing the range of feelings and emotions he went through in vivid sonic beauty. By putting aside his previous sampladelic approach he returned to his childhood instrument of the piano as a core starting point.

"It's a confessional record… I realise that's a word mostly used to describe singer/songwriter rather than (largely) instrumental music, but I think it's apt. There's a sort of emotional candour.”

Felix is classically trained in the jazz tradition and influenced by the likes of Keith Jarrett and Alice Coltrane. Previously he was shy at the prospect of fans hearing his piano playing, but determined to overcome this fear he has brought forward a new honesty to his work.

"Finding the confidence to work with my own piano improvisations was a big part of that. Once I had figured out how I was going to make the music, it actually fell in to place rather quickly.”

Felix's goal was to create something "overwhelmingly beautiful", but also to capture the "inherent melancholy in beauty in all it's impermanance and fragility". He took inspiration and solace from performance artist Marina Abramovic.

"She has an incredibly deep understanding of the human condition, and expresses it in such a poetic way. Many of the themes of her work had particular resonance for me over the course of 2017 as I worked on the album. I was moved to tears on several occasions watching her videos or reading about her work.”

Felix collaborated with cellist Zosia Jagodzinska and vocalist Lola Empire. Jagodzinska recorded several takes of improvisations over the track 'Creature' which Felix would chop, pitch and layer into new melodic lines and seed throughout the album.

Felix's new approach expanded to experimentation with field recording, contact micing his beloved piano and purchasing his first hardware synth, all in service of enriching the personal, humane quality of the record.

"Music helps me to communicate the sorts of things that I find almost impossible to put in to words. I think the process for this album has helped me create a more rich and emotionally complex body of work than I have managed before.”

TRACK LISTING

A1. Unblocked
A2. Waters Rising
A3. Creature Pt.1

B1. Creature Pt.2
B2. Sex

C1. Blue Violet
C2. Sparrows

D1. Showreel Pt.3
D2. Blood In My Mouth

Jimmy Dludlu has made a sophisticated smooth jazz guitar album and mixed it to the rhythms of his native South Africa, added a pinch of latin samba style and another smattering of gospel and the result is "Afrocentric". Jazz with a township tinge.

DM3 formed in Perth, Western Australia in 1992 around the songwriting talents of Dom Mariani, but the DM3 story really began a decade earlier with a seminal rock/pop band that emerged from the world's most isolated capital city (Perth): THE STEMS.

From 1984 to 1987 THE STEMS, with Mariani at the helm as singer, songwriter and lead guitarist, rapidly infiltrated Australian radio, press and alternative charts, winning the hearts of critics and a legion of loyal fans. A quick succession of classic singles and a chart-topping album, At First Sight, generated interest from as far afield as Europe and the United States. Then, THE STEMS almost as fast as they appeared, disbanded sealing their legend in the annals of Australian music history. Soon after the demise of THE STEMS Mariani resurfaced with THE SOMELOVES whose first and only album, Something or Other, was lauded by pop pundits as a masterpiece and won a landslide of accolades including a clean sweep of the 1990 WA Music Industry Awards.

DM3's debut single Foolish saw Mariani back on Australian stages with another loud, tight, electric rock'n'roll outfit. Their first album One Time Two Times Three Red Light (1993) mixed by legendary American producer Mitch Easter (REM, Pavement, Son Volt, Lets Active, Velvet Crush) received widespread critical acclaim and sold throughout Australia, Europe and the US. What followed were tours of Europe in '94 and '95 taking in Sweden, Spain, France, Germany, Italy and Denmark?s world-renowned Roskilde Festival. In 1996, DM3 released their second album Road To Rome (also mixed by Mitch Easter) praised by critics of guitar-driven pop in Australia, Europe and the US as one of the best albums for '96 of its genre. Their fusion of melodic pop hooks, cool vocals and high-energy rock'n'roll guitar earned them high praise and many new fans. In the same year they embarked on another successful European tour playing to packed houses across Spain, France and Scandinavia.

1998 saw the release of their third and final album, Rippled Soul, which was a more diversely structured album recorded over a three separate sessions in a 12-month period which saw the introduction of Mariani's former Stems colleague Julian Matthews on bass. The album was also well received by fans and critics alike in Australia, Europe and US.DM3 released two more albums, an EP and 7inch single. The two albums, titled Garage Sale Vol. 1 and Garage Sale Vol. 2  Italian Style, are collections of previously unreleased tracks, non-album b-sides, alternate mixes, odd covers and live songs previously only available on 7 inches. The Just Like Nancy EP which was eventually compiled into Garage Sale Vol. 2 and the Snapshot single for Freshwater Records are their last recordings. The band continued to tour Spain and France in '99 and disbanded shortly after. In 2001 they reformed briefly to tour Italy as part of their appearance on the Gene Gnocchi show Perepepe. DM3 made their mark on the international power pop scene with three official albums. They are revered by fans and critics alike and are possibly the best power pop band Australia has produced!

Hailing from Sydney, upstart trio DMA’s have been causing a stir down under, with a sold out national tour and bucketloads of hype surrounding them.

The buzz has followed them across the pond, with NME, XFM and Radio 1 all onboard, giving airtime love to their debut ‘Feels Like 37’ and a tangible electricity in the air in anticipation of this mini album.

International festival slots await and with an peerless live reputation, stardom is surely set to swiftly follow. Armed with a stack of radio bothering guitar led tunes and bolstered by swagger, their unshakable self-belief is more than well placed.

‘How Many Dreams?’ is the highly anticipated fourth studio album from Australian three-piece DMA’S. Featuring the singles ‘I Don’t Need To Hide’ and ‘Everybody’s Saying Thursday’s The Weekend’, the record is another step forward for a band on a still upwards trajectory. Partly recorded in the UK with Rich Costey (Sigur Ros, Muse, Foster the People) and Stuart Price (Dua Lipa, The Killers, Madonna) before being finished with Konstantin Kersting (Mallrat, The Jungle Giants) back in their hometown of Sydney, ‘How Many Dreams?’ is designed to be ambitious, a sonically vast landscape; there are songs to rave to, and songs to cry to.

There’s a definite sense of celebration and revolution was brewing within the band on this record. DMA’S exploded onto the scene in 2014 with their debut single ‘Delete’. Since then, the band have released three acclaimed records with their last album THE GLOW (released in March 2020) debuting at #4 in the UK, #1 in Scotland, #2 in Australia. DMA’S have sold out worldwide tours including selling out shows at London’s Alexandra Palace and O2 Academy Brixton, and Manchester’s Castlefield Bowl, and graced the stages on festivals like Reading & Leeds, Glastonbury, Coachella, Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, Osheaga, Gov Ball and many more. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: DMA's return for 'How Many Dreams', partially eschewing the melodic britpop-inspired indie we've heard from them up until now in favour of some undeniably melodic but more sprawling, electronic tinged business. Those characteristic vocals are still in situ, but the scope is much larger, drawing influence from all over the musical spectrum.

TRACK LISTING

1. How Many Dreams?
2. Olympia
3. Everybody's Saying Thursday's The Weekend
4. Dear Future
5. I Don't Need To Hide
6. Forever
7. Fading Like A Picture
8. Jai Alai
9. Get Ravey
10. 21 Year Vacancy
11. Something We're Overcoming
12. De Carle

PLEASE READ THE BELOW DETAILS BEFORE PLACING YOUR ORDER INCLUDING THE ENTRY REQUIRMENTS MENTIONED

CD Album + 1 Ticket - £23.99 - Limit 4 per person
Event exclusive limited CD with alternative art + 2 bonus tracks + Ticket -£23.99 - Limit 4 per person
Vinyl LP + 1 Ticket - £33.99 - Limit 2 per person
Neon Vinyl LP + 1 Ticket - £37.99 - Limit 2 per person
Event exclusive white vinyl LP + 1 Ticket - £37.99 - Limit 2 per person
1x Ticket only - £20.50 - Limit 1 per person max

We urge you to consider buying an Album bundle rather than Ticket only as they only cost £3.49 more to get a CD bundle, PLUS this way you are helping the artist AND the more albums we sell the more of these exciting Album Launch shows we are able to put on in the future.

To celebrate the release of their new album, DMA'S will come to Manchester for a special show at Gorilla in Manchester on Wednesday 14th June 2023 (Doors 7pm tbc - the show will start soon after so please be prompt )

We have set up special bundles (in the drop down box above) for this release where fans of the band can purchase an album and get a ticket for this exclusive Show

There is a limited capacity for this event so we would expect all the album and ticket bundles to sell out very quickly.

This is a 14+ ages event

If you have an access needs please contact the venue here for more information info@thisisgorilla.com

PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE PRINTING TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT AND THEY WILL BE NEEDED FOR ENTRY TO THE VENUE. ORDER EMAILS ETC WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED ON THE NIGHT OF THE EVENT.

If you select the Pick Up In Store option, tickets MUST be collected between Friday 19th May and Monday 22nd May. If tickets are not collected by this date, you will be refunded the ticket part of the bundle and the tickets put back on sale. If you are unsure whether you will be able to collect them in time, then select the postage option.

If you select the postage option, TICKETS and ALBUMS will ship out TOGETHER on or around the release date of Friday 19th May.

There is NO collect at venue option for this show.


ABOUT THE ALBUM:

‘How Many Dreams?’ is the highly anticipated fourth studio album from Australian three-piece DMA’S. Featuring the singles ‘I Don’t Need To Hide’ and ‘Everybody’s Saying Thursday’s The Weekend’, the record is another step forward for a band on a still upwards trajectory. Partly recorded in the UK with Rich Costey (Sigur Ros, Muse, Foster the People) and Stuart Price (Dua Lipa, The Killers, Madonna) before being finished with Konstantin Kersting (Mallrat, The Jungle Giants) back in their hometown of Sydney, ‘How Many Dreams?’ is designed to be ambitious, a sonically vast landscape; there are songs to rave to, and songs to cry to.

There’s a definite sense of celebration and revolution was brewing within the band on this record. DMA’S exploded onto the scene in 2014 with their debut single ‘Delete’. Since then, the band have released three acclaimed records with their last album THE GLOW (released in March 2020) debuting at #4 in the UK, #1 in Scotland, #2 in Australia. DMA’S have sold out worldwide tours including selling out shows at London’s Alexandra Palace and O2 Academy Brixton, and Manchester’s Castlefield Bowl, and graced the stages on festivals like Reading & Leeds, Glastonbury, Coachella, Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, Osheaga, Gov Ball and many more.

Launching the album pre order and announce with the anthemic and uplifting “‘Everybody’s Saying Thursday’s the weekend’ - Guitarist Jonny Took comments: “‘Everybody’s Saying Thursday’s the weekend’, we’ve all thought it, we’ve all felt it. This song is about letting go of the things that weigh us down and embracing the future with a sense of optimism. Stepping in the ‘Right light in the dark times’.”

TRACK LISTING

1. How Many Dreams?
2. Olympia
3. Everybody's Saying Thursday's The Weekend
4. Dear Future
5. I Don't Need To Hide
6. Forever
7. Fading Like A Picture
8. Jai Alai
9. Get Ravey
10. 21 Year Vacancy
11. Something We're Overcoming
12. De Carle
13. Olympia (Live At Barrowlands) – LTD EVENT CD ONLY
14. Everybody’s Saying Thursday’s The Weekend (Live At Barrowlands) – LTD EVENT CD ONLY

DMA’S are set to release the ‘MTV Unplugged Live’ album. It was recorded at Melbourne’s intimate Memo Music Hall last October, with DMA’s becoming one of the first Australian bands to play the iconic MTV Unplugged session. It’s a format steeped in history following classic sets from Nirvana, Oasis, R.E.M. and many more.

Renowned for their ragged, anthemic energy often inspired by the Britpop and Manchester scenes, ‘MTV Unplugged Live’ finds DMA’S stripping their songbook back to basics. Focusing on acoustic guitar, piano, violin and cello, these new arrangements unveil fresh new perspectives on the songs. Some now carry a folk vibe, while others hone in on the poignancy of the band’s lyrics.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: It's when performed acoustically that the tactile songwriting and tender balladry of DMA's songwriting really comes into its own, and shows the stylistic similarities and melodic leanings of this Australian trio to our most beloved 90's britpop staples.

On their first two albums Aussie band DMA’s wore their love for early 90s Brit pop well and truly on their sleeve. Although they’ve dabbled with synths before, on their third album they’ve taken their love of rave to edge themselves nearer the dancefloor. They manage to combine rock’n’roll energy with a euphoric groove that nods to Primal Scream and the Chemical Brothers.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Following on from last years' riotously received 'MTV Unplugged' the DMA's return with their newest LP of driven rock, catchy hooks and jangling arm-waving indie anthems. Lovely stuff.

The Rephlex alumni and all around electro legend DMX Krew channels the Minneapolis sound, boogie, and freestyle in this classic 2005 Japan-exclusive, now pressed on vinyl for the first time by the good people at Cold Blow.

Kiss Goodbye showcases Ed DMX in his absolute finest form in songwriting and richness of production. A guaranteed antidepressant with timeless moments from an ode to a mature lady in “D.I.V.O.R.C.E.E.”, to a rap about a cheating girlfriend in “Who’s That Guy?". Full of classic quotables combined with funk that would make Morris Day proud.

The 2xLP is available in standard black, and a special sexy red edition. Mastered by Noel Summerville whose CV includes too many classics to mention, from Newcleus and Hashim to Ohio Players and Rick Astley! The sleeve has received redesign treatment by the Organic Analogue’s Benedetta Sodini.

Essential!

TRACK LISTING

A1. Kiss Goodbye
A2. Cold Love
A3. D.I.V.O.R.C.E.E.
B1. H.O.T.
B2. Who's That Guy?
B3. You Take Me Up
C1. Keep On Keepin' On
C2. He Exists!
C3. Let's Rock
D1. Feelings So Strong
D2. Clementine
D3. 1101100001

DMX Krew returns to Hypercolour with a new long player. ‘Spiral Dance’ comes stuffed with wonky and futuristic synth jams.

Having honed a style that has endured over an illustrious career, DMX Krew continues to immerse his productions in luscious analogue electronica, touching on the many bases of electro, Detroit techno, synthpop and dreamwave.

With previous albums for Rephlex, Permanent Vacation and Balkan Vinyl, amongst others, ‘Spiral Dance’ becomes the fifth album for Hypercolour, following on from 2021’s ‘Loose Gears’.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Always Hats
A2. Bathtime Bobby
A3. Spiral Dance
B1. Escape To 92
B2. Perfection
B3. Idea Two
C1. Karplus Gas Storm
C2. Is This Normal
C3. Desperate Measures
C4. Hammer Slowly Falling
D1. Ankle Grinder
D2. FM Assembly
D3. Amby Stan 

Synthesizer maestro, Rephlex alumni, Fresh Up and Breakin' records founder, and Rinse.fm resident DMX Krew channels Prince's spirit, picking up his electro-pop / synth-funk hat for a fizzy n squelchy electro-funk four tracker of epic proportions! 
 
Also featuring archive gem circa "We Are DMX" and previously CD only dub version of "Cold Love".

The titular track “Still Got It” is a brand new production with vocal and dub versions of driving bassline and Linn fills, exclaiming “I still got the music in me, and it sets me free!” amidst heartbreak. Teardrops on the dancefloor, anyone?

On the flip side, we are treated with an archive gem from the Rephlex era! The Telex-like pacey vocoder synth pop “Paranoia” was recorded around the time of “We Are DMX” album in 1999, and what a treat it is!

The closing track is the only previously released one. A dub version of “Cold Love” borrowed from the Japan-exclusive, CD-only 2005 album “Kiss Goodbye” which Cold Blow has announced to be reissued soon! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Machine tweaker and cybernetic b-boy Edward Upton revs up his classic moniker for a Prince-indebted EP of killer electro-funk swathed in the producer's trademark synthesis and punchy drum rhythms.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Still Got It
A2. Still Got It Dub
B1. Paranoia
B2. Cold Dub

Shiprec welcome Ed Upton back for his sixth release on the label. An artist who has been at the forefront of electronic music for three decades, under his well-honed DMX Krew guise the British musician has crafted icy electro, thoughtful electronica and textured techno. It is a combination of these styles that culminate in "Tree in Space". A steady kick tethers "Parasite" to reality, a thick earthen melody countered by twinkling refrains as soaked drums splash. Off-centre bleep and beats introduce the title piece. Solid basslines are lightened by playful brassy electrofunk notes as genre limitations melt into Summer warmth. Skeletal scales find themselves confronted by a bruising bulwark of bass in "Unbelief." Balancing these angular and globular tones are arcing keys that draw the disparate elements into unity. "Meltdown" is the closer. Blending a spread of sounds, acid, braindance and techno, DMX Krew serves up something truly special. Brooding notes are met by cracked percussion and simmering 303 squawk in a track that pursues its own path. An EP from a musician that continues to stretch boundaries and imaginations.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: More squelch, buzz, rumble and squawk from Ed Upton's arsenal of rhythm boxes and a sound generators. Dark, Drexciyan, mutant electro is order of the day for this particular mission.

TRACK LISTING

Parasite
Tree In Space
Unbelief
Meltdown

Veteran electrohead and former artist on the Rephlex Records roster DMX Krew's Ed DMX takes the well-known story by Jorge Luis Borges of The Library of Babel, said to contain all the different languages of the earth. Some deep philosophical thought has gone into the album's concept, but we'll leave that to Ed to explain. Instead, we'll tell you that from beginning to end there's plenty of the kind of trademark 80s synth playfulness in evidence, with a generally more mellow and soundtrack-related rather than frenetic and dancefloor-filling vibe in evidence, even on faster tracks like 'The Combed Thunderclap'. Still, Ed knows what he's doing when it comes to this kind of leftfield electro gear, and it's a rewarding, never boring listen.

TRACK LISTING

Side 1
1. Dog
2. O Time Your Pyramids
3. MCV
4. Infinite Staircase Ascending

Side 2
1. Axaxaxas MLO
2. The Combed Thunderclap
3. The Plaster Cramp
4. LXUM, LKWC
5. Infinite Staircase Descending

Jimmy Tamborello returns with a collection of 10 pop-infused vocal hymns – simultaneously perfect dance floor fillers and lullabies. "Away" is the second of two Dntel albums to be released in 2021 by Morr Music in collaboration with Les Albums Claus. While "The Seas Trees See" showcased Tamborello's more intricate and quiet side, "Away" embraces his love for pop music. A genre which like no other has been resonating the advancements of technology from the very beginning. Songwriting was sequenced and computerized on such a large scale that it would change the sonic aesthetics of the charts forever. Dntel is a musician who changed pop music forever - and still works in this never-ending labour of love, both effortless and highly focused, constantly tweaking the universe of our musical perception. Whether beatless or uncompromisingly embracing the limelight of collective ecstasy with one of his most remembered tunes "(This Is) The Dream Of Evan And Chan", his almost forgotten anthem "Don't Get Your Hopes Up" or his work as James Figurine. "Away" features 10 of these extravaganzas - uniting his audience once more in hope and future-bound optimism.

"I grew up with 80s techno-pop - these influences always come through in my music", Jimmy writes from Los Angeles. For this album, though, "I was thinking more of 80s indie pop or labels like 4AD. It is a mix of those influences along with trying to figure out what elements of my own discography I still connect with. I wanted it to reflect old Dntel records as well as the techno-pop band Figurine I used to be in. I have always considered my music basically being techno-pop, but not referring to pop as popular music - I just like pretty melodies. But with the Dntel moniker, I never had the ambition to produce music for a really big audience."

It is exactly that looseness in approaching music which makes Tamborello's style of composing so unique. On "Away" he combines a healthy dose of distortion with the most-sticking melodies, vocals and bitter-sweet lyrics he ever came up with – performing all vocals himself, with the help of technology. "My voice has a limited range. When I applied this vocal processing it seemed to bring out the emotions more. I don't see it as the same as the more artificial, autotuned style of modern pop music. I think it still sounds like it could be a real person singing, just not me." Using this technique, Dntel disembodies himself from his own art, welcoming all kinds of interpretations re. his current state as an artist. "Somehow this processed voice feels closer to how I see myself than my normal voice, for better or worse…", he writes. Pop music is a fragile entity, making its kingpins vulnerable. Many emotions reveal a lot of the originator's personality -this is something one has to be prepared for. On "Away", Jimmy Tamborello finds the perfect way of marrying his unique musical personality with both the demands and possibilities of pop music. Just listen to "Connect" and you'll know what we're talking about. A perfect, yet timeless album for less than perfect times.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: 'Away' mixes the static-filled atmospherics of his much-lauded earlier work with a brighter and more poppy melodic angle, landing on a dreamlike, filmic juxtaposition of euphoric melody and glitchy dream pop.

TRACK LISTING

1 Shell
2 Moonlight
3 Connect
4 From The Window
5 No Common
6 Hiding
7 Bridge
8 Fleeting Feeling
9 I Made Something
10 A Sense Of Dread

Hailing from Los Angeles, Jimmy Tamborello has been a key figure in refining what today is considered electronica for over 20 years. "The Seas Trees See" is the first of two Dntel albums to be released in 2021 by Morr Music in collaboration with Les Albums Claus: a free-floating and rather loose stroke of musical genius, giving ambience a whole new meaningful context. It combines crackles and hiss with deep, yet modest, synths and poignant, yet elegant, vocals and lyrics.

"Away", its counterpart album, will follow later in 2021. It will showcase Dntel's unapologetic love for pop music from a long-gone era, presenting yet another aspect of his multi-faceted personality. Dntel has always covered many musical grounds - from the pop-infused hits on "Life Is Full Of Possibilities" (Plug Research, 2001) to his much more abstract works on "Aimlessness" (Pampa Records, 2012), "Human Voice" (Leaving Records, 2014), and his electronics for The Postal Service (Sub Pop). Whatever his style - Tamborello has retained his very own musical voice. When it comes to producing music, it can be a good idea to get away from the studio and find a more relaxed environment. Inspiration does not necessarily require huge bass bins. Fewer pieces of gear make it easier to really focus on ideas first and let them be. After recording "Hate In My Heart" - his most recent album, released in 2018 - this way, Tamborello continued working in that fashion, mainly jamming and getting ideas together for upcoming live shows. One of the first results of this creative process was the opening track of "The Seas Trees See" - a cover version of "The Lilac and the Apple", originally recorded by Californian folk singer Kate Wolf in 1977. Tamborello turns the acapella song into a vocoder-like extravaganza.


Working with the original recording, the track perfectly sets the tone for what "The Seas Trees See" turns out to be - a quiet yet mesmerizing journey through sound and emotion, bringing together his very own sound design, disguised samples and an incredible feel for moods and atmospheres. "I thought a lot about making an album that you would find in a thrift store", Tamborello remembers. Something "like a mysterious collection of sketches that leaves a lot unanswered. It doesn't beg for attention or have any big moments." Despite its perfect and gentle flow, it is worth digging deeper, to surrender oneself to all the painstakingly placed details.


Whether the beautiful and haunting piano work on "Movie Tears" or the almost sidechained-sounding "Yoga App" - every aspect of this album has been beautifully crafted, often bringing one of life's biggest questions to the table: What if? What would have happened if Tamborello would have done this on that track or that on this track? It is good that he did not. Small things add up to something great, diverse and riveting. The subtlety of his latest endeavor is fascinating. It opens up a new world, in which small musical sketches mean at least as much as perfectly produced pop anthems - if not more.

TRACK LISTING

1 The Lilac And The Apple (remix)
2 The Seas
3 Whimsy
4 The Man On The Mountain
5 Back Home
6 What I Made
7 Movie Tears
8 Fall In Love
9 Yoga App
10 After All
11 Hard Weather 

Constellation Records are an important label, they have a host of massively important artists on their roster spawned from another massively important band, and a whole host that weren't. It's an epic and fascinating story which could easily be stretched into a dissertation. Maybe you'd do it better than I did.

Point being, if you haven't heard the bands, you should. If you have, you won't want to hear any of this again, so i'll focus on the music. This is Do Make Say Think's first album since 2009's 'Other Truths', and seventh outing to date. DMST (as they shall hereafter be known to spare another 12k words) create tapestries of sound encompassing aspects of modern-classical, post-rock, jazz, drone and anything else you could name. Their compositions are the exponentially blooming result of boolean logic, exploding one way or the other, with infinite cycles of possibilites, and infinite fields of influence. Take opener 'War On Torpor', for example. Brimming with mystery from the opening dusty tape-saturated guitar and hi-passed rolling percusision, it quickly but succinctly develops into crescentic rock territory before switching out elements almost imperceptibly into a cascade of rhythm and heart-wrenching highs, developed with intent but doomed to stutter out once again. Follower, 'Horripilation' rises like a grooving, writhing phoenix from the ashes, fielding a tinny reverbed guitar and dusty ambience before rolling gracefully around the rhythmic guitar counterpoint and majestic anthemic highs of the mid-section and grooving mind-expanding psychedelic swoons of the latter third. It's a journey, and something you have to believe in. It might not be a standard verse/chorus affair but trust them, they know what they're doing.

The brittle duo of 'Bound' and 'And Boundless' are at once a statement of beauty and a stunning cascade of doubt, bringing together affirming spine-tingling instrumental heft and majestic constructions (Bound) together with skittering pointilism and gothic ambient interludes, minor-key wandering progression and foggy echoed fields. All this before pulling out the undeniable optimism of 'Her Eyes On The Horizon', based around guitar and bass, and minimal percussives. A complete antithesis of everything that has come before it, and only suggested at in everything that comes after.

Every piece on here is more than worthy of mention, and no less important to the story than the one preceding it, but in the interests of brevity i'll refrain from listing all of their nuances. It is safe to say however, that Do Make Say Think continue to be as important to music as they ever were, and their continuing innovation and experimentation. It is jazz that doesn't wander, it is instrumental music that speaks, it is delicate but bold experimental rock, it sounds like every band they've ever been compared to, and every band they haven't. A dichotomic juxtaposition in every sense and a brittle, beautiful, towering mountain. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Soaring instrumentals, jagged breakdowns, stunning ambience and grooving psychedelic twists. Bright and beautiful but unendingly complex rhythms, forged through melodies played a thousand times but executed like nothing you've ever heard. From the chamber-rock clanging of “War On Torpor”, to the euphoric post-rock classicism of “Return, Return Again”, this is perfection.

TRACK LISTING

01 War On Torpor
02 Horripilation
03 Murder Of Thoughts
04 Bound
05 And Boundless
06 Her Eyes On The Horizon
07 D=3.57√h (As Far As The Eye Can See)
08 Shlomo's Son
09 Return, Return Again

The Room is a collection of folkloric pieces from various regions around South America, as interpreted by Fabiano do Nascimento and Sam Gendel, on 7-string nylon guitar and soprano saxophone, respectively. Presented with purity and focus, soaring and lamenting, this album presents a unique journey through lesser-known musical landscapes and traditions stretching from Argentina to the Amazon.

Sam Gendal, the Californian saxophonist – perhaps best-known for his thoughtful collaborations with Moses Sumney and bassist Sam Wilkes – has long been honing slippery improvisations, pitch-bending his harmonies and sliding over rhythms. The ambient-jazz musician offers unpredictable, impressionistic takes on R&B hits from the '90s and early '00s, tackling songs by Beyoncé, Aaliyah, and Erykah Badu. Sam Gendel's ascension to beloved ambient-jazz savant has been fuelled, in part, by the inexhaustibility of his output.

Fabiano is a Rio de Janeiro-born, LA-based multi-string guitarist, composer and producer who has developed his own sound that is ever-expansive, sometimes called retro-futuristic brazilian music, borrowing from the traditions of samba and choro while echoing elements of modern jazz, experimental & electronic.

TRACK LISTING

1. Foi Boto
2. Capricho
3. Astral Flowers
4. Kewere
5. Cores
6. Txera
7. Até De Manhã
8. Poeira
9. Tupi
10. Daiana

Recorded at his home studio in Los Angeles (2020) the album is fundamentally the sound of a man alone with his instruments.
Utilizing a variety of guitars, including 6, 7 and 10 strings, Oktav guitar and electric baritone guitar, alongside a host of pedals and synthesizers, Fabiano tracked imagined landscapes with expressive, expansive improvisations, which tend toward the more ambient and atmospheric reaches of his recent output.

Adopting Hermeto Pascoal's concept of Universal Music, a rejection of nationalistic tendencies in order to express all of one's musical influences all at once, Fabiano avoided leaning too heavily on any particular musical language, without denying his own musical roots.

After studying classical piano as a child, the Rio de Janeiro native discovered the guitar aged 10. Studying under his late uncle, Lucio Nascimento, he eventually left Brazil for LA, where he soon became an in- demand player for his distinct and authentic sound. He has since released seven albums under his own name and collaborated with renowned Brazilian artists including Arthur Verocai and Airto Moreira, as well as experimental US saxophonist Sam Gendel.

Mundo Solo (Do Nascimento's eighth), was recorded in one take per track, with occasional overdubs and a few appearances from collaborators and friends Julien Canthelm (drums on Etude 1), Ajurina Zwarg, (percussion on CPMV) and Gabe Noel (Bass on Curumim).

Fabiano Do Nascimento's consummate mastery of his instrument has afforded him a freedom of expression few can claim. Blending the emotional with the elemental, Mundo Solo is a stunning snapshot of solitude and the beauty which can blossom within it.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Abertura
A2. Curumim 2
A3. Paperstrings
A4. Agua De Estrellas
A5. Bari
A6. Etude 1
A7. Meianoite
A8. Reflections
A9. Coisa
B1. Coisa 2
B2. CPVM
B3. Txaii
B4. Tempo
B5. De Manha
B6. Dormenor

"Ykytu" is Brasilian guitarist Fabiano do Nascimento’s fourth album for Now-Again Records. Produced by Nascimento’s longtime engineer Jason Hiller, this album is do Nascimento’s first solo guitar album and, like his previous album, Preludio, is reliant on do Nascimento’s own compositions, with a little help from like-minded musical travelers. In keeping with the trajectory of his previous albums, including Dança dos Tempos and Tempo dos Mestres, Ykytu follows folkloric Brasilian music, Brasilian jazz, bossa-nova and samba as experienced through the mind and able fingers of an expansive musician, this time in a minimalist, meditative manner. “Even though this album is a bit experimental and even abstract at times, It is meant to be a calming and easy listening experience,” do Nascimento offers.

“I choose to keep the songs and arrangements intentionally very bare and stripped down. Just adding few layers and colors here and there.” The album came together during the Covid-19 pandemic, but one hears anything but isolation in Ykytu’s grooves. Do Nascimento performed the album almost entirely with a Strimon Timeline pedal, with a few loops and overdubs, and the result is a full-fledged, if quiet and subtle, conversation Do Nascimento has with himself, as he ruminates about this stage in his life, in his musical journey, and his music’s place in the world. Ykytu means "wind" in the indigenous Brazilian Guarani language. In his own way, as he was quarantined in Los Angeles, Do Nascimento has succeded in journeying outwards, in heeding the call of the open world. At the same time, he has remained true to the spirit and calling of his forebears, hearing their whispers, amplifying them, augmenting them, and allowing them to flow outwards. “...Based in Los Angeles, a continent away from his homeland, Nascimento draws from a deep love of Brazilian rhythms and pays homage to his mentors…His music is beautiful and transcendent and… at this time and place – a balm” – KCRW

TRACK LISTING

A1. Curumn
A2. Meditacao
A3. Novo Dia
A4. Noite
A5. Stalgmites
A6. Ykytu

B1. Pelas Ruas
B2. Alta Paz
B3. Corrida
B4. Flower Of Life
B5. Planalto
B6. Rio Tapajos

Nottingham post-punks Do Nothing blend jerky, spidery rhythms with surreal, half-spoken vocals that recall the Fall 's Mark E. Smith . Do Nothing was formed in 2017 by four long-time school friends: frontman Chris Bailey, guitarist Kasper Sandstrøm, drummer Andy Harrison, and bassist Charlie Howarth. All had played in various acts around the city; the band got their start at the popular Maze Club. Bailey, whose father was a singer in an a cappella folk group, grew up listening to the sounds of Simon & Garfunkel , and his own biggest influence was Tom Waits . Initially attempting to copy big names like LCD Soundsystem (as heard on their first 7" single, "Gangs," released in 2019), they eventually became more confident about doing their own thing, and Bailey gave his stream-of-consciousness lyrics and outsider stage persona free rein. Associated with, but wary of, the then-popular post-punk revival, they made clear it was their intention to follow their own path. Their debut EP, Zero Dollar Bill, was released in 2020; another, Glueland, arrived the following year, with an album in the works.

STAFF COMMENTS

Liam says: Born amongst the sea of post-punk revivalists, Nottingham quartet Do Nothing have decided to follow their own path with their debut LP 'Snake Sideways'. In turn, this results in a collection of wonderful wonky and infectious indie bops that serve as a refreshing alternative in today's guitar scene.

TRACK LISTING

1. Nerve
2. Happy Feet
3. Snake Sideways
4. Fine
5. Ivy
6. Hollywood Learn
7. The Needle
8. Amoeba
9. Moving Target
10. Sunshine State

Fifteen tracks of never before released studio material from 1981 to 1984, arguably the band's finest, most productive years. Bonuses include the previously lost track "They Saved Hitler's Brain" from '81 and "Kill Kill This Is Pop" from 1979's super rare "Vancouver Compilation" LP.

Tartelet Records present the debut album from Doc Sleep – 10 tracks of exquisitely rendered melodies and rhythms shaped with grit and beauty in equal measure. “Birds (in my mind anyway)” is a widescreen vision of electronica as a medium to express your personal situation and respond to your environment – a rave adjacent art form free from the perceived rules of the dancefloor. To date, Melissa Maristuen known as Doc Sleep has established herself in the context of the club – first engaging with the culture in San Francisco before moving to Berlin. She helps run the Room 4 Resistance party, DJs on Refuge Worldwide, co- owns the Jacktone label and has released on Detour, Dark Entries and her own label. But in making “Birds (in my mind anyway)” she set herself an ultimatum.

‘At the time of recording this album, my life, all my routines and priorities had to change – music was no exception. I decided if I couldn't be happy making an album free of the dancefloor, I was finally going to be done with music. Instead, I found a musical voice free of tempo and textural restriction. Eventually, I had a sound, and once I had the sound, the album came pretty quickly. It was a very different process writing music for no one...except myself.’

If the impression given is one of a consistent style across the album, think again. Doc Sleep moves freely between tempos and themes, even if there are some recurring qualities binding the music together. She weaves fluttering arps with poise, lending them an almost choral quality which gives the album a very human touch. But they’re equally emotionally ambiguous or pockmarked with sonic interference – reflections of the collisions and conflicts that typify the human experience.

Every inch of the album is a personal touch – the title was pulled from Doc Sleep’s mother’s response to hearing the album, while her friend Kiernan Laveaux offered a beautiful text which appears on the back. Those closest to her all fed into the artwork process, which captures the curious dichotomy between urban brutalism and botanical finery often found in the parks of Berlin – a vital place of respite when she was making the album.

TRACK LISTING

A1 Fall Into Flowers (intro)
A2 Tomorrow Is Beautiful! (ft. Glenn Astro)
A3 Flooding Meadow
A4 C&l At The Sea
A5 Orange Grove Nap
B1 Wiped Memory
B2 Fog Vs Moon (ft. M Marie)
B3 Strange Sun
B4 Secret Spells
B5 Under High Branches

Every once in a while a record comes along that defies any sort of conventional explanation and transcends today’s numbed-out consensus beats - “Tropique”, the latest offering on Copenhagen’s Music For Dreams is one of them. Cosmic disco, neo-Balearic, retro-Italo-futurism – get as creative as you like trying to peg it but one thing is for sure, Doctr’s “Tropique” is undoubtedly an excellently crafted tune, an irresistible crowd-pleaser. As if magically appearing from the untouched realms of electronic music, the soundtrack to some quirky, exotic floating party at the centre of the Bermuda Triangle, “Tropique” is a simple concept, a seemingly innocent loop which rolls along and sneakily picks up more effects with each rotation. The production is near faultless, perfectly structured and fine-tuned to draw the maximum drama out of its infectious bass and tasty keyboard hook. Its creator? Well, little is documented about the producer who simply goes by the name of Doctr, but it’s clear that he operates to the beat of his own drum and knows how to rock a party with rollicking flair judging by the dubby yet joyous vibes he brings to this eclectic and high-sprited offering. “Tropique” sounds like its gestation was characterised by years of crate-digging and wild, balmy nights. Having played only a handful of acclaimed shows so far, it appears Doctr is that rare find; a crowd-pleasing DJ whose musical skills trump his proven ability to move bums.
‘Tropique” is the tune this summer’s been craving and will no doubt become virtually inescapable throughout 2016 and for years to come - a future classic for sure.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Music For Dreams take a house excursion with this piano driven terrace tonker from Doctr. Hedonistic shizzle which comes backed by a Compass Point styled rework from Mr Bager himself.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Tropique
B1. Tropique (Kenneth Bager Edit)

At just 25, dodie has already done a lot of living. Some of that has played out online as she made a name for herself as a singer and writer, amassing millions of fans with her disarmingly honest videos and affecting, intimate singing style. She has scored two top-ten EPs, headlined and sold out London’s Roundhouse, and the Hollywood Palladium and New York’s Terminal 5, and become an ambassador for Depersonalisation charity Unreal. It’s hard to believe she has yet to release her debut album.

“Build a problem” is a line from ‘Hate Myself’, one of many standout songs on the record. She found herself with a bit of a problem because she’d already named her previous EP, 2019’s top 5 Human, and the songs she found herself writing for the album really added up to the same idea; the flawed, emotionally erratic, wondrously complex conundrum that is being alive - and Human was taken. But this line seemed to add up to a similar concept; the moments and actions in life that build within us all problems that we don’t even realise we have until we look back and go, “Ohhhh, that’s where that came from.” dodie, whose past is still infiltrating her present and her future, explores all of this and more on her musically ambitious and dreamily intimate record named - what else? - Build A Problem.

She wrote most of the songs on the album over the past two years. “I think I was going through a crisis actually,” she says now. “I was very unsure of who I was and I was trying to figure it out in music. So I think it’s quite unstable of an album - but it’s definitely honest.”

“I’d like people to come away from this album knowing what I can do,” she says. A single listen to Build A Problem shows she has matured into an exceptional musician, using ancient modes, writing complex string arrangements and imbuing each song with a sense of charming intimacy.

By her own admission, dodie may be a work in progress; problems have been built, mistakes have been made. But with Build A Problem, she’s proven that she is an artist for the ages.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: This beautiful collection reminds be of the bombastic joy and euphoric upbeat percussion of Jonsi's soundtrack work, tender vocals and uplifting celebratory major-key melodies. There are moments of less jubilance, but the overarching takehome is a brilliantly conceived and wonderfully uplifting whole.

TRACK LISTING

Standard LP / CD
1. Air So Sweet
2. Hate Myself
3. I Kissed Someone (It Wasn’t You)
4. Cool Girl
5. Special Girl
6. Rainbow
7. ?
8. Four Tequilas Down
9. .
10. Sorry
11. When
12. Before The Line
13. Guiltless (Bonus Track)
14. Boys Like You (Bonus Track)

Clear Double Vinyl Tracklisting
Disc 1
1. Air So Sweet
2. Hate Myself
3. I Kissed Someone (It Wasn't You)
4. Cool Girl
5. Special Girl
6. Rainbow
7. ?
8. Four Tequilas Down
9. .
10. Sorry
11. When
12. Before The Line
13. Guiltless (Bonus)
14. Boys Like You (Bonus)

Disc 2
1.Bored Like Me (Demo)
2. Let Go (Demo)
3. Bite Back (Demo)
4. One Last Time (Demo)
5. All My Daughters (Demo)
6. Anything (Demo)
7. Drawing The Blinds (Demo)
8. Don't Quite Belong (Demo)

Earlier this year, Atlanta’s Dog Bite found themselves with downtime in Los Angeles between a successful tour with labelmates Toro Y Moi and shows at SXSW in Austin. The four-piece that makes up the touring group started messing around with different sounds and came up with their first full-band release, the LA EP.

This document of the road-tested crew is a stunning sequel to Velvet Changes , the band’s debut LP, which showcased the talents of singer-songwriter Phil Jones and bassist Woody Shortridge.

The LA EP begins with “Warm, Wake Up,” a song that captures the bliss of a sunny day in the palm tree-dotted landscape and the romantic intrigue of Hollywood’s studio lots. Motoring back down that winding road, we hear “Hunting Seasons" where mid-20th century boogie haunts the track’s guitars as the reverberating beat floats us back up to the clouds.

A feeling of melancholia drifts throughout the EP’s songs. But the saddest part about this collection is its 13-minute length. It flies by like a short vacation or a cool breeze. But much more than sorrow for its passing, the LA EP inspires excitement for the next gust of wind.

TRACK LISTING

01 Warm, Wake Up
02 Hunting Season
03 Cold Weather
04 LA Sounds

Bella Union introduce Dog In The Snow, the moniker of Brighton-based artist Helen Ganya Brown. Dog In The Snow’s Bella Union debut is ‘Vanishing Lands’; an imposing, haunting and luminous collection of songs in the darker spaces between dream-pop, art-rock and electronica, lifted by euphoric melodies, ravishing vocals and absorbing lyrics.

‘Vanishing Lands’ was initially created at Brown’s home in Brighton before co-producer Rob Flynn helped her add shifting, impressionistic swathes of colour, from the ominous chords that open ‘Light’ to the vocal eddies that close ‘Dark’.

Brown wrote 8 of the 10 songs in a 3-week spell after a period of “strange dreams.” She recalls: “Dreams in black and white. I found myself in a dreamland and discovered it was being destroyed. I chose ‘Vanishing Lands’ as an album title because it sounded suitably desolate, and lent the songs a feeling of cohesion.”

TRACK LISTING

Light
Bloom
Dual Terror
Monochrome
This Only City
Icaria
Gold
Roses
Fall Empire
Dark

As the world burns Dog of Man release their second full length album - Everything is Easy. This is exactly what you need right now.

This is music to lose your shit to, a ritual of intense catharsis. For those seeking a way out, Everything is Easy could well be your party record.

Despite the ironic title, Everything is Easy delves into neuroses, madness and breakdown, delivered with punchy grooves, spidery guitar lines and gloriously distorted accordion. Recorded live to two-inch tape at Brixton Hill Studios and mixed on the tape down to a single stereo track, then mastered on another tape. Dog of Man ditched the editing software, instead chasing a raw, tight and breathless vibe that captures the frantic energy of the live shows.

Midway through At Home, Dog Unit’s debut album, at the end of the record’s fourth earworm in succession, there’s a pause for breath. It’s the first time the music has come to a halt since the LP began — the first time this ribbon of sound has been cut, after twenty-plus minutes of motorik groove, nagging riff, and insistent hook — and as a result, it also serves as perhaps the clearest indicator yet that At Home is more than just a collection of individually wound super-melodic instrumental rock songs; it’s a suite of music precision-engineered for a single sitting, complete with resting stops, signposts and tiny diversions in just the right places along the way.

Anyone who’s seen Dog Unit live won’t be surprised by what that pause signifies: indeed, this knack for world creation has been the band’s MO since their inception in 2019, writing and performing music designed to arc over the course of an uninterrupted hour, with the four Londoners’ musical idiosyncrasies combining for just the right recipe: Henry Scowcroft and Sam Walton on guitars that alternate between howling feedback and poised melodicism, James Weaver, a pop-dub bass maestro whose minimalist style reveals a genius for conciseness, and motorik drummer Lucy Jamieson, the most reliable timekeeper this side of an atomic clock. Together, on stage or on record, there’s a sense that this isn’t four musicians, but one 16-limbed creature guiding its listeners on an undulating journey of sleek modernist wonder, like a bullet train scything beautifully through Japanese countryside.

That half-time pause on At Home might be the album’s most noticeable breath-point, but on closer listening, moments like that are dotted all over the album, and this focus on flow, aiming to make the entirely instrumental record sing, is 100% played-for. “On tour last year, we road-tested two or three new songs that had a really strong sense of where in an hour-long gig or on an imagined album they should sit,” explains Sam of At Home’s gestation. “Once those tent-pole tracks were finished, and once we had a blueprint for the structure of the as-yet unwritten album, we realised the rest of the music could kind of be written to order: we knew we needed an opener to side two and a midway breather, for example, and a sort of ‘closing credits’ song, and a climactic moment near the end that led from civility to menace.

“And because we’d already made those plot decisions, we knew what to write, which keys to write in, how long each song should be, etc, to make sure everything flowed from start to finish as well as possible — we were just answering our self-imposed briefs.”

Over the course of 2023, then, Dog Unit enacted their meticulous plan, writing and recording in the studio while trying out newly written parts of At Home at their Servant Jazz Quarters live residency. Each time at the intimate Dalston bar, the band tweaked and perfected their new material in front of a curious audience who grew into a cult following, drawn to an unorthodox live show in which a boiler-suited band, seated in horseshoe formation, played straight through for a gloriously intense unbroken hour of music.

In short, At Home is Dog Unit’s first major statement. That statement may be wordless, but it’s also sonically and conceptually articulate: here are four friends and native Londoners making an album in their home city that’s custom-built to feel enveloping, warm and transporting as listeners wend their way through its running order. Put simply, with this debut record of all-encompassing world-building, Dog Unit are inviting you to lap up those tunes, bathe in those washes of sound, and yes, even revel in those pauses — ultimately, they want you to feel At Home. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: A stunning, spellbinding mix of math-rock intricacy, post-rock groove and indie pep. Dog Unit's music is endlessly evolving, but pulls you into each segment within moments of them starting, effortlessly pulling your ears along without a hitch. It's a brilliantly crafted and beautifully hearty noise.

TRACK LISTING

1. Concrete Barges On The Banks Of The Thames
2. Lab Coats
3. When Do We Start Fighting?
4. We Can Still Win This
5. In A Magic World, Then Yes
6. John X Kennedy
7. Consistent Effort
8. The Dogs Are Barking Again 

Both Tymon Dogg and Richard Dudanski had musical roots playing in The 101'ers with future Clash singer/guitarist Joe Strummer. All three shared a deep love for southern Spain, due perhaps to the influence of the Romero sisters, Paloma (later "Palmolive" of The Slits) and the artist Esperanza, who were among the first Spanish punk refugees in London. Tymon's career began with beguiling interactions with Apple Records, The Moody Blues and future Led Zeppelin members John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page before he discovered his true musical self as a punk / folk experimentalist, opening shows for the likes of The Slits, Raincoats and Pop Group and becoming the longest-running musical foil in Strummer's career, continuing into The Clash and Mescaleros. Similarly, Richard played in Basement 5, Public Image Ltd, The Raincoats and others before following Esperanza back to Granada...which subsequently became second home to Tymon and Joe.

Spain is not without its own punk heroes, and chief among them was Granada's Antonio Arias, another pal of Joe's and leader of Spain's musical heroes, Lagartija Nick, which also included Dacoits members Juan Codorniu and JJ Machuca. Antonio sings the albums two Spanish-language songs. while Tymon sings the other nine...and there's an instrumental, "Mongols", which the band considered too epic as a stand-alone instrumental to mess with! Tymon sings three songs from his past: "The Wheel Of Life And Death" has been heard before as a live bonus track on the expanded reissue of "Battle Of Wills", "Conscience Money" was heard in a very different version on the impossible-to-find "Made Of Light" album, and an embryonic take of "Something To Prove" turned up the even rarer 1989 solo album, "Relentless". If you imagine the playful elasticity of "Sandinista!" recast into a more straightforward record, with Tymon taking the lead on something more than that album's "Lose This Skin", you're halfway there. Guests include Killing Joke bassist / famed producer Youth and Dr Robert from The Blow Monkeys. 

TRACK LISTING

01 Wheel Of Life And Death
02 Cruel Mind
03 Casida Del Herido Por El Agua
04 Something To Prove
05 Brother Of Genghis Khan
06 I Don't Wanna Be Poor
07 Nadsat
08 Chimney Sweep
09 Conscience Money
10 Give Us A Jesus
11 Turning Of The World 

Before hitting twenty, Tymon Dogg had made a single with pre-Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, recorded with Paul McCartney for Apple Records (running off with the tapes when he sensed they were 'too saccharine'), made a second single for The Moody Blues' label Threshold and then seemingly lost all faith in normal music business machinations.

So he wandered, busking at tube stations and encountering "Woody", who acted as Tymon's roadie and, when trade was slow, Tymon would teach him a few chords.

After being assaulted by police, Tymon won a £500 settlement, with which he recorded an album, singing and playing every instrument himself. Dwelling somewhere between avant-garde folk, Weimar cabaret and with an eerie sense of punk's D-I-Y ethos, the 1975 album failed to sell in appreciable numbers.

By then, "Woody" was known as Joe Strummer and had formed The 101'ers with Elgin Avenue friends and squat-mates. Tymon sporadically played songs with the band, including his "Dog Dirt On Your Shoe" (the only known recording of which is included here), a forerunner to punk expression if there ever were one.

Finding himself in NYC years later, Tymon was ushered into the studio by Mick Jones to record the first song completed for Sandinista!, "Lose This Skin", possibly the most polarising song on the album. Tymon became a de facto studio member of The Clash through Combat Rock and later joined The Mescaleros.

But in 1982, Tymon recorded Battle Of Wills, the last release on Dick O'Dell's Y Records, home to The Slits, Sun Ra, The Pop Group, Shriekback and others, reissued here with added studio rarities and a 1980 live set. The sole Tymon Dogg album released by an outside label, it got somewhat lost in the collapse of Y, yet it's a singular work: perfectly executed and fiercely unique. Tymon's vocals transcend the limits of 'rock' music, weaving their way through a seemingly disconnected array of parts - incongruous tabla, unsettlingly upfront violin parts, minimal folk drumming. It feels like an exemplar of some obscure, ages-old musical tradition rather than what it is - a conceptually original work by an artist of rare talent. Unavailable for forty years, the album has been expanded to include a seven-song 1980 live set and six rare studio tracks. With one exception, this extra material has never been available on vinyl, more than half of it was never released at all. Tymon's archives contain bountiful rare and unheard material, and this expanded edition of Battle Of Wills is the first of several planned archival releases.

TRACK LISTING

1-01 Firefishes
1-02 Once You Know
1-03 Safeway People
1-04 Locks & Bolts & Hinges
1-05 Battle Of Wills
1-06 Sirens
1-07 Brandy Love
1-08 Too Far To Touch The Ground
1-09 Low Down Dirty Weakness
1-10 Get Your Hands Off Me
1-11 Legal Thief
1-12 Golden Rain

2-01 Indestructible
2-02 Cold Wind Blows
2-03 Oil.
2-04 Guantanamo.
2-05 Lose This Skin (2009 Version)
2-06 Travelling Man (Re-Visited)
2-07 Get Your Hands Of Me (Live)
2-08 Indestructible (Live)
2-09 The Wheel Of Life And Death (Live)
2-10 Johnny Is A Wanderer (Live)
2-11 Safeway People (Live)
2-12 Lose This Skin (Live)
2-13 Dog Dirt On Your Shoe (Live)

Very groovy Latin Jazz from the amazing Mike Dogliotti featuring two Funky Afro-Uruguayan versions of big 1970's Jazz Funk Fusion hits in "Hagalo" originally by New York/Panama crossover group Mandrill and a stomping version of Herbie Hancock's Headhunters Classic "Chameleon", both cuts full of Funk Grooves and Afro-Latin Percussion. Never before released on a 45 single this is a Jazz Room Release that is going to fly out of the stores and into DJ record boxes.

TRACK LISTING

1. Hagalo
2. Camaleon

Ned Doheny’s Hard Candy, originally released in 1976, is widely considered the finest blue-eyed soul album of all time. It has long been a source of great frustration then, that this perfectly-formed Southern California masterpiece has been unavailable on vinyl for almost 40 years.

Be With Records continues apace by marking its third release with the first officially licensed reissue of Doheny’s nautical classic. Perhaps most famously, this impeccably smooth set features the timeless “Get It Up For Love”, a wonderful example of mid-70s mid-tempo white-(hot)-funk.

Produced by the legendary Steve Cropper, it featured a veritable who’s-who of the Laurel Canyon soft-yacht sound (JD Souther, The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, the entire horn section for Tower of Power!) yet bombed mysteriously. It’s been a cult record since.

Pressed on audiophile 180g vinyl and featuring the original artwork for both jacket and full colour inner sleeve, this limited reissue is one not to be missed.

TRACK LISTING

A1: Get It Up For Love (4:42)
A2: If You Should Fall (3:36)
A3: Each Time You Pray (3:39)
A4: When Love Hangs In The Balance (5:12)
B1: A Love Of Your Own (3:46)
B2: I’ve Got Your Number (3:15)
B3: On The Swingshift (3:03)
B4: Sing To Me (3:37)
B5: Valentine (I Was Wrong About You) (5:07)

‘Peter Doherty & The Puta Madres’ was recorded live to beautifully capture the essence and spirit of the Puta Madres at a family home overlooking a fishing village in Étretat Normandy, over 4 days last summer and mixed at Urchin Studios (East London). The album is engineered by Dan Cox (Laura Marling, Thurston Moore, Florence & The Machine)and produced by Jai Stanley (long time friend and manager).

‘Peter Doherty & The Puta Madres’ is a devastatingly intimate portrait of love, loss, being lost, happiness, tragedy, addiction and the power of the human soul to transcend its darker levels. All the songs from the album were road tested over the last 18 months across Europe at Festivals and headline shows.

Songs include the reflective ‘All At Sea,’ the raw ‘Punk Buck Bonafide,’ the upbeat and playful ‘Shoreleave,’ the joyous hymn of liberation ‘Paradise Is Under Your Nose,’ ‘Someone Else To Be’ Peter’s re-imagining of the Velvet Underground’s ‘Ride Into The Sun’ and Oasis’ ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger and ‘Who’s Been Having You Over’ with dialogue from the 1948 film adaption of Graham Greene ‘Brighton Rock’ and the cheeky poke at his own notoriety,“You’re so rock’n’roll.”

TRACK LISTING

Who’s Been Having You Over
Paradise Is Under Your Nose
Narcissistic Teen Makes First XI
Someone Else To Be
The Steam
Travelling Tinker
Lamentable Ballad Of Gascony Avenue
A Fool There Was
Shoreleave
Punk Buck Bonafide

Hamburg Demonstrations is the new album from the enigmatic The Libertines front man Pete Doherty. Produced & mixed by Johann Scheerer (Faust/Bosnian Rainbows/The Killers) and recorded at his analogue-based studio, Clouds Hill Recordings in Hamburg.

Hamburg Demonstrations includes the previously released singles ‘The Whole World Is Our Playground’ and a new recording of the Amy Winehouse tribute ‘Flags From The Old Regime’. The album also features ’Hell To Pay At The Gates Of Heaven’ written after the Paris attacks last November – it laments the fact that young people are now picking up guns instead of guitars “Come on boys choose your weapon J-45 or AK-47?”, ‘Kolly Kibber’ inspired by the newspaper man who meets a sticky end at the beginning of ‘Brighton Rock’ and ‘A Spy In The House Of Love’ a title borrowed from the Anaïs Nin novel.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Pete Doherty has grown up a bit hasn't he? For one, he's now called Peter, has laid off the hard stuff and has learned to remain in 'The Zone' long enough to pull out a great tune (or several). The sound of a renewed interest in the music Biz, and an invigorated energy in the studio. A refreshing take on a wholly successful formula, and a welcome return for Pete(r).

TRACK LISTING

1. Kolly Kibber
2. Down For The Outing
3. Birdcage
4. Hell To Pay At The Gates Of Heaven
5. Flags From The Old Regime
6. I Don't Love Anyone (But You're Not Just Anyone) (Version 2)
7. A Spy In The House Of Love (Demo Vocals)
8. Oily Boker
9. I Don't Love Anyone (But You're Not Just Anyone)
10. The Whole World Is Our Playground
11. She Is Far

Available for the first time on vinyl, ‘Julie Doiron And The Wooden Stars’ is Doiron’s most critically acclaimed album, going so far as to win the 2000 Juno Award (the Canadian equivalent to the Grammy) for Best Independently Released Album Of The Year.

Recorded and released in 1999 by Tree Records and Sappy Records (reissued by Jagjaguwar in 2002), the album finds Ottawa-based quartet The Wooden Stars playing Doiron’s back-up band, helping her step out of the solitary, introspective robe she’d been wearing and venture into a more urgent and upbeat - albeit still fundamentally Spartan - direction.

Combining elements of rock and jazz a la Joni Mitchell’s early 70s work, Julie And The Wooden Stars somehow translated the coldness of the Canadian winter into one of the warmest and most tender records to be produced in the Eastern province in years.

On Julie Doiron's first album of new material in over two years, she addresses in her signature intimate songwriting style both the heights and the fallout in a way that forces the listener to re-examine their own loves. Also important to the recording of this album was a reunion of sorts with her musical past. Founding Eric's Trip bandmate Rick White produced and played on the entire album, and a handful of the songs contain the entire original Eric's Trip band nucleus that took the Canadian indie underground by storm 15 years ago. Working with an old friend and collaborator like White was key to this album's intensely vulnerable and emotionally raw tone. What's captured is timeless and universal, in the same way as Cat Power's "Moon Pix", Leonard Cohen's "Songs Of Love And Hate", and Joni Mitchell's "Blue".

Hardrive is a brand new label launched by grime legend Terror Danjah, kicking off with three tracks from his long time collaborator, the ever elusive DOK. Choosing to only emerge with Terror in the past year with joint efforts on Hyperdub ("Hysteria", "Pro Plus"), Planet Mu ("Code Morse") and Butterz ("Sidechain Remix"), DOK finally breaks out for his first solo recordings since writing classics for the After Shock label. Only to be found on this 12”, "Missing Step" is a dramatic reworking of a longtime club vocal anthem (EBTG's "Missing"), which sits at that perfect point between skippy grime and dubstep wobble. "Golden Axe" is a salutation to the Sega Mega Drive classic computer game, in which DOK gives his old skool presets a 2010 work out, including his signitature laughter effect, which will be familar to anyone who loved the classic Sidewinder tape packs. On closing track "Slip Stream", the obvious comparisons are with Joker, Guido and Gemmy’s Bristolian synth work-outs, but it retains that pirate radio style gritty edge which grime MCs eat up, and people demand reloads for in raves across the country.

A true studio visionary and son of Incognito's Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick, Daniel Maunick virtually grew up behind the mixing desk and worked his way through the scenes of drum n' bass, acid-jazz, disco, samba, deep house and beyond. As Far Out's in-house producer his work is a key component in the consistency and transience of the label's sound, with key albums include Azymuth's Fênix, Marcos Valle's Estatica, Sabrina Malheiros' Dreaming and Far Out Monster Disco Orchestra. His latest credit on the catalogue is the next chapter of his Dokta Venom alias, " "Mood Swings". Each track brings you a visceral dancefloor experience both sonically and structurally. Opener "See The Sun" recalls an elevated, cloudy ether, with each kick drum another step up to the sky. Title track "Mood Swings" deploys components of broken beat, garage, house, IDM and boogie, but shrouds them into a hazy cloak more akin to the futuristic skeches of Joy O & Boddika or Pariah. Whilst keeping the same intensity, "I Owe U Something" ups the tempo and swings the mood. Propulsive percussion blurs the acoustic with the electric, glowing synths and anguished vocals formulate this eruptive full-floor belter that lodges somewhere in between early Pepe Bradock and Azymuth. Finally "Soul Krush" rolls out some 100% authentic deep house tackle for the heads and dancers alike, grooving along with delicate keys, infectious drums and heavy bass. Ace stuff indeed. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Evocative collection of tracks that fall somewhere between 1080p, Mood Hut, 100% Silk and Proibito. Both dreaming and dancing catered for in equal measure.

TRACK LISTING

See The Sun
Mood Swings
I Owe U Something
Soul Krush

This is the first single to be taken from enigmatic, deathly dark boy/girl duo Dolium's second album "Hellhounds On The Prowl".

Impressive DIY indie-punk with urgency!!!

Oliver Dollar launches his ‘Contemporary’ series on Rekids and links with ADMN and Austin Ato.

For the first track on the ‘Contemporary Part One’ EP on Rekids, Oliver Dollar joins forces with studio wizard ADMN, a musician, TV Lounge resident, Infolines label owner, and affiliate of Carl Craig's Planet E, among many more top labels. Their brilliant 'Before You' featuring Apropos is a soul-drenched house cut with a classic vibe and an irresistible sense of soul thanks to its smooth vocals. The warm synths light up the loose-limbed groove and ensure a good time.

Oliver Dollar and versatile Scottish producer Austin Ato then serve up 'Portamento Track' for the ‘Contemporary Part One’ EP, an uplifting house gem with serene strings adding a touch of class to the impassioned vocal and disco-tinged groove. Last but not least, Detroit mainstay and Michigander label head Brian Kage remixes Oliver Dollar's 'Strings 4 Life', a track from Dollar’s previous EP on Rekids of the same name and which won the support of Paul Woolford, Honey Dijon, Nightmares On Wax and many more. Kage turns the track into a signature slice of Motor City house soul with swooning pads and hip-swinging drums that are aged to perfection.

Berlin-based house connoisseur Oliver Dollar is known for his variety. He explores the genre via deep, soulful, and jacking cuts, constantly innovating on his signature style with plenty of underground hits produced on the likes of Defected, Classic Music, and his own Industry Standard label.

TRACK LISTING

A. Oliver Dollar & ADMN - Before You Ft. Apropos 
B1. Oliver Dollar & Austin Ato - Portamento Track 
B2. Oliver Dollar - Strings 4 Life (Brian Kage Remix) 

The debut full length by Dollhouse is titled "The Rock And Soul Circus". The record is jam packed with real-deal rock and roll. Screaming guitars, soulful guitars, screaming vocals, soulful vocals, it all melds into an intoxicating experience.

Doloroso are fast developing a reputation as a truly original and exciting band and a definite one to watch this year. The band's unique sound is fuelled by singer Chris Wilde's extraordinary vocals, backed by spaced out surf guitars, hypnotic, pulsing drumming and low slung gritty bass lines (courtesy of Alex formerly of Simian). The cinematic quality of their fast-paced desolate rock and epic soundscapes brings to mind the movies of David Lynch and Sergio Leone. Doloroso's second single, "Godless", charts the progress of a Night Of The Hunter-esque unhinged, God fearing preacher type as he weighs up the pros and cons of good and evil, eventually settling on the dark side and loving every minute of it. The B-side, "Copy Cat Code", is a twisted tale documenting one man's search for sanity and hard cash in a psychedelic story of extraordinary madness.

Doloroso came into being two summers ago when Chris, Andy and Gary formed an alliance with ex-Simian bods Alex and James (Ford), the latter of whom later took on the role of producer. Forging their own, very individual identity by isolating themselves in their East London studio, their music swerves threateningly between fast-paced desolate rock and ethereal epics while crashing through everything in between.

DJ Nobu welcomes Japanese sound artist Doltz to his Bitta imprint for a full pack of hypnotic techno. Doltz started his musical career in 1998 as a drummer in a hardcore punk band, and had a fateful encounter with DJ Nobu, who shares the same musical roots, when they were billed alongside each other at a party called Broad in Fukuoka-city in the winter of 2022. Impressed by Doltz's live performance, DJ Nobu immediately booked him for his residency party Reprise at Womb Tokyo. The two hit it off and began exchanging tracks, with DJ Nobu actively playing out Doltz's tracks while touring across the world and receiving a good response.

This first EP on Bitta consists of four of such tracks that were tried and tested on the world techno circuit. Both restrained and hypnotic, but tectonic and powerful enough for aircraft hangers and main arenas, the four tracks have a nagging, cerebrum busting concentricity about them whilst utilizing basic elements such as sine tones and LFOs to create a dizzying spectacle of technoid abandon. Top drawer stuff for the freaks. 

TRACK LISTING

Subsumption
Pressure Point
Ambai
Delphinium

Musician and filmmaker Domingæ is probably best known as the founder of experimental psych band Föllakzoid.

Written whilst stranded in Mexico and Tokyo on her way to a world tour with Föllakzoid, her new debut solo album Æ has taken the decompositional system she devised for the band and added the depth of inner exploration and a symbiotic relationship with musical craft.

The resulting sound is as groovy and hypnotic as the best Föllakzoid tracks but with a seductive and darkening electronic texture. She has become a channel in which the shadows inhabit. Domingæ’s sounds and formats are articulated via depuration, expanding in time and space via the subtraction of shifting elements. The process of unlearning and uninstalling previously established creative softwares in order to achieve dissolution has always been a central focus in her creative pursuit.

Æ is a result of said experimentation, the dissolution of preconceived notions to create a minimal sound yet rich in textures.

TRACK LISTING

1. Æva (4:10)
2. Dæmon (4:22)
3. Archaeans (4:23)
4. Ænnihilator (5:32)
5. Asǽse (13:29)

.. It's been four years since their previous album, but now DOMINIC is finally ready with album number three, “Persona” // In the first years since their beginning in 2001, DOMINIC have mainly focused on concerts and live shows and have toured Europe a lot especially after 2003. Many DOMINIC releases have seen the light of the day during these years, including two full length albums. Most of these recordings had been done live and as quickly as possible. The band has had its focus on catching the nerve and roughness the live format adds, without spending too much time on post production. With the new album DOMINIC took a different approach and thus Persona marks a new step in their history as a band. DOMINIC started working on the songs for the album shortly after their previous album “Nord” was released in 2009. Since 2010 there have been fewer live shows, but a steady and continuous work on the material for Persona.

Finally DOMINIC have been in and out of the recording studio in the Summer and Fall of 2012 to finish the record. The result is Persona, a manifestation of a band that has toured and played together for more than 10 years. DOMINIC have always been hard to label, but attemps to characterise them have used terms such as punk, hardcore, post-hardcore, screamo and post-rock. These are all genres the band is well known with, and musically DOMINIC is probably somewhere within. Yet, these terms could never suffice to describe Persona entirely, the only thing that's for certain is the fact that DOMINIC are DOMINIC, and Persona is Persona.

The album name “Persona” is borrowed from the psychiatrist Carl Jung, who defined “the persona” as a mask, the facade we try to maintain in social settings. The persona-mask occurs between the individual and the society around, and is not more real than the characters played in a fictional play. Both in fiction and in real life, the mask has two functions; to make a certain impression on others, and to hide the true nature of the individual.

TRACK LISTING

1 To Live For
2 Right For Me
3 Skin Deep
4 Expiration Date
5 Dreamless Sleep
6 The Only Thing That's For Certain
7 A New Dawn
8 Bottle Of Beast
9 Last Breath

Dommengang are a Brooklyn-via-Seattle rock trio fronted by Pacific Northwest psych mainstay Sig Wilson (Holy Sons, Castanets, Scout Niblett) and Brooklyn musicians Brian Markham and Adam Bulgasem (currently members of Holy Sons’ live band).

While the trio’s affection for electric blues and proto-punk bombast is clear, their music abandons traditional song structures and replaces their recognizable tropes with progressive frameworks. The band’s debut, ‘Everybody’s Boogie’, pivots between gloriously inventive riffs and fuzzed-out experimentation, a combination so potent that the listener hardly notices that they rarely sing.

‘Everybody’s Boogie’ was recorded live in the studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn with minimal overdubs.

Recommended for fans of Pontiak, Endless Boogie, Earthless and Goat

TRACK LISTING

Everybody’s Boogie
Hats Off To Magic
Slow Hat
Her Blues
Wild In The Street Blues
Extra Slim Boogie
Burning Off The Years
Have Luck Will Travel
CC
Lost My Way

Power trio Dommengang deliver heavy psych rock on new album ‘Wished Eye’. The album delivers super tasty, dirty guitars, serpentine psychedelic grooves, and propulsive drumming with gleeful abandon. Guitarist Dan ‘Sig’ Wilson switches from explosive to expansive on a knife’s edge, laying down wailing hooks before evaporating into bristling fuzz. Bassist Brian Markham and drummer Adam Bulgasem (Black Mountain)’s foundations play with time, galloping forward or stretching out into the cosmos. ‘Wished Eye’ is an expression of the sheer joy of making music together.

For fans of Blues Creation, Earthless, High Rise, and Acid Mothers Temple.

TRACK LISTING

Runaway
Society Blues
Last Card
Myth Time
Little Beirut
Blue & Peaceful
Petrichor
Wished Eye
Flower

This their debut album marks a coming of age for The DomNicks. Forged by Perth based Dom Mariani and Nick Sheppard, the band is a powerful blend of swagger 'n' roll rock, soul and pop smarts.

Mariani is best known as the driving force behind The Stems, DM3 and The Someloves, while Sheppard’s pedigree boasts 80’s Bristol punks The Cortinas and thereafter as Mick Jones’ replacement in the 1983-86 line-up of The Clash. In 2007 the pair teamed up with Howard Shawcross (The Elks, The Riptides) on bass and Marz Frisina on drums, quickly developing into a very ‘hang loose’ combo.

Playing a mix of Dom and Nick's originals with a spread of 60's and 70's garage and soul classics, they are a band of seasoned players punching well above their collective musical weight. The DomNicks debut album Super Real is out on Citadel Records and continues in the tradition of The DomNicks’ previous recording, Hey Rock 'n' Roller (Off The Hip 2009). Expanding on Hey Rock ‘n' Roller’s gutsy guitar driven sound, Super Real takes a ride through blues, soul, funk, and classic guitar pop influences to create one seamless musical journey fuelled by the vim and vigour of a noble era. Its bound to cause the head and heart to shake.

300 ONLY on 180 gram vinyl release in deluxe sleeve w/ inner bag.

Celebrated engineer Yas Inoue and DJ Takaya Nagase come together in the studio and rework the Voltage Brothers rare groove jam “Happening In the Streets” with a cleverly put together edit with filters, effects and sonically tweaking it to perfection. They've created a perfect dancefloor masterpiece already championed by Louie Vega, Joe Claussell, Spinna, Mike Dunn, and Rich Medina. 

Japanese sound engineer Yas Inoue, based in New York began his career in the world renowned MAW Studios in the late 90s and has engineered for producers such as Masters At Work, Patrick Adams, Leroy Burgess, and Randy Muller contributing to the creation of various New York house and disco hits.

Takaya Nagase, a New York based Japanese DJ started as an A&R for Japanese record label Soundmen On Wax. He learned and studied under the great David Mancuso of the Loft Party NYC and later held his own Joy parties along with other Loft members. Having had regular gigs at Club Shelter from 2006 to 2007 and at Club Output from 2017 until the closing in 2019, he built his DJ chops and now currently DJs at New York City's top venues such as Le Bain, Good Room and Nowadays along with monthly shows on the famed Lot Radio in Brooklyn.

Together they are Domo Domo and with their first project on Vega Records they are on their way to becoming New York household names in the dance music industry. "A Happening In The Streets" does indeed, sound like a lost Loft jazz dance classic. The type of track you assume they don't make anymore. Vibing keys going right off, big bolshy brass staps, crazed conga, wandering b-line - every single musician playing their heart out like its their last performance on earth - and finally given a riotous and soulful injection through that empowered vocal part. Seriously - a future classic of the genre make no mistake! Backed with a tasty DJ tool that stretches out the hook with added filtered reverb, inventive DJs are definitely gonna make use of this...

  

TRACK LISTING

A. Happening In The Streets (Domo Rework 7 Edit)
B. Happening In The Streets (DJ Tool) 

Lost love songs and self-pressed pop acetates by this previously unheard Californian folk duo from beneath the shadows of the Hollywood Hills.

These recordings of unreleased and unknown American acidic folk and acoustic pop were made in the late 60s by husband and wife duo Don and Stevie Gere. For over 40 years they’ve sat untouched and unplayed in a box of unmarked studio tapes at their family home in Los Angeles.

As original pop songs and guitar based arrangements from the man who made the stoner psych soundtrack for cult movie ‘Werewolves On Wheels’, these rescued one-off pressings were sung in harmony with his teenage sweetheart and lifelong partner, Stevie Howard, and recorded at LA based walk-in studio sessions.

Sprouting a missing branch in the family tree of LA based artists like Curt Boetcher and Doug Rhodes (The Millennium), Waddy Wachtel (Buckingham Nicks) David Gates (Bread) and members of The Steve Miller Band, this LP includes original versions of tracks written for or featuring all of the above, as well as destroyed and unreleased film music.

What might have been considered lost treasure has until now remained previously unshared outside of the duo’s own private relationship, presenting fans of obscure folk and privately produced pop with a unique album that defies collectability and paints a fuller picture of a lesserspotted enigma in uninhabited unison with his closest musical confidant.

TRACK LISTING

American Lullaby
Live Our Life
Sweet Sugar
Talked About World
Keep An Eye On You
Another Blue Day
What Do You Think Of Me
Kindly
Tell Me Now
I’ve Been Wrong
Laying By The Riverside

Lost love songs and self-pressed pop acetates by this previously unheard Californian folk duo from beneath the shadows of the Hollywood Hills.

These recordings of unreleased and unknown American acidic folk and acoustic pop were made in the late 60s by husband and wife duo Don and Stevie Gere. For over 40 years they’ve sat untouched and unplayed in a box of unmarked studio tapes at their family home in Los Angeles.

As original pop songs and guitar based arrangements from the man who made the stoner psych soundtrack for cult movie ‘Werewolves On Wheels’, these rescued one-off pressings were sung in harmony with his teenage sweetheart and lifelong partner, Stevie Howard, and recorded at LA based walk-in studio sessions.

Sprouting a missing branch in the family tree of LA based artists like Curt Boetcher and Doug Rhodes (The Millennium), Waddy Wachtel (Buckingham Nicks) David Gates (Bread) and members of The Steve Miller Band, this LP includes original versions of tracks written for or featuring all of the above, as well as destroyed and unreleased film music.

What might have been considered lost treasure has until now remained previously unshared outside of the duo’s own private relationship, presenting fans of obscure folk and privately produced pop with a unique album that defies collectability and paints a fuller picture of a lesserspotted enigma in uninhabited unison with his closest musical confidant.

TRACK LISTING

American Lullaby
Live Our Life
Sweet Sugar
Talked About World
Keep An Eye On You
Another Blue Day
What Do You Think Of Me
Kindly
Tell Me Now
I’ve Been Wrong
Laying By The Riverside

Don Caballero twists and turns through fourteen new tracks on its brand new album "Punkgasm". "Punkgasm" explodes with all of the bands legendary trademarks and pushes their sound in a host of surprising new directions! "Punkgasm" is a celebration of Don Caballero at its finest!

'Beyond The Midnight Sun' expands upon ground first explored on Don Leisure's track 'All Praises Due', which also featured Amanda (with Angel Bat Dawid), and featured on his previous album 'Shaboo Strikes Back'. This is a full-length project that these two formidable Welsh artists have collaborated on together.

To bring you up to speed, Cardiff DJ and beat-maker Don Leisure has been twice nominated for the Welsh Music Prize, with the afore-mentioned album 'Shaboo Strikes Back', and a previous project, 'Steel Zakusi'. As well as being 50% of Darkhouse Family with Earl Jeffers, he's released music under various monikers on labels such as Metalheadz, International Anthem, Fat City, Earnest Endeavours, Group BraCil and on Rough Trade with another regular collaborator, Gruff Rhys. Other collabs have included Charlotte Church, Om'Mas Keith, DJ Spinna and First Word label-mate Tyler Daley (Children of Zeus).

His DJ portfolio includes sets for BBC 6 Music, NTS, Rinse FM, Solid Steel, Boxout FM (India), The Jazz Cafe, Fabric and Boiler Room, while previous support has come from Lauren Laverne, Tom Ravenscroft, Huw Stephens, Lefto, Rob Da Bank, Huey Morgan, Jon1st, Om Unit, Kid Fonque, Mr Thing and many more. His album 'Shaboo' was named "the best album of its kind since J Dilla's 'Donuts'" by Piccadilly Records.

Joining him throughout this project, we have the pleasure of welcoming the phenomenal talents of highly-acclaimed harpist Amanda Whiting to the First Word label. A virtuoso in her field, this classically trained musician quickly established herself as an essential player in the UK jazz scene, carving her unique sound following the paths forged by Ashby and Coltrane.

She's toured extensively with her own band, as well as with Matthew Halsall, Chip Wickham, DJ Yoda and Rebecca Vasmant, whilst previously releasing three solo albums on Jazzman Records, and a remix project for Scrimshire's Albert's Favourites imprint. Along the way, there's been a nomination for 'Instrumentalist of the Year' from Jazz FM and she's garnered the support of DJs such as Radio 2's Jamie Cullum ("highly recommended") and 6 Music's Cerys Matthews ("my highlight of the Cheltenham Jazz festival 2023").

Don explains more…

"The project is a journey down the road that was revealed to me on 'All Praises Due' on 'Shaboo Strikes Back'. Amanda's willingness and eagerness to continue collaborating was a dream come true. Being able to get harp parts from someone who is so open minded is such a rare treat that a deeper project was inevitable.

I wanted to move in a different direction from the beat tape format on my previous releases while still maintaining the core Don Leisure sound, fused with live instrumentation and vocals etc".

The talents of Deborah Jordan are also featured on a couple of the album's tracks. Deborah is a stalwart in the UK soul and jazz scene in her own right, working over the years with artists like 4Hero, Bugz In The Attic, Ty, Jneiro Jarel, K15, Robert Mitchell and Kaidi Tatham (someone who's collaborated with all the players on this release at some point).

'Beyond The Midnight Sun' is a 7-track affair comprised of delectable spiritual jazz fused with hip hop beats, psychedelic electronics and a touch of soul.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: A beautifully rendered mix of chilled lounge percussion and downbeat atmospherics with Whiting's beautiful harp floating atop the deep roots. It's propulsive and dynamic without being frantic, calm without being one-dimensional. Gorgous psychedelic nu jazz flavours in a beautiful package.

TRACK LISTING

1. Walk With Us (feat. Amanda Whiting)
2. Just Be (Free) [feat. Amanda Whiting & Deborah Jordan]
3. The First Chant (feat. Amanda Whiting)
4. Beyond The Midnight Sun (feat. Amanda Whiting)
5. Peace Of Mind (feat. Amanda Whiting & Deborah Jordan)
6. Crying Tiger (feat. Amanda Whiting)
7. Third Bass (feat. Amanda Whiting)

Ahead of the Meakusma Festival 2019 Don't DJ and NWAQ did an artist residency developing new music together from scratch. Their resulting performance at the festival was a mesmerising descent into the artistic perspectives of two singular artists active in off-kilter club music. Some of the eight tracks on this record were recorded live at the festival while others were recorded during the residency. All dwell in distorted and eccentric bliss and play around with rhythmic, arrhythmic and post-rhythmic tension. There is happiness in dystopia although the subtle yet intense layering in the music hints at undercurrents that are far from bright. The joyousness of this record lies in the notable excitement Don't DJ and NWAQ experience fusing their modi operandi coming up with a music that shines and distorts. As massive blocks of sound alternate with subtler disorienting parts repetitive vocals create an air of disparate acceptance. It uses club music's template and pushes on. With the kind support of Ostbelgien.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Feelin' this one... I know it might be a bit much for some of you, but when you're deep in the sweat pool of the White Hotel with nothing but the Formula Sound for company; then these waves of bass and distortion suddenly all make sense.

TRACK LISTING

A1. The Tiger
A2. Green Wolf
A3. Central Bern
A3.2. No Burn
B1. Vanessa
B2. Rabbits
B3. White Lies
B4. White Lies

Underground thrills and alternative sounds are delivered up by The Don't Fucking Cares (The DFC's) on "Underage Demon" - a generation baiting neurotic polemic with a krautrock beat and surging guitars, reminiscent of Spacemen 3 at their "Playing With Fire" peak. There's a hint of revolutionary menace contained in this Suicide plays MC5 linear riff, an unashamed analogue rock song stirring up sedition and criminal intent. Underlying all the mayhem Märta's vocal locks on to a melody line that conveys all the boredom and frustration which lay at the heart of the lyrics. The Don't Fucking Cares defy safe radio with a song that brings back edge and danger to rock'n'roll. Following on from their self-released first EP "Download", a blast of which is featured in the Guy Ritchie film Rocknrolla, this belting track sounds like the delinquent little brother of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's first single "Whatever Happened To My Rock n Roll", soon to be a force to reckon with!!

The now 10 year old Acid Test 09 sees a special 10th Anniversary Edition repress with a new vocal mix of track “Test 3”.

The original EP saw acid nomad Tin Man team up with techno dreamweaver Donato Dozzy for three slices of deep acid and dubby, bleepy ambient.

In this special 10 Year Anniversary Edition "Test 3” comes with a new vocal mix and it’s a welcome return to the mic for Tin Man. Perfectly-placed words sit among chiming bells and are layered deep into the echoes, almost like the synths themselves are speaking.

Acid Test 09 proved to be a pairing in 303 paradise, but the results outclassed even Dozzy and Tin Man’s special partnership - they created simply a timeless signal that could broadcast through space ad infinitum. A bit like Roy Of The Ravers' "Emotinium" - it stands proud in the Acid Music Hall of Fame. An essential record for lovers of the Roland TB-303.

Mastered and recut by Rashad.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Tin Man & Dozzy revisit this classic moment from the Acid Test archive - adding a vocal to arguably the label's biggest hit. It's a great, sincere idea from a humble but captivating imprint. If you don't know - get to know!

TRACK LISTING

A1. Test 7
A2. Test 3 (Vocal Version)
B1. Test 2
B2. Test 3

For its 303rd release, Tresor Records is glad to present a commissioned work by Donato Dozzy.

Rome based production maestro and DJ extraordinaire Donato Dozzy is unanimously considered as an illustrious leading light in all techno artforms.

Along his long career and extensive discography, Dozzy has proven to use his instruments most interesting ways, always re-inventing his music, always presenting new approaches to both the deeper and the more rhythmic forms of electronic music. It was self-evident to Tresor Records to enroll Donato Dozzy’s talents for this assignment, a nod to the seminal Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer.

The result is a relentless collection of radical, propulsive and bleeding-heart acid tracks. Donato Dozzy wishes to dedicate this work to his lifelong friend Filo. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Brilliantly timed to conincide with Tresor's 303rd release, new school acid maverik Dozzy comes correct with a double disc set of his idiosyncratic Roland warblings.